PINEVILLE, La. – May 29, 2026 – The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through the end of November. Cleco is ready and encourages customers to prepare.
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipate that the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season will be “below average” with a predicted eight to 14 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to three major hurricanes.
“Cleco plans year-round for weather-related events,” said Clint Robichaux, director of distribution operations and reliability at Cleco Power. “As part of our preparation efforts, our storm teams regularly simulate large power outage events and participate in natural disaster drills. We also inventory and stock our storerooms with supplies to prepare for weather-related system or equipment damage, as well as ensure we have additional support resources on standby.”
Cleco reliability crews are also proactively preparing by increasing the removal of overgrown and hazardous vegetation in the company’s rights-of-way. And work recently commenced for the company’s largest grid resiliency investment to harden grid infrastructure by replacing electric equipment, undergrounding segments of the system, reinforcing utility poles, and elevating substations above flood plains.
“These investments will result in fewer outages and faster restoration times for our customers,” said Andre Guillory, chief customer officer at Cleco Power. “While Cleco ranks among the state’s most reliable and resilient power utilities, we will continue to pursue opportunities to strengthen and ready our grid.”
Here are some ways that customers can prepare for the upcoming hurricane season:
Create an emergency plan.
- Develop a plan if you need to evacuate. Include a list of emergency contacts and copies of important documents like insurance policies.
Create a storm kit.
- A storm kit should include one gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food and a manual can opener, a battery-powered radio, first aid kit and important medications, among other items.
Prepare your generator and review generator safety information.
- Portable generators, when used correctly, can provide backup power in the event of a power outage. Always operate a generator according to manufacturer instructions and in an open, well-ventilated area.
For more information on how to prepare for hurricane season or other storms, visit www.cleco.com/stormsafety.
