Thousands in Terrebonne and Lafourche still without electricity as recovery continues

It has been 18 days since Gabby Pellegrin has had electricity in her Montegut home.  

Hurricane Ida ripped through Terrebonne and Lafourche Aug. 29, ripping off roofs, uprooting trees and leaving more than 1 million people without power. 

More:Hurricane Ida recovery: Where to find help, resources in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes

Pellegrin is one of the 12,348 residents in Terrebonne who still don’t have electricity. She said buying gasoline to keep her generators up and running has been challenging. 

“As soon as the hurricane started, maybe 10 minutes later we heard a transformer blow,” she said. “After that we had no lights, water or cell service. We’re just getting good cell service since last week, but it’s very spotty. Two days ago, our service went down for a whole day. I just loaded up all my gas cans to go wait in the free gas line and I was informed they will not be returning now that Houma has power and working gas pumps.

"What about us, though? All of our gas is in our generators. I’ve been collecting empty cans from my neighbors just so I can get them some free gas to keep it going and now we’ve been cut off.” 

As of Thursday, Entergy reported 12,348 customers, 44% of the total in Terrebonne, remained without power, along with 18,073, or 52%, in Lafourche. Electricity is still slated to be fully restored to most areas by Sept. 29. 

More than 95% of customers in Houma have been restored, Terrebonne President Gordy Dove said.  

More:In south Lafourche, Hurricane Ida leaves nearly three dozen firefighters without homes

“While the estimated date of restoration is Sept. 29 for the vast majority or 90% of customers, we have already begun powering critical facilities and other social infrastructure within the parish in advance of this date,” Entergy spokesman Brandon Scardigli said. “We continue to clear roads and pick up poles and wire while simultaneously repairing feeder lines to critical customers.  We expect to continue this focus while we expand to residential areas and restore power to the parish.” 

Some areas in south Lafourche, however, may not have power by the end of the month, Scardigli said. 

“The area suffered massive damage, and the electric network in southern portions of the parish will have to be completely rebuilt,” he said. “These areas, including Golden Meadow and areas south of Golden Meadow, may experience outages that extend beyond Sept. 29.” 

— Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanVCopp.