As storm dissipates, power returns for some in EBR

The back side of Isaac was less powerful than the front end, allowing utility crews the opportunity to begin assessing the damage in East Baton Rouge Parish well before dawn today, and in some cases fixing it. However, flooded streets, downed trees and power lines still pose hazards. DEMCO had about 55,000 customers without power at about 9 a.m., down from a peak of about 73,000, spokesman David Latona says. Of those still without power, about 25,000 are in Livingston Parish, with 10,000 in East Baton Rouge, 8,000 in Ascension Parish, 8,500 in West and East Feliciana parishes, 2,500 in St. Helena Parish, and 500 in Tangipahoa Parish. Latona says DEMCO has 700 additional workers helping out. The process of restoring electricity for everyone will take several days, he says; DEMCO will have a better idea of which areas will be up once the assessment is complete. Entergy did not return calls seeking comment as of this morning’s deadline. However, the Public Service Commission says about 82,500 Entergy customers in East Baton Rouge Parish lost power in the storm. The company’s outage map also shows about 14,600 customers in Livingston Parish without electricity; and about 17,900 in Ascension Parish. A statement on the outage site says: “We continue to assess damage … We will start restoring power after winds fall below 30 mph and conditions are safe for our personnel to work.” Neither utility company has provided an estimate of when all power may be restored. See Entergy’s outage map here, and DEMCO’s outage map here. Statewide, about 47% of Louisiana—an estimated 901,000 homes and businesses—remain without power this morning. —David Jacobs