Louisiana Politicians Fume Over Prospect of Long Blackouts (2)

Two days after Hurricane Ida slammed into the Louisiana coast, tearing down power lines and transmission towers, Governor John Bel Edwards said it’s still not clear when homes and businesses plunged into darkness and heat will have their electricity restored.

Utility poles damaged by Hurricane Ida in Lockport, Louisiana, on Aug. 30.

Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg

At least four people are dead and more than 1 million homes and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi have no power in the storm’s wake. Entergy Corp., the main electric utility in New Orleans, said in a news release Tuesday that it had restored power to 85,000 customers but those in the hardest-hit areas could experience power outages ...