Hurricane Francine made landfall in Morgan City, Louisiana at 5:00 PM with winds of 100 mph. The National Hurricane Center confirmed that Hurricane Francine was a Category 2 storm upon landfall.
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Both Louisiana and Mississippi declared states of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Francine’s landfall. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry urged residents to stay off the roads, stay home and stay put to avoid the storm’s hazardous conditions.
President Joe Biden granted an emergency declaration to expedite federal assistance for Louisiana’s recovery efforts.
By Wednesday night, more than 221,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana. The number grew to over 261,000 as the storm continued inland.
Coastal parishes especially those nearest to Morgan City were hit the hardest by power outages with many expecting periods of darkness as repair crews braved dangerous conditions to restore electricity.
The NHC warned of a life-threatening storm surge along Louisiana’s coast with water levels expected to rise by as much as 10 feet in some areas.
Coastal parishes like Cameron, Port Fourchon and Vermilion Bay were vulnerable with local authorities issuing mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders.
In Morgan City, streets were submerged, as the storm’s surge mixed with heavy rainfall to create urban flooding.
Hurricane Francine was forecasted to bring between 4 to 8 inches of rainfall to central and eastern Louisiana, with the wettest areas seeing up to 12 inches. The heavy rain with high winds, created a risk of flash flooding throughout the region including New Orleans.
New Orleans faced flooding with Bourbon Street and other parts of the city experiencing torrential rains and water-logged streets.
Jefferson Parish located near New Orleans said residents to conserve water to prevent the city’s sewer system from becoming overwhelmed.
Some residents in New Orleans reported difficulty reaching emergency services due to mobile network disruptions, with backup hotlines established for urgent assistance.
Rainfall from the storm along the Interstate-10 corridor has caused flooding in parts of southern Louisiana. Flash flood emergencies have been declared in New Orleans, LaPlace and Metairie, with rainfall totals reaching 5 to 7 inches.
Streets in New Orleans are reported to be flooded, with cars submerged and power outages affecting parts of the city.
Additional flooding has been reported in other parts of southern Louisiana including Cocodrie and Dulac.
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Hurricane Francine surge continues to inundate coastal areas in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. In some parts of southern Louisiana, storm surge levels could reach up to 8 feet especially around Vermilion Bay.
Surge levels of 3 to 6 feet are also expected along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. Officials are urging residents to follow evacuation orders and stay out of affected areas until conditions improve.
Hurricane Francine’s strong winds have caused power outages across the Gulf Coast, with more than 330,000 homes and businesses without electricity in Louisiana. The areas include Terrebonne Parish, where the storm made landfall and neighboring St. Mary Parish, where floodwaters are rising.
Emergency responders have reported downed power lines, damaged homes and some roofs being torn off in St. Mary Parish. However, no injuries or fatalities have been reported as of Wednesday night.
Southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle are expected to receive heavy rainfall with some areas accumulating 4 to 8 inches and localized totals reaching up to 12 inches.
Major cities at risk of flooding include New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Biloxi, Jackson and Mobile. The National Weather Service has issued flood watches across these regions.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves have declared states of emergency in anticipation of the storm’s impacts.
President Joe Biden granted an emergency declaration for Louisiana to expedite federal assistance and resources. The Louisiana National Guard is mobilized, providing nearly 400 high-water vehicles, 100 boats and 50 helicopters to aid in search-and-rescue operations.
Emergency management agencies in Mississippi have distributed over 100,000 sandbags to help residents prepare for flooding and several school districts in the region have closed in anticipation of the storm.
After making landfall Hurricane Francine continued to move inland at a fast pace of 17 mph, weakening but still causing rainfall and flooding as it moved northeast.
The NHC predicted that Francine would bring heavy rains and flash flooding to cities in Mississippi, Alabama and even as far north as Tennessee and Georgia.
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