Francine lashes Louisiana, leaves hundreds of thousands without power
Francine slammed into the Louisiana coast Wednesday evening as a dangerous Category 2 hurricane that knocked out electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses and threatened widespread flooding as it sent a potentially deadly storm surge rushing inland along the Gulf Coast. But it quickly lost much of its punch as it moved over land, was downgraded to a tropical storm late Wednesday night and was continuing to weaken Thursday morning.
The National Hurricane Center said Francine was moving farther inland over southeastern Louisiana and bringing heavy rain across Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
"On the forecast track," the Miami-based hurricane center said, "the center of Francine will move over central and northern portions of Mississippi through early Friday.
"Continued weakening is forecast, and Francine is expected to become a tropical depression this morning and degenerate to a post-tropical cyclone today."
Francine was centered about 60 miles north of New Orleans and had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of 5 a.m. EDT on Thursday, according to the hurricane center — meaning winds were less than half what they were at landfall. It was moving northeast at 12mph.
A storm has to have 39 mph winds to be classified as a tropical storm.
"Francine is expected to bring storm total rainfall of 3 to 6 inches across portions of Mississippi, eastern Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle," the hurricane center said. "Localized amounts up to 10 inches are possible within rain bands over portions of central and northern Alabama and over the Florida Panhandle. This rainfall could lead to locally considerable flash and urban flooding."
More than 391,000 customers were without power across Louisiana early Thursday, and some 41,000 were in the dark in Mississippi, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us.
Francine crashed ashore in Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, the National Hurricane Center announced at 5 p.m. EDT. Packing maximum sustained winds near 100 mph, the storm then battered a fragile coastal region that hasn't fully recovered from a series of devastating hurricanes in 2020 and 2021.
Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham said Francine quickly flooded streets, snapped power lines and sent tree limbs crashing down.
"It's a little bit worse than what I expected to be honest with you," Cockerham said of the onslaught. "I pulled all my trucks back to the station; it's too dangerous to be out there in this."
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
TV news broadcasts from Louisiana's coastal communities showed waves from nearby lakes, rivers and Gulf waters thrashing sea walls. Water poured into city streets and neighborhoods amid blinding downpours. Oak and cypress trees leaned in the high winds, and some utility poles swayed back and forth.
Hardest hit by the blackouts was Terrebonne Parish near where the storm's center hit land, as well as neighboring St. Mary Parish, which includes Morgan City.
Det. Lt. David Spencer, a spokesperson for the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office, told CBS News in an email that the parish was "seeing more flooding than originally predicted."
Spencer said the area was experiencing downed trees and power lines and damage to homes.
"We have had some roofs severely damaged and even gone," Spencer wrote, adding that there were no reports of injuries.
Sheltering at her mother's home just outside Morgan City, Laura Leftwich said blasts of wind had swept away two large birdhouses outside. She had a generator powering an internet connection so she could video chat with friends, holding her computer to a window to show them water overflowing in the street.
If the storm had been any more intense, "I wouldn't have the guts to look outside," said Leftwich, 40. "It's a little scary."
Terrebonne Parish President Jason Bergeron told CBS News on Wednesday that levies were holding but the water was rising.
"The ground is saturated with water, and as the levy system is closed that water has a harder time getting out, except for some areas that have some pumps," Bergeron said.
Francine drew fuel from exceedingly warm Gulf of Mexico waters, strengthening to a Category 2 storm hours before landfall, the National Hurricane Center said. Category 2 hurricanes are classified as having winds of between 96 to 110 mph that are capable of extensive damage.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the National Guard would fan out to parishes impacted by Francine. They have food, water, nearly 400 high-water vehicles, about 100 boats and 50 helicopters to respond to the storm, including for possible search-and-rescue operations.
Louisianans have experience with hurricanes
Since the mid-19th century, some 57 hurricanes have tracked over or made landfall in Louisiana, according to The Weather Channel. Among them are some of the strongest, costliest and deadliest storms in U.S. history.
Morgan City, home to around 11,500 people, sits on the banks of the Atchafalaya River in south Louisiana and is surrounded by lakes and marsh. It's described on the city's website as "gateway to the Gulf of Mexico for the shrimping and oilfield industries."
Luis Morfin, 26, left his RV camper outside Morgan City's levee to hunker down at a friend's home Wednesday night. Winds lashed the windows as they watching a TV powered by a generator. The power was out, but they were prepared to cook with steaks and potatoes on a propane stove.
"We knew what we were expecting," Morfin said. "I don't know how good my camper is, but we'll figure that out tomorrow."
President Biden granted an emergency declaration to help Louisiana secure expedited federal money and assistance. Landry and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also declared states of emergency.
