Southeast Louisiana wakes up with flooded homes, widespread power outages and damage
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Francine weakened to a tropical depression Thursday after making landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people and causing residential flooding in southeastern counties.
After reaching Terrebonne Parish with sustained winds of 100 mph (160 km/h), the storm swept heavily across the region before weakening and moving toward New Orleans and the North Shore.
Power outages spread quickly, and more than 360,000 people were still without power as of Thursday morning. Entergy officials say they are currently assessing the damage and restoration times are not yet known.
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Flooding was reported in several communities; in some areas, Francine brought 20 centimeters of rain or more.
Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says the storm overloaded pumps and flooded canals in Kenner and Metairie. Although two pumping stations lost capacity overnight, Lee Sheng says the 9 inches of rain Francine dumped overwhelmed the system even at full power. Floodwaters reportedly entered buildings and homes in Kenner and Bridge City.
Matt Jewell, president of St. Charles Parish, says Francine left 240 homes underwater. Those affected are asked to call the EOC at 985-783-5050.
St. John the Baptist Parish received 5 to 7 inches of rain, causing significant flooding on streets and in certain areas. Parish President Jaclyn Hotard said several buildings were flooded, but she did not have exact numbers.
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Heavy rains have caused flooding in downtown New Orleans. The Sewer and Water Utility said the sewer system was affected by power outages, delaying flood relief efforts.
The weakening storm appeared to have largely spared North Coast communities in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany and Washington counties, but emergency crews were busy clearing downed trees and power lines from roads.
Damage assessments in the hardest hit communities of Terrebonne and Lafourche were slow, where mandatory evacuations and curfews were imposed before the storm. At least one building in Houma, a flea market, was destroyed.
Residents of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes were asked to use water sparingly to prevent sewer backups.
Gov. Jeff Landry will fly in by helicopter Thursday afternoon to survey some of the worst damage. En route to Houma, he will fly over St. Mary Parish and is expected to spend 90 minutes on the ground surveying the storm’s damage.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux of the Louisiana National Guard said up to 2,500 members will assist in rescue and relief efforts. They are stationed in southeast and south-central Louisiana to assist in the storm’s aftermath.
The guard has prepared 58 boats, 101 high-water vehicles and 61 aircraft for use after the storm, with another 270 vehicles in reserve in case of need, Friloux said.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has 150 law enforcement officers with trucks and boats on standby to assist with the hurricane, Secretary Madison Sheahan said. More than 400 Louisiana State Police troopers are also on standby to help, Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges said.
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