SHREVEPORT, La. — With Winter Storm Fern forecast to bring snow, ice and dangerously cold temperatures across Louisiana and the broader region this weekend, state utilities, local governments, and emergency agencies are mobilizing in advance of potentially severe weather conditions.
SWEPCO Positions Crews and Equipment
Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) has placed more than 2,300 linemen, forestry, and support employees on alert across its service territory in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. The company said its teams are positioning equipment, testing backup systems, and preparing to work around the clock until power is restored to all customers affected by the storm.
“Storms are unpredictable,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO president and chief operating officer. “Training like this ensures we’re ready for the unexpected — and ready to keep the lights on and power flowing for the communities we serve.”
The company’s readiness is backed by months of preparation. In 2025, SWEPCO inspected roughly 80,000 utility poles, replaced 16,000, and trimmed 1,300 miles of vegetation to reduce outages. Power plants have been upgraded and cold-weather procedures updated to maintain generation reliability. SWEPCO said it operates a geographically diverse power fleet to help maintain supply during severe weather events.
Entergy Strengthens Grid and Suspends Disconnects
Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans also announced readiness measures ahead of the storm and will suspend service disconnections through at least Jan. 26. The utilities said restoration work after a winter storm can be dangerous due to downed trees, ice accumulation, and freezing roadways, and urged customers to stay clear of work zones and report outages safely.
Entergy said its pre-winter actions include insulating critical power plant equipment, draining and protecting piping systems vulnerable to freezing, inspecting substations, and performing targeted vegetation trimming. The company uses artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to identify where additional clearing may be needed.
“Our teams prepare year-round, but when a weather threat arises, we ramp up support,” the company said in a statement. “We use forecasts and computer models based on experience with previous storms to position personnel and materials to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.”
Local Parishes Align Emergency Plans
In Northwest Louisiana, emergency management offices are coordinating storm responses. The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office convened an emergency meeting Thursday morning with representatives from state and federal agencies, hospitals, and service organizations. Officials received an updated forecast from the National Weather Service and emphasized ongoing coordination through the parish’s Emergency Operations Center.
Across the Red River, the Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (BOHSEP) gathered parish and state partners to finalize operational plans. With the National Weather Service predicting up to a quarter-inch of ice, Bossier Parish officials said highway crews are prepared to apply salt and brine to major roadways and work alongside the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to keep key corridors open, including I-20 and I-220.
“This level of coordination ensures that every partner knows their assignment and that our response will be unified and efficient,” said Bossier Parish Administrator Dr. Ken Ward. “Ice accumulation of this magnitude can quickly disrupt normal operations, so preparation is essential.”
AgCenter Shares Home and Plant Protection Tips
The LSU AgCenter is advising residents to prepare homes and plants for freezing conditions. The LaHouse Research and Education Center recommends running one faucet at a slow drip to prevent frozen pipes, wrapping outdoor faucets, sealing drafts, and using space heaters safely. In case of power outages, residents are urged to keep generators outdoors and away from doors or windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
For gardens, LSU horticulture experts suggest bringing potted plants indoors, replenishing mulch around roots, and covering tender plants and citrus trees with breathable fabric such as frost cloth or old sheets. Covers should extend to the ground and be removed once temperatures rise.
Residents Urged to Prepare Now
Utilities and emergency officials across the region are encouraging residents to update contact information in their online utility accounts, subscribe to outage alerts, and assemble emergency kits with flashlights, blankets, water, and batteries.
For power restoration updates, SWEPCO customers can visit swepco.com/safety, and Entergy customers can access storm resources at entergynewsroom.com/storm-center. Caddo and Bossier residents can find local updates through the Caddo Ready app or parish emergency management websites.
Authorities urged residents to limit travel during icy conditions and to check on neighbors, seniors, and vulnerable family members as Winter Storm Fern moves through Louisiana this weekend.