9:30 a.m. Update: As of 9:30 a.m. today, Cleco has restored power to approximately 20,000 of the 35,000 customers who lost electricity overnight due to severe weather.

In addition to Cleco’s regular statewide resources, the company has brought in 280 additional personnel, including line mechanics and vegetation workers.

“With the extra crews we brought in to assist, we’ve been able to bring down our outage numbers substantially early in the restoration process,” said Clint Robichaux, Cleco’s Director of Distribution Operations & Reliability.

Crews continue to assess damage, clear debris and repair damaged equipment to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

“The damage is consistent with past powerful storms,” said Robichaux. “We are seeing lots of downed wire, broken poles and cross-arms as well as flooded areas which can be challenging when working to restore power because we often have to wait for water to recede or bring in special equipment.”

How to stay safe after a storm:

• Operate portable generators outdoors only and in well-ventilated areas, away from combustible material and kept free of oil, mud and other foreign matter. Plug appliances directly into portable generators with grounded extension cords that can handle the load. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. It could back feed electricity through your home's wiring to the entire Cleco circuit and cause injury or death to a worker attempting to repair that circuit.
• Assume all downed power lines are live and stay away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 1-800-622-6537 and 911. Don't step in nearby puddles or attempt to move any object that comes in contact with a downed power line.
• If water is rising, turn off electricity at the main breaker, evacuate and stay away until waters have completely receded. Have an electrician check the building's wiring before using electricity.