SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – SWEPCO officials say they expect to have power restored to 95% of customers Wednesday, July 8 after strong storms moved through northwest Louisiana Monday night and Tuesday morning.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Restoring power to every customer remains the top priority. SWEPCO expects 95% of customers who can safely receive electricity to be restored by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
- Since the July 6 storm, outages have been reduced from approximately 37,000 customers at the peak to about 2,000 customers remaining
- Lineworkers, contractors, and support teams will continue working until every customer who can receive power is restored
- Customers still without power should check their weatherhead and other service equipment for storm damage now. If repairs are needed, contact a licensed electrician as soon as possible to avoid delays in restoration.
- Safety comes first. Stay away from downed power lines and anything they may be touching, and report hazards to 911 and SWEPCO at 888-218-3919.
SWEPCO officials say crews have made “significant” progress in restoring power after two days of severe weather. Crews have been working around-the-clock to get power restored. It’s believed about 2,000 customers remain without power as of Wednesday morning.
As crews began trying to restore power Monday night, more storms Tuesday morning presented challenging conditions with additional lightning, heavy rain, and some flash flooding.
The storms on July 6 caused widespread power outages, with strong winds bringing down numerous trees, powerlines, and power poles.
ESTIMATED RESTORATION TIMES
- Natchitoches – 12 p.m., July 8
- Shreveport, Bossier City, Haughton, Vivian & Plain Dealing – 5 p.m., July 8
POST-STORM SAFETY TIPS FROM SWEPCO
- Stay as far away as possible from downed wires and anything they may be touching. Call 911 to report any hazards or call SWEPCO immediately at 888-218-3919.
- Carefully investigate before cleaning up any debris. Tree limbs, leaves, and other objects moved by the wind could hide downed wires.
- Do not attempt to remove tree limbs or debris within 10 feet of a power line
- If using a generator, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions
FAQ
Should I call SWEPCO to report my power outage?…