SWEPCO gives an update on power outage following severe weather

Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) has an update on power restoration following the severe weather that hit northwest Louisiana Wednesday evening.

According to SWEPCO, crews across the service area have been assessing and responding to power outages that occurred after powerful storms brought damaging winds, hail and severe flooding.

As of 3:50 p.m. May 23 the Shreveport-Bossier area had a reported 3,614 customers without power. SWEPCO reported that at the peak of the storm there was approximately 16,800 customers without power.

According to SWEPCO, the hardest hit areas were parts of Shreveport south of Interstate 20 and south Bossier Parish.

Crews are still working to safely and efficiently restore service to customers without power.

SWEPCO has several post-storm safety tips, here are a few of the tips:

• Stay as far away as possible from downed wires and anything they may be touching. Call 911 to report any hazards or call SWEPCO immediately at (888) 218-3919.
• Carefully investigate before cleaning up any debris. Tree limbs, leaves and other objects moved by the wind could hide downed wires.
• Do not attempt to remove tree limbs or debris within 10 feet of a power line.
• If using a generator, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

SWEPCO is advising customers to enroll in alerts at SWEPCO.com/Alerts, which will give them updates on restoration information.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.