Storm by storm
| Storm | What happened to power | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gustav, Sept 1 2008 | About half of Baton Rouge still without power on Sept 9; the mayor expected full power by Sept 24 | NPR |
| Ida, Aug 29 2021 | About 80% of Entergy's East Baton Rouge customers out; 175,000+ out across EBR, Ascension and Livingston | The Advocate |
| Ida, day 8 | Most of East Baton Rouge restored; pockets near Central, Millerville and O'Neal last | WBRZ |
| Ida, statewide | Peak of about 902,000 Entergy outages | Fox 8 |
| Ida, DEMCO | About 100,000 of 113,500 meters out at the peak | DEMCO |
| Francine, Sept 11 2024 | About 28,000 Entergy customers in EBR at the peak; Ascension hit harder | WBRZ, The Advocate |
Who it matters most for
- Anyone on oxygen, a CPAP or other powered medical equipment
- Homes with infants or older relatives in the August heat
- Houses on a sewer grinder pump or well
- People who work from home, or keep a freezer full of game and fish
The 2016 flood was different
August 2016 was rain, not wind: about 90% of structures in Denham Springs took water (The Advocate). A generator doesn't help a flooded house, but it's the reason to check your flood elevation and raise the unit if you're in a mapped zone.
If you're using a portable generator
Run it outdoors, far from windows and doors, never in a garage, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide has no smell. Plug appliances into the generator with outdoor-rated cords; never back-feed the house through a dryer outlet, which can kill a lineworker.
Common questions
How long were people without power after Ida?
Entergy said about 80% of its East Baton Rouge customers lost power (The Advocate); most of the parish was back around day 8, with pockets near Central and Millerville last (WBRZ). After Gustav in 2008, about half the city was still dark eight days later (NPR).
Sources & further reading
- NPR: Baton Rouge after Gustav (Sept 2008)
- The Advocate: Ida outages (Aug 2021)
- WBRZ: eight days after Ida
- DEMCO: Ida outages (Sept 2021)
- WBRZ: Francine in East Baton Rouge (Sept 2024)
- The Advocate: Denham Springs, 2016 flood
Editorial note: General planning information, not engineering or legal advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rules with your local officials and a qualified pro.