Electric utilities in the Gulf Coast prepare for Hurricane Laura

Electric companies in the Gulf Coast region are now bracing for landfall of the second storm in a week, Hurricane Laura, which is expected to hit Wednesday night or Thursday morning as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm.

Entergy Corp., which serves Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, has nearly 7,400 workers prepared to respond to Hurricane Laura, which was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday by the National Hurricane Center. It is expected to bring heavy rain, maximum winds of up to 140 miles per hour, and coastal flooding to portions of the Louisiana and Texas coasts before moving inland.

Entergy has moved equipment and crews from the path of the storm to allow it to quickly begin restoration work as soon as the storm passes.

“While we were fortunate that Marco had limited impact on our systems, customers should keep their guard up as Hurricane Laura, which is predicted to be much stronger, is on the way,” Eli Viamontes, vice president of Entergy utility distribution operations, said. “Please remain storm-ready and take this as seriously as we are. This is expected to be a major hurricane and should be treated as such.”

Meanwhile, Florida Power & Light Co. has deployed personnel to support power restoration in the path of the hurricane. FPL has made 300 employees and contractors ready to Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas with their restoration efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Marco and Hurricane Laura.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to our Gulf Coast neighbors as they prepare for the damage and destruction that will likely follow being hit by a tropical storm and then a hurricane in the same week,” Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO, said. “Earlier this month, 600 FPL lineworkers and contractors helped restore power to our fellow citizens in New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias. As the tropics continue to produce storms that affect other areas of the country, we stand at the ready to assist our fellow Americans. These storms are a reminder that we must not let our guard down as we reach the peak of what is forecast to be a very active hurricane season.”

Tampa Electric also sent a crew of about 110 line workers, contractors, and support personnel to the New Orleans area to help Entergy Louisiana restore power after the storms hit the region. Tampa Electric is a member of the Southeastern Electric Exchange, or SEE, which is a network of utilities who pledge mutual assistance in case of a storm or other emergency.

Further, Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), which serves Northeast Texas and Northwest Louisiana, has secured more than 1,000 line and tree personnel to assist company crews in responding to power outages. SWEPCO is also advising its customers to prepare for the storm. Customers who need uninterrupted electric service for health reasons should make alternate arrangements in preparation for potential power outages.

“Restoring power after the hurricane passes could take multiple days,” Drew Seidel, SWEPCO vice president of Distribution Region Operations, said. “We will make every effort to get the lights back on as soon as possible, and we want our customers to be prepared.”

All the crews and contractors from all the utilities will follow safety guidelines, including social distancing, increased sanitation measures and wearing masks where appropriate.