Hurricane Francine Leaves Over 390,000 Without Power Across Southeast Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — Southeast Louisiana is grappling with widespread power outages after Hurricane Francine, which knocked out electricity to more than 390,000 homes and businesses. The storm landed in Terrebonne Parish late Wednesday afternoon, bringing fierce winds and torrential rain to an already storm-weary region.

Francine, initially classified as a Category 2 hurricane, hit the Louisiana coast at approximately 5 p.m. on Sept. 11. By 8 p.m., it had weakened to a Category 1, but not before leaving a trail of destruction in its path. Powerful winds downed trees, damaged infrastructure, and caused extensive power disruptions across multiple parishes.

According to PowerOutage.us, as of 5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, more than 390,000 customers remain without power statewide. The most significant impacts have been felt in East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston parishes.

Entergy Louisiana, one of the state’s largest utility providers, reported that 16,096 customers in East Baton Rouge Parish are currently in the dark. In Ascension Parish, 27,135 homes and businesses are without electricity, while Livingston Parish faces 8,912 outages. Utility crews have been dispatched across the affected areas, but early assessments suggest it could take days to fully restore power, especially in more heavily impacted regions.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards urged residents to remain patient as crews work tirelessly to assess damage and repair lines. “We understand the frustration of being without power, especially in the sweltering September heat, but safety remains our top priority. We ask everyone to remain vigilant, stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, and avoid any downed power lines,” said Edwards during a briefing early Thursday morning.

In addition to the power outages, local officials are dealing with flooding in low-lying areas and significant wind damage to homes and businesses. Emergency services are on high alert, with shelters open in several parishes to accommodate residents displaced by the storm.

Hurricane Francine is the latest storm to batter Louisiana in what has been an unusually active hurricane season. Despite weakening after landfall, the storm continues to bring heavy rains as it moves inland, with forecasts predicting continued impact on parts of Mississippi and Alabama.

Restoration efforts are underway, but officials are warning that the recovery could be slow. “With the extent of the damage we’re seeing, particularly to transmission lines, this is not going to be an overnight fix,” said Entergy spokesperson Jessica Magee. “We’re asking everyone to prepare for several days without power, and we will provide regular updates as progress is made.”

Residents are advised to continue monitoring local news and heed any evacuation orders or emergency instructions as the remnants of Hurricane Francine continue to move through the region.