Cleco begins massive post-Laura restoration effort

Utility workers had restored power to 31,205 Cleco customers in Central Louisiana as of 7 p.m. Thursday. At the height of Hurricane Laura's path through the state, power was knocked out for 140,000 customers as the storm caused widespread and significant damage to Cleco’s electrical system.

Hurricane Laura hit the Cameron Parish at about 1 a.m. Thursday as a Category 4 storm and one of the most powerful hurricans to strike the Gulf Coast in over 160 years.

Cleco’s hardest hit parishes were Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Grant, Rapides and Vernon.

“We’re surveying the damage, which is massive," Cleco Distribution Operations Director James Lass said. "There are lots of broken poles and crossarms,damaged transformers, downed wire and trees on the ground. Tree damage plays a major role in storm restoration because the debris has to be cleared before we can start repairing and replacing our equipment. This will be a massive restoration effort.”

Cleco has a combined work force of more than 2,000 working to get the lights back on. Crews will work late into the night, but many customers will be without power overnight.

“We understand this is difficult, and we’re doing everything we can to restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” Lass said. “We appreciate our customers’ patience, as we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we will get through this together.”

Safety tips to follow after a storm:

* Report power outages by calling 1-800-622-6537 or by texting “OUT” from your cell phone to 25326 (Cleco). To sign up for text message notifications, text “REG” to 25326.

* Operate portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas and plug appliances directly into generators with grounded extension cords. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.

* Assume all downed power lines are live and stay away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 1-800-622-6537 and 911.

* If water is rising, turn off electricity at the main breaker, evacuate and stay away until waters have completely receded.

For additional information on Cleco’s storm response, follow the company on Facebook @ClecoPower or visit Cleco’s Storm Center page at cleco.com/storm-center.