A cat knocked out the power for more than 7,500 people in New Orleans on Monday morning.
The cat got into the substation for utility company Entergy and came into contact with electrical equipment.
Residents lost power in the city’s central business district, as well as the Mid-City, Central City, and Broadmoor neighborhoods.
A cat knocked out power for more than 7,500 people in New Orleans on Monday after getting into the substation for utility company Entergy (file photo)
Residents lost power in the city’s central business district, as well as the Mid-City, Central City, and Broadmoor neighborhoods. Pictured is a map showing the affected areas
The outage was reported at at 8.30am. Entergy said power for all customers was resorted by 11.15am.
Entergy revealed that cat did not survive after it came into contact with the equipment and caused a ‘flash’.
The utility company said it is ‘unusual for a cat’ to get into a substation or make it around protective devices.
‘Entergy installs protective devices to help keep animals out of our equipment not only to avoid power outages, but also to keep animals out of harm’s way,’ spokeswoman Charlotte Cavell said in a statement.
The outage was reported at at 8.30am. Entergy said power for all customers was resorted by 11.15am. It also revealed the cat unfortunately did not survive
‘Sometimes, however, they are able to make their way around the protective devices, and when this happens, the animals unfortunately do not survive contact with high-voltage equipment.’
This isn’t the first time outages have hit Entergy due to animals or odd objects this year.
In July 3,000 people lost power in the city after a mylar balloon hit power lines and caused an outage.
And in January more than 3,000 people lost power after special metallic balloons hit a power line before the New Orleans Saints’ NFC Wild Card playoff game.