FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Steele | [email protected] | 225-788-0095
BATON ROUGE (May 14, 2024) – The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) is currently in contact with our local emergency partners receiving damage assessments and other important information. A squall line with hurricane force winds and possible tornadoes caused damage from Southwest Louisiana through South Central Louisiana. Power outages peaked at more than 100-thousand customers mostly in the storm’s path. The numbers have dropped as utility crews were able to begin restoration efforts.
“GOHSEP’s regional coordinators and operations team were working with our local partners as the storms intensified. That work now continues with the ongoing recovery efforts,” said GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodeaux. “Our thoughts this morning are with the families of the two victims who died as a result of the storms. We will use the damage reports from our local partners to determine a recovery path going forward. We urge the public to follow the messaging from local officials and please use caution if operating generators or other power equipment during cleanup from the storms.”
The storms caused tree and power line damage, flash flooding and other problems across the impacted areas. Please do not sightsee in these regions because additional traffic may cause delays for our utility crews, first responders and other emergency efforts.
Please follow GOHSEP’s social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn. The GOHSEP Get A Game Plan Podcast is another resource available to help you and your family prepare for any type emergency. You can download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other preparedness information at www.getagameplan.org
