Louisiana Hurricane Generator & Power Outage Checklist

Louisiana's Gulf Coast parishes see some of the longest multi-day outages in the country during hurricane season. Here's what to check before a storm is even on the forecast.

Counties tracked

Grade F counties

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Checklist

1.Test your generator under load at least once before hurricane season starts — don't find out it won't start when a storm is already forecast.
2.Stock fuel with a stabilizer added (for gasoline) or confirm your propane tank level — both sell out fast once a storm watch is issued.
3.Know your home's transfer switch or extension cord setup in advance, and confirm you have the right cords for your generator's outlets.
4.Install fresh batteries in a carbon monoxide detector and confirm smoke detector batteries too — never run a generator indoors or in a garage.
5.Fill coolers with ice before the storm arrives to extend refrigerator and freezer food safety if the outage stretches past a few hours.
6.Charge all power banks, lanterns, and phones to full before the storm's expected arrival.
7.Know your evacuation zone and monitor official emergency management guidance — a generator plan backs up staying, it isn't a substitute for evacuating if officials advise it.