SHREVEPORT, La. — Northwest Louisiana continued to face widespread disruption Monday as Winter Storm Fern brought dangerous road conditions, power outages and freezing temperatures to the region. Local governments, schools and colleges extended closures through at least Tuesday while emergency crews and utilities worked to restore services.
In Caddo and Bossier parishes, local officials announced widespread closures for public offices, courts and schools. The Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Clerk of Court, Juvenile Court and Tax Assessor’s Office remained closed Monday and Tuesday, as did the First Judicial District Court and Caddo Parish Commission departments. City of Shreveport offices and the Shreveport City Marshal’s Office also closed through Tuesday.
In Bossier Parish, the courthouse, Viking Drive and Arthur Ray Teague substations, and detectives’ offices on the Louisiana Boardwalk were closed Monday, with reopening decisions expected after a reassessment Tuesday. The Bossier Parish Police Jury confirmed the courthouse will remain closed at least through Tuesday. Warming centers operated by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office in Bossier City and Plain Dealing were scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Monday as conditions stabilized.
All Bossier Parish schools and centers remained closed through Tuesday under an Extreme Cold Warning. Both Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS) and Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) also extended campus closures through Tuesday.
“The LSUS campus will remain closed through Tuesday, January 27, to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff,” the university said in a statement to students. “We currently anticipate opening Wednesday at normal time.” In-person classes will be held online, and essential personnel will continue to report for duty.
BPCC announced that its campuses in Bossier, Natchitoches and Many would remain closed both Monday and Tuesday, with virtual classes continuing as scheduled. “College administrators will continue to monitor the weather closely and provide updates as needed through multiple communication channels,” the college said, urging students to check Canvas for instructor updates and to sign up for its Cavs Alert System.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office cautioned residents that, although the storm had passed, icy roadways remained hazardous. “While the recent severe weather has passed, road conditions throughout the parish remain dangerous due to frigid temperatures,” the department said in a public statement, advising drivers to stay home and watch for downed trees, icy bridges and malfunctioning traffic signals.
Statewide, President Donald J. Trump approved an emergency declaration for Louisiana on Sunday, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts in all 64 parishes. FEMA will provide direct federal assistance under its Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding, with Benjamin Abbott appointed as the Federal Coordinating Officer.
The storm’s reach also disrupted election operations. Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced that Governor Jeff Landry suspended early voting Monday for the Feb. 7 Special Legislative Primary Election because of the severe weather. Early voting will resume Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m., and the Secretary of State’s Office will reopen the same day.
Across the region, power restoration remained a major focus. Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) reported that about 43,550 customers remained without power as of Sunday evening, down from a peak of nearly 69,000 outages at the height of the storm.
“Winter Storm Fern is a nationwide weather event, affecting nearly 250 million people from Mexico to Canada,” SWEPCO said. “We know how hard it is to be without electricity during extreme cold, and every action we take is focused on restoring service safely and as quickly as possible.”
SWEPCO said restoration efforts were active across all affected districts, including Shreveport and Natchitoches, with crews redeployed as repairs progress. The utility has also listed warming station locations on its outage map for residents needing shelter.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross of Louisiana continued to coordinate warming shelters and call for volunteers to assist in storm response efforts. More than 50 trained Red Cross responders are supporting 20 shelters across the state, including locations in Haughton and Natchitoches.
“With Winter Storm Fern moving through the state and the increased risk of power outages, the American Red Cross is calling on residents across Louisiana to step up and volunteer,” said Kenneth St. Charles, Ph.D., regional chief executive officer for the Red Cross.
Officials urged residents to continue monitoring updates, conserve power, check on vulnerable neighbors, and avoid unnecessary travel until roads are cleared and temperatures rise. Emergency services remain available 24 hours a day by calling 911 for emergencies or parish non-emergency lines for storm-related issues.