Greenwell Springs, LA – DEMCO reports significant damage in East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes following last night’s severe weather, which brought heavy winds and lightning. At the peak of the storm, 17,000 outages were reported.  

Through various measures including isolation of damaged portions of the electric system and rerouting power to maximize restoration efforts, outages were reduced to 7,677 by 8:10 p.m. DEMCO crews worked through the night and at noon report outages at 3,175.

The most severe damage occurred in Zachary, Baker and Port Hudson areas of East Baton Rouge, and Oak Forest, Port Vincent areas in Livingston. Large trees and winds exceeding 60 mph took out significant portions of the electric infrastructure, requiring the installation of new poles, lines, and transformers to restore service. These areas will experience longer restoration times due to the extensive damage.

Mutual aid crews from Washington St. Tammany Electric Co-op, South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, and Claiborne Electric Co-op are assisting with the restoration efforts.

DEMCO urges affected members to stay away from damaged areas, as debris may conceal downed lines that are still conducting electricity. Parents should ensure children stay clear of these hard-hit areas, as lines may be hidden in debris or lying on fences and nearby structures. For safety reasons, it is also crucial to stay clear of working crews and their vehicles.

To view outages and track restoration progress, visit DEMCO.org/storm-center.