Category 4 storm, Hurricane Laura, struck Louisiana on Sunday, August 20, battering the coast and leaving 16 dead in its wake. Hurricane Laura made landfall around 1 a.m. with sustained winds of 150 mph, devastating many southern Louisiana communities for miles. Once the hurricane downgraded to a tropical storm, the damage made to the streets of Luisiana could be clearly seen.
Dick Gremillion, the director for the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, told reporters that over 910,000 people lost power in their homes, and many businesses fear they may not recover due to the effects of Hurricane Laura. It has been estimated by public utility officials that thousands of Louisiana citizens will face weeks without power or water during the scorching days of summer. Many residents who evacuated came back to find severe damage.
The loss of houses and power seemed minimal in this ordeal, however. Up until recently, 16 deaths have been recorded, four in Texas. More than half of the fatalities can be attributed to the unsafe operation of generators, causing carbon monoxide poisoning. Sheriff Tony Mancuso said that his office had responded to more than 1,660 calls for help and had completed 66 rescue missions for people who had been trapped in their homes.
Jerry Ellison, a Birmingham, Alabama resident, almost became trapped in his home. During the storm, two large longleaf pine trees came crashing down in his yard. One tree had fallen into the road while the other crushed his neighbor's house. The neighbors, fortunately, had evacuated ahead of the storm, but if the tree had fallen a little more to the side, Ellison and his family would have been trapped in their house with a small chance of being saved intime.
"We're so lucky, it could have been a whole lot worse," said Ellison to a reporter. FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has already taken action in response to the destruction across Louisiana. They deployed 800 personnel to support the response and recovery, including seven regional Incident Management Assistance Teams and four Urban Search and Rescue teams deployed to Louisiana. Their main goal, helping Louisiana citizens that have been deeply affected by the outcome of this hurricane, has been fairly effective.
FEMA sent their Disaster Medical Assistance Team to set up tents at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital to provide support in response to Hurricane Laura. These teams have been staffed with medical professionals who can help respond to medical needs in a disaster area. More than 10 hospitals in Louisiana lost power and had to transfer their patients to other states. As the peak months of the season approach, meteorologists warn of more disturbances in the Atlantic, such as Hurricane Sally, most recently. The hurricane season continues until the end of November. In North Carolina, severe storms can happen anytime of the year; more frequently in March, April, and May. According to Lee Ringer, a North Carolina meteorologist, when severe storms make their way to NC, "It is best to seek shelter in a small, windowless, interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. A basement, interior hallway, closet, or windowless bathroom often provide the best protection."
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