Thousands of Northwest Louisiana Swepco Customers Still Without Electricity

Downed trees and power lines have been reported all over Northwest Louisiana and Swepco is working feverishly to restore power to the over 5,000 customers who, at this hour, are still without electricity.  

As of this writing at 5:04 am, Swepco is reporting that there are still 1438 customers without electricity in Bossier Parish, 3097 in Caddo, 835 in Bienville, 261 in Desoto and 235 in Red River.

On the Swepco website, you'll find several useful tips for the next time you find yourself without power.

•  Unplug major appliances to protect them from a power surge when power comes back on.
• Leave a light turned on so you know when power is restored.
• Refuel heaters, lamps, and generators outside, and stay away from any flames or sparks. Wipe up fuel spills immediately.
• Contact us if you're using a generator -- this protects you and our line workers as they work to restore power. Be safe with backup generators.
• Never operate lanterns, heaters, or fuel-fired stoves without proper ventilation.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. It releases poisonous carbon monoxide.
• Avoid downed power lines or sparking equipment.
• Never remove debris that's within 10 feet of a power line.
• Prevent children from carrying candles or oil lamps.