Hurricane Ida Restoration - Louisiana

Jul 13

Power | Foundations | Transmission | Disaster Response | Louisiana

Project Summary

In September 2021, one of the most powerful and rapidly intensifying hurricanes to hit the United States made landfall in Louisiana on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph, ravished Port Fourchon and its surrounding areas, destroying 75% of the existing infrastructure. Aldridge crews were part of the restoration efforts.

Aldridge can never truly prepare for storm work, but we are always at the ready. When word hit that one of our valued clients needed help with storm repair in Louisiana, we responded quickly. Navigating equipment logistics planning and continued bad weather in the area made for an interesting mobilization process, but in true Aldridge fashion, we made it happen, and crews started arriving on-site within a matter of days.

In anticipation of the destruction this storm was likely to cause, the utility called for help ahead of landfall. Our disaster response team quickly mobilized and sent 20 workers to Louisiana to help with restoration. Our linemen were the first to arrive and were pre-positioned in Baton Rouge, awaiting the storm. Once the storm hit, they got to work helping to restore power to the community. Their scope of work included repairing and replacing poles, conductors, crossarms, and transformers.

In Port Fourchon and on Grand Isle, where the storm made landfall, nearly everything was destroyed. Over 2,000 poles had to be restored, but drilling conditions proved challenging due to sand and a high water table. This work called for a drilling crew, so we pulled every available resource from all over the country to make up this crew of 30. The accommodations were much more favorable here and ranged from man camps, barges, and even offshore oil field vessels for those working in the area. Aldridge was part of a 20-contractor team that mobilized as a program to rebuild this area; it was truly an all-hands-on-deck situation.

The storm damaged the main feed from the mainland along with everything on the island. Because of the ground conditions, the crews installed corrugated metal pipe (CMP) and smooth-walled permanent pipe in all of the holes. This will also help speed up future restoration efforts should the need arise. Because of the relentless work of all those involved in the restoration efforts and some help from Aldridge crews, Port Fourchon and Grand Isle went from no poles standing to power in only six weeks!