Hurricane Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish as a Category 2 hurricane on Sept. 11, bringing up to 100 mph winds to the Louisiana coast. The hardest-hit areas in southeast Louisiana present difficult geographic challenges for restoration workers that require unique solutions to turn the lights back on.

While the challenges of severe weather continue to pose a significant threat to the Gulf Coast region and our electrical system, modern solutions – including the use of innovative technology – are enabling our crews to better prepare for storms and improve restoration practices. Optimizing our approach to vegetation management and utilizing new technologies to assess our system have bolstered our preparation for and response to Hurricane Francine in Louisiana.

Just 36 hours after Hurricane Francine’s landfall, Entergy’s workforce has returned electrical power to 65% of impacted customers in Louisiana, New Orleans and Mississippi. Crews are restoring power as safely and quickly as possible; however, assessment continues in some areas.