Governor Edwards announced today that beginning Monday K-12 teachers and those ages 55 to 64 with one or more preexisting conditions according to the CDC guidelines will be eligible to be vaccinated for COVID in Louisiana. Some of those preexisting conditions include cancer, heart disease, COPD, and down syndrome. Pregnant women will also be eligible to be vaccinated.
Entergy, along with CLECO and SWEPCO, are asking customers to conserve power to avoid overloads, due to historic demand. Utility providers have also conducted rolling blackouts to reduce usage. As the frigid temperatures continue, Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli says more rolling blackouts are possible.
Scardigli was unable to update the status of north Louisiana restoration due to the freezing precipitation last night.
The winter storm has passed but freezing cold temperatures are here to stay for the next few days. National Weather Service Shreveport forecaster Gary Chatelain says roads across north Louisiana are still an icy mess but we’ll be treated to some dry weather and sunshine even if temps remain in the thirties into the weekend.
State Police says I-20 is a solid block of ice and it’s resulted in jack-knifed 18-wheelers and several vehicles sliding off the highway. Trooper Brent Hardy says the two winter storms have produced a four to five-inch block of ice and even Troopers who train to drive in these conditions are struggling…
Hardy said a majority of the drivers that were stranded after sliding off interstate were out sightseeing.