Companies prepared should storm impact Louisiana
New Orleans, La. – Entergy New
Orleans, Inc. and Entergy Louisiana, LLC are closely monitoring Tropical Storm
Ida as the storm moves through the Gulf of Mexico.
Although a direct hit from the storm
is not forecasted for Entergy’s service territories in Louisiana, Entergy’s
utility companies in southeast Louisiana are preparing for the possibility that
strong winds, higher tides and flooding along the coastal areas could affect the
companies’ service territories in the New Orleans metro and southeast Louisiana.
The Entergy companies’ crews and
contractors will be staged near the areas that could be impacted as Ida moves
through the Gulf and are prepared to work as soon as it is safe to do after the
storm passes, restoring service to customers as quickly and as safely as
possible.
Entergy New Orleans and Entergy
Louisiana urge customers to monitor the storm and to prepare to implement their
own storm plans if needed. The companies also remind customers to stay away from
downed power lines and to call 1-800-9OUTAGE toll free.
Entergy has implemented significant
preparations in the Metro area for the 2009 hurricane season. The company:
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Performed detailed storm and
tabletop drills to test all functions of the company’s emergency-response
teams;
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Performed tree trimming on 2,299
line miles in south Louisiana (more than 5,500 line miles statewide) to reduce
storm-induced power outages and to protect vital equipment;
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Performed infrared technology
inspections to evaluate priority customer facilities such as hospitals and
police stations;
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Inspected 65 feeders including
nearly 400 capacitor banks and 66 reclosers;
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Provided hurricane preparedness
information to 1.1 million customers throughout Louisiana; and
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Renewed and strengthened mutual
assistance agreements, contractor alliances and partnerships with key
governmental agencies.
Tips to follow before the storm:
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Stock up on nonperishable food,
medicine, baby supplies and pet food. Keep a first-aid kit and manual handy.
Have a non-electric can opener on hand.
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Purchase bottled water. The
American Red Cross recommends one gallon of water per person per day.
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Check emergency equipment such as
flashlights, battery-operated radios, extension cords, emergency generators,
etc. Buy extra batteries.
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Keep extra cash on hand, since an
electrical power outage may prevent you from withdrawing money from automatic
teller machines or banks.
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Turn your refrigerator to its
coldest setting. If the power goes out, this will keep food fresh longer. Keep
the refrigerator closed – most food will stay frozen or fresh up to 12 hours.
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Turn off and unplug any unnecessary
electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics.
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Place critical documents such as
birth certificates, insurance documents, special pictures, etc., in a safe
box.
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Fill your vehicle’s gas tank.
Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an
electric and gas utility serving Orleans Parish and is a subsidiary of Entergy
Corporation. The company provides electricity to more than 141,000 customers and
natural gas to more than 92,000 customers in Orleans Parish.
Entergy Louisiana serves more than
655,000 customers in northern, central and southeastern Louisiana. Together with
its sister utility, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C., the companies serve a
combined one million customers in the state.
Entergy’s Louisiana utility companies
are part of Entergy Corporation’s electric system serving 2.7 million customers
in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.
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entergy-neworleans.com
entergy-louisiana.com
