Entergy Louisiana crews continue to make steady progress restoring power following the winter storm, even as they battle near, or below-freezing temperatures across north Louisiana.   As of 11 a.m., about 14,000 customers remain without power.  Since the peak of the storm, we have restored power to over 118,000 customers.  The number of customers without power shortly after the storm peaked at 92,000.  However, restoration progress continues to be affected by falling trees and limbs as ice-damaged vegetation gives way, causing new outages even as repairs are completed.

The extent of the storm’s impact is significant.  Crews continue to identify widespread damage to the electric system, including approximately 1000 utility poles, more than 500 miles of wire, and 210 transformers that must be repaired or replaced.  With damages continuing to occur, we anticipate an increase in these numbers.

Northern Louisiana, particularly communities along the I-20 corridor, including Ouachita Parish, were among the hardest hit by freezing ice and rain. Some areas have seen up to two inches of ice accumulation. Ice at this level causes extensive tree damage and severe stress on overhead power lines, leading to widespread outages, debris and blocked access routes that have slowed restoration efforts.

Our plan for today includes focus on the unincorporated areas of Ouachita, East Carroll, and Jackson Parishes, as well as other hard-hit rural areas scattered across the northern portion of the State. Below is an update on restoration progress and areas of focus by parish:

• Ouachita Parish: Approximately 9,900 customers remaining out of service.  Restoration is expected to last through February 4 in the hardest hit areas in the northwestern corner of the parish west of Cheniere.
• Jackson Parish: Approximately 1,200 customers remaining out of service.  Restoration is expected to last through February 4 in the hardest hit rural areas around Jonesboro.
• East Carroll: Approximately 770 customers remaining out of service.  Restoration is expected to continue through February 4 in the hardest hit areas on the eastern half of the parish, including Transylvania.

Many repairs are complex and time-consuming, often requiring specialized equipment and the replacement of multiple poles and lines. For example, in the Warden area of Richland Parish, crews must replace 75 utility poles to restore power to 110 customers. This work requires roughly 20 crews working for about a day and a half to complete. Situations like this help explain why restoration may take longer in certain areas, even as overall progress continues.

We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as our teams work to safely restore service.

We continue to coordinate closely with Commissioner Campbell, Mayor Mitchell, Mayor Ellis, other elected officials, and our emergency partners to support warming centers, and other critical facilities in the hardest-hit communities. State and federal partners remain engaged and have made resources available to support recovery efforts across the region.

As restoration continues, we ask for your help in keeping our crews safe. Please give them the space they need to do their jobs—for their protection and yours.

Entergy Louisiana will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available at entergy.com/stormcenter.

Make sure your home or business is ready for us to restore your power.

Customers whose neighborhoods have been restored but who are still without power may have damage to electrical equipment attached to their home or business.

We cannot restore power to a location with a damaged meter base, conduit or weather head (the metal pipe extending upward from the structure with electrical cables inside). These repairs must be made by a qualified electrician before Entergy can restore power. Learn more about the electrical equipment that serves your home.

• Check for damage to your weatherhead, meter base or service entrance.
• If damage is present, contact a licensed electrician to make repairs.
• If equipment appears undamaged, text OUT to 36778 or call 1-800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243).
• After repairs are completed, call 1-800-ENTERGY (800-368-3749) to request service reconnection.

Customer safety and community resources

Customers should continue to prioritize safety while outages persist.

• Warming centers: Customers in need of shelter and warmth should consider local warming centers or shelters if it is safe to travel. To find a listing of available warming centers, visit GOHSEP’s Louisiana Warming Centers: https://gohsep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/9d47b24a528f43cf84633a2c04270706
• Road conditions: Please be aware that roads may be hazardous or closed during restoration efforts. Road conditions and closure information can be found here from Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development: https://www.511la.org/
• Generator safety: Never use generators indoors and never connect a generator directly to home wiring without proper transfer equipment.
• Heating safety: Never use ovens, grills or outdoor heating devices to heat your home.
• Downed power lines: Always assume downed lines are energized and dangerous — stay away and report them immediately by calling 1-800-9OUTAGE (1-800-968-8243) or your local police/fire department.

Be aware of scams

Customers are urged to remain on alert as severe weather increases scam attempts. Remember, Entergy will never demand immediate payment from customers over the phone. If a call sounds suspicious, hang up and call 1-800-ENTERGY (800-368-3749) to speak directly with an Entergy customer service representative.

Stay connected

Customers are encouraged to stay informed through Entergy’s Storm Center for real-time outage updates, safety information and restoration progress: entergy.com/stormcenter

Download the Entergy app. Customers can use the app to report outages or check on the status of power at their home or business.

Check Entergy’s View Outage map. Maps show where outages are located and give information about restoration progress. Outages can be reported using the Entergy mobile app, online at myEntergy.com, or by texting OUT to 36778.

Storm-related updates are also shared on social media.