Entergy’s Louisiana utilities mobilize storm team ahead of Tropical Storm Barry
Entergy’s Louisiana utilities are continuing to monitor and prepare for Tropical Storm Barry, which will likely hit the Gulf Coast this weekend, and have put in place nearly 2,000 crewmembers and contractors in an effort to quickly start restoration work.
The storm, currently forecast to be a Category 1 hurricane at landfall, is expected to bring heavy rain, high tides, and coastal and river flooding that could cause widespread power outages throughout the state.
More than 1,200 crew members and an additional 770 workers from neighboring Entergy utilities have been mobilized as part of the Louisiana storm team. They are currently positioning themselves in locations where they can quickly respond to damage once the storm passes and restoration is safe to begin.
“We have fully engaged our command center and are actively planning for the storm,” said Melonie Stewart, Entergy Louisiana’s vice president of distribution operations and Louisiana’s incident commander. “The time is now to have your preparation plans in place. With this storm forecast to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, it could take up to several days to restore power.”
Entergy Louisiana officials are encouraging customers to prepare themselves for the storm and keep safety as a top priority as the storm approaches. The company is also reminding customers to be patient as restoration work begins and that if crews are not seen in specific areas, they should be assured that workers are fixing another part of the electrical system.
Once the damage is assessed, it may take up to three days before an estimate of how long it will take for the power to be restored, the company said in a statement.
“We’ve worked to storm-harden our system. From aggressive preventive maintenance programs to using steel transmission structures, elevating substations that might flood and installing ‘isolation’ devices on lines to reduce outages, our goal is always to restore power safely and quickly,” the company said.
Customers can stay informed about restoring power through Entergy’s free app or by visiting the storm outage resources available on Entergy’s Storm Center website.
Entergy Louisiana, LLC, a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, provides electric service to more than 1 million customers and natural gas to more than 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. It operates in southern, central, and northeastern Louisiana.
