SHREVEPORT, La. — Recovery efforts continued Tuesday across northwest Louisiana as utilities restored power, health systems adjusted operations, and local governments extended closures in the wake of Winter Storm Fern, one of the most significant winter weather events to impact the region in decades.
While conditions gradually improved, hazardous roads, lingering power outages and extreme cold continued to disrupt normal operations for hospitals, courts, campuses and municipal governments. Officials again urged residents to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.
Health care systems across the Shreveport-Bossier area reported modified operations. Willis Knighton Health said all hospitals remain fully operational for inpatients and emergency care, but clinics, physician network offices, Quick Care and Work Kare locations will remain closed until Wednesday. Elective surgeries are postponed, though emergency surgical services continue. The system noted that many employees stayed overnight to ensure uninterrupted patient care.
LSU Health Shreveport announced its academic campus will remain closed Tuesday, though hospital operations at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport were unaffected. Emergency departments remain open, and officials said updates will continue as conditions evolve.
David Raines Community Health Centers also closed clinics Tuesday, postponing all appointments through Jan. 27. Patients needing urgent care were advised to seek assistance at the nearest emergency room.
Utility restoration remained a major focus. Entergy Louisiana said its storm teams are continuing damage assessments and restoration work statewide. The company anticipates restoring power to 90% of customers in accessible areas along the I-20 corridor, including Ouachita Parish, by Wednesday evening, Jan. 28. More heavily impacted and hard-to-access areas could see restoration extend through Thursday, Jan. 29.
Entergy reported nearly 91,500 customers were without power at the height of the storm and emphasized that restoration timelines may change as assessments continue. Customers were advised to check for damage to home electrical equipment and to contact electricians if repairs are needed before power can be safely restored.
Meanwhile, Southwestern Electric Power Co. reported significant progress in its service territory, including northwest Louisiana. As of 6 p.m. Monday, about 24,300 customers remained without power, down from more than 175,000 outages earlier in the storm. SWEPCO said crews have restored power to more than 150,900 customers and are being aided by warmer temperatures expected to improve travel and repair conditions.
To speed damage assessments, SWEPCO deployed helicopter and drone patrols from Marshall, Texas, and Natchitoches, Louisiana, allowing crews to identify damage in remote and heavily wooded areas inaccessible by road. Restoration efforts remain active in the Shreveport, Longview and Valley districts, with estimated restoration times ranging from late Monday through Wednesday depending on location.
Local government operations remained limited. The Bossier Parish Police Jury announced the Bossier Parish Courthouse will remain closed through Tuesday, with a decision on reopening Wednesday still pending. Bossier City Hall and non-essential municipal operations also remained closed, and the Shreveport City Council canceled its Tuesday meeting, which will not be rescheduled.
Colleges and universities continued to operate remotely. Louisiana State University Shreveport, Bossier Parish Community College, and Southern University Shreveport all remained closed for in-person operations, with virtual instruction continuing where applicable.
Public safety officials reported deadly consequences tied to the storm. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed three storm-related deaths, including two men in Caddo Parish who died from hypothermia and an 86-year-old DeSoto Parish man who died from carbon monoxide poisoning while operating a generator in a garage. Authorities again warned residents about the dangers of improper generator use.
Law enforcement agencies said hazardous road conditions continue to strain emergency response. DeSoto Parish officials reported a surge in roadway rescues, noting that many calls involved residents traveling unnecessarily. Warming centers remain available throughout Shreveport for residents without heat or power.
Shreveport Regional Airport advised passengers to check with airlines for cancellations, with multiple American and Delta flights affected.
Officials across the region stressed that while progress is being made, recovery remains ongoing. Residents were urged to stay off icy roads, treat downed power lines as energized, check on vulnerable neighbors, and monitor official updates as northwest Louisiana moves toward reopening after Winter Storm Fern.
The Center Square contributed to this report.