Governor declares state of emergency as winter storm threatens Louisiana

The governor declared a state of emergency ahead of an expected winter event that will bring icing, possible snow in northern parishes and prolonged subfreezing temperatures, and urged Louisianans to prepare and stay off roads. “The safety of every Louisianan is a top priority,” the governor said.

State officials said the declaration allows direct state assistance to parishes and enables a waiver request for commercial motor carriers and drivers to speed fuel deliveries after early reports of shortages in parts of North Louisiana. The governor thanked FEMA Region 6 and federal partners for prepositioning assets including additional generators, water and ready‑to‑eat meals.

State meteorologist Jay Grimes said the most severe impacts are likely in central and northern parishes. “This is going to be a major event for North Louisiana,” Grimes said, warning of icing amounts that could reach “as much as half an inch or more” along the I‑20 corridor and a low‑probability, worst‑case scenario that could push significant icing farther south. He said some northern parishes could see an inch or more of snow on top of ice and that the cold could persist for “70 or more consecutive hours,” with lows near 10°F on multiple nights.

Transportation and utility preparations were described in detail. A DOTD spokesperson said the department has staged road‑treatment materials and equipment, reporting more than 10,000,000 pounds of salt and roughly 200,000 gallons of brine in inventory, along with graders, brine sprayers and spreaders to pretreat priority routes. “DOTD crews have already begun working 24‑hour shifts,” the spokesperson said; officials emphasized that if conditions worsen, crews will focus on state and federal priority routes first.

Brandon Fry of the Public Service Commission referenced the February 2021 winter event when asked about restoration timelines, saying the bulk of customers were restored within two days in that event though a small number required significantly longer. “We did have some… two weeks,” Fry said of the longest restoration cases, adding that access to damaged lines and roads will be the main limiter.

The governor and the state fire marshal urged residents to follow home‑safety guidance: use space heaters away from combustibles, do not heat homes with ovens or stoves, test smoke alarms nightly and install carbon monoxide detectors if using generators. The fire marshal noted the state has distributed about 27,000 smoke alarms and is providing carbon monoxide signage and detectors in northern areas.

Bruce Greenstein, Louisiana’s secretary of health, said eight warming centers are currently open with 29 more pending and that warming centers are run by local governments and are not intended as overnight shelters. Updates on warming‑center locations are being posted hourly by local officials and on state websites.

Officials urged residents to download the state’s Get a Game Plan app and to follow 511la.org for road closure information. The governor closed the briefing by again advising people to stay home during hazardous conditions and to check on neighbors, especially older residents.

The state will continue to provide updates as the event unfolds via GOSEP, DOTD and local emergency management channels.