(Rick Hickman / Special to the American Press)
(Rick Hickman / Special to the American Press)
More showers in forecast for Monday
Last Modified: Monday, July 23, 2012 1:27 PM
By Lance Traweek / American Press
Following two days of severe thunderstorms, less than 3,000 residents remained without power Sunday in the areas of Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Iowa, Sulphur and Westlake.An Entergy representative anticipated that the majority of those residents would have their power restored by Sunday evening, but said a few may still be without electricity until today.
“We at Entergy understand how important electrical service is to the communities we serve,” Clyde Mitchell, a spokesperson with Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, said in a news release. “We have worked diligently to bring all our communities back on line.”
At the peak of the storms, more than 16,000 residents were without power due to high winds that blew through the Lake Charles area Friday night and into Saturday afternoon.
Mitchell said Entergy began restoring power immediately after the storms, as soon as it was safe for crews to work.
He said the storms damaged one of Entergy’s high-voltage transmission lines and damaged the distribution system.
Mitchell said the town of Iowa and south Lake Charles were among the hardest-hit areas.
Entergy reported 20 broken poles and more than 50 spans of wire down throughout Southwest Louisiana.
Additional crews, both company and contractor, were brought in to assist with the restoration effort, Mitchell said.
The National Weather Service said there is a 40 percent chance of rain today, and a 20 percent chance of rain for the remainder of the week.
National Weather Service forecaster Mike Marcott said 2.33 inches of rain fell Saturday at the Lake Charles Regional Airport, and 0.29 inches of rain fell Sunday.
On Friday, 0.79 inches of rain fell.
“Rain chances through the upcoming work week are going to be significantly lower,” Marcotte said.
The city of Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish opened a cooling station for residents without power Saturday night and Sunday morning at the Purple Heart Recreation Center, Mayor Randy Roach said.
Posted By: Red Cross Volunteer On: 7/23/2012
Title: Aisstance
Of homes are damanged to where it is unlivable, please contact the American Red Cross at 478-5122
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