Hurricane Laura Causes Catastrophic Damage to Louisiana, Texas Transmission System

摘要

Hurricane Laura has tied with the 1856 Last Island hurricane as the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Louisiana. The Category 4 storm caused extensive flooding, damage to electric meters and communications towers and prolonged power outages, knocking out over 100,000 electric meters served by electric cooperatives in three states-Alabama, Louisiana and Texas- according to an article in T&D World magazine. Calcasieu and Cameron parishes were the hardest hit areas. Due to the extensive damage to transmission infrastructure serving these states, the transmission and distribution systems will require a "complete rebuild," especially in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, according to a Sept. 14 press release from integrated energy company Entergy Corp. Hurricane Laura caused severe damage to transmission and distribution systems across Louisiana and Texas. Entergy's assessment found 6,500 damaged poles, 300 miles of downed wires and 2,890 damaged transformers. Entergy expected it would take until late September to restore power to most customers in southwest Louisiana.