Hurricane Francine Brings Devastation to Louisiana with Floods and Power Outages

Hurricane Francine has caused widespread damage across Louisiana, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and triggering severe flooding as the storm made its way inland.

Francine made landfall on Wednesday at 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT) in Morgan City as a Category 2 hurricane, with winds reaching 100 mph (155 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm prompted a flash flooding emergency in New Orleans, where between six and eight inches (15-20 cm) of rain fell in a short period.

Though downgraded to a tropical storm, Francine continued to unleash winds of up to 70 mph as it moved northwest of New Orleans. Authorities in both Louisiana and neighboring Mississippi declared states of emergency, urging residents to stay home and off the roads. Governor Jeff Landry emphasized the importance of remaining indoors, stating, “Stay off the roads, stay home, and stay put."

Forecasters expect Francine to rapidly weaken as it moves further inland, but significant risks remain. Central and eastern Louisiana could see between four and eight inches (10-20 cm) of rainfall, with the potential for tornadoes and damaging winds. As of Wednesday night, more than 330,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana had lost power, according to data from Poweroutages.us.

A tornado watch has been issued for parts of southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle until 06:00 local time on Thursday (12:00 BST). Officials in Jefferson Parish, part of Greater New Orleans, have advised residents to remain at home due to severe street flooding. Similarly, Morgan City authorities reported unusual levels of flooding and cautioned drivers to avoid submerged streets.

The NHC has warned of a life-threatening storm surge along parts of eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama, and western Florida. In some areas, water levels could rise up to 10 feet (3 meters), posing a serious threat to coastal communities.

New Orleans has been particularly affected, with all flights in and out of the city’s airport canceled on Wednesday. Some coastal parishes are under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders, and schools and colleges in the region have closed. In the Gulf of Mexico, major oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil and Shell, have evacuated staff and temporarily halted operations in anticipation of the storm.

Jefferson Parish officials also requested that residents conserve water to prevent the sewer system from backing up into homes. The city’s emergency services were further strained as some mobile phone users experienced disruptions, leaving them unable to call 911. A backup hotline was established for emergency calls.

This storm comes as Louisiana recently marked the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which left over 1,800 people dead and caused widespread devastation. Governor Landry assured the public that the state had mobilized resources and deployed water rescue teams ahead of Francine’s landfall and was prepared to activate the National Guard if needed.

Francine’s impact follows an unusually quiet period during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which runs until November. Prior to Francine, the last named storm in the region was Ernesto, which occurred on August 12. Experts had anticipated a busier hurricane season this year, and meteorologists noted that the last time the Atlantic basin experienced such a lull was in 1968.

As the sixth named storm of 2024, Francine serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of hurricane season. With 19 named storms recorded last year, experts continue to monitor the potential for more extreme weather in the coming months.

Hurricanes are classified on a scale of one to five, with Category 5 being the most severe, characterized by winds exceeding 157 mph (250 km/h). Francine, despite being downgraded, remains a formidable storm as it continues to move inland, leaving Louisiana and neighboring states grappling with its aftermath.