DEMCO Prepares for Ida

Greenwell Springs, LA – DEMCO is actively preparing for Ida and we expect extensive impacts to our seven-parish service area. Hurricane force winds and rain will likely impact the system before, during and after the storm.

“We encourage members to prepare now for Ida which we expect to be a major hurricane that impacts us directly,” Randy Pierce, CEO and General Manager. “If this storm is anything like Gustav, our members should prepare now for extended outages.”

Currently Ida is tracking toward DEMCO service areas and damage to our electric distribution system and repairs and restoration of service can only begin after assessment of damage which takes time and meticulous attention to safety and process protocols. Damage to system components such as electric poles and lines can be hidden by debris and flood waters.

“Flood waters must recede, wind speed must be less than 35 mph, and debris must be removed for crews to begin working on repairs and restoration,” says Mark Phillips, Director of Operations.

Especially in rural areas, debris requires special off-road equipment to clear the area, transport the equipment and make repairs to damaged infrastructure.

DEMCO reminds members there are three ways to report outages.

  • Call 1-844-MyDEMCO (1-844-693-3626) Option 1
  • Download the MyDEMCO mobile app available for Android and iOS
  • Visit www.DEMCO.org homepage and click Report Outage

“Each of these outage reporting methods receives outage data entered and automatically incorporates that data into our outage management system in real time,” says David Latona, Vice President of Marketing and Member Services. “Call 911 to report a downed line or life-threatening hazardous situation so local authorities can take the lead and triage emergency response.”

DEMCO encourages members to visit www.DEMCO.org/member-services/storm-center for preparedness checklists and safety tips, some of which are listed below.

Stay or Leave:

  • Any resident who relies on electrically operated life support equipment and who does not have reliable back-up emergency power generation should consider immediate evacuation during a hurricane emergency.
  • Those who require life support, including oxygen, should be sure they have adequate reserves.
  • Those who have no emergency power generation should evacuate to a safer location.

If local authorities recommend evacuation:

  • Drive carefully to the nearest designated shelter using recommended evacuation routes.
  • Make sure the house is locked and the water and electricity are shut off at main stations.
  • Leave food and water for pets, since many shelters do not allow them.
  • Take small valuables with you, but travel light.

Freezers/ Refrigerators:

  • Try not to open the refrigerator and freezer! A full freezer can keep frozen foods safe up to 72 hours. A half-full freezer can still keep food frozen up to 24 hours after the power goes out. Fifty pounds of dry ice can keep a 18-cubic foot full freezer safe for approximately two days. Use extreme caution when choosing to eat food that has been defrosted.
  • The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours if it is unopened.
  • Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, refrigerated and leftovers after 4 hours without power.

Generator Safety:

  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety guidelines.
  • Never run a generator indoors. Run a generator outdoors at least 20 ft. from your home and position it so the exhaust is away from your home.
  • Never plug it directly into home wiring through an outlet. Plug appliances directly into generator sockets. If you must use an extension cord, use a heavy-duty one for outdoor use and rated to at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads.

DEMCO powers 113,500 meters that serve over a half-a-million people in a seven-parish service area of Southeast Louisiana: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and West Feliciana.