Hurricane Laura has ripped through several parts of Texas and Louisiana, leaving a trail of devastation, flooding and at least seven people dead.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday a 14-year-old girl became the first fatality in Louisiana. The hurricane remains a Category 1 hurricane, with winds escalating to 75 mph and more than 170 miles after landfall.
In Iota, Acadia Parish Sheriff K.P. Gibson confirmed a 60-year-old man died from a fallen tree.
Two other people in Louisiana died from falling trees, according to reporter Abbi Rocha, citing Edwards.
It was unclear how the other two people died in Louisiana.
#BREAKING @LouisianaGov confirms 4 deaths caused from trees falling during #HurricaneLaura "I'm concerned as we continue to go out with search and rescue we will continue to find more fatalities."
— Abbi Rocha (@AbbiRochaTV) August 27, 2020
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said there was one unconfirmed death there, near Sabine.
Now all set at @GovAbbott’s presser in Orange, TX. Set to begin any minute. Tune into @KXAN_News now. pic.twitter.com/dyhABDq8pD
— Maggie Glynn (@maggie_glynn1) August 27, 2020
The hurricane is moving past Louisiana, but several have reported massive damage to their homes and businesses. Georgia Power crews headed to the state Thursday morning to attempt to restore power for thousands of Louisiana residents. There were nearly 470,000 homes and businesses without power as of Thursday morning.
“We help each other out. Several utility companies came to help us out after Hurricane Irma in 2017, and we’re going to go help them now,” Georgia Power spokesperson Allison Gregorie told Channel 2 Action News.
As the aftermath of Laura became clear Thursday morning, several flocked to Twitter to share some of the damage and loss they experienced overnight.
Aftermath from #HurricaneLaura2020 in #lakecharleslouisiana 😳 😞 my love continues to go out to everyone affected by the aftermath this has already caused & to the family who lost their 14 ur old (1st casualty).. The videos of the sound alone is beyond terrifying..pls stay safe pic.twitter.com/0pdDyLXZ7A
— KAYLA STEWART 🏳️🌈🤙☮️ (@imkaylastewart) August 27, 2020
A tropical storm turned into #HurricaneLaura2020 bc our oceans are too warm.
— Jen Perelman (@JENFL23) August 27, 2020
I support a #GreenNewDeal & hope you will too. pic.twitter.com/KbWfOdOud6
Prayers please. Inches from home and still rising. #HurricaneLaura2020 pic.twitter.com/aJ782xduGz
— Dandy Don LSU Sports (@dandydonlsu) August 27, 2020
WARNING: The water is full of toxic chemicals, life threatening debris, & dangerous animals—including alligators.
— Arctic Friend (@FriendEden100) August 27, 2020
🙏🏻Please stay out of the water🙏🏻
A video from Lafayette, Louisiana, posted on Snapchat.#HurricaneLaura2020 pic.twitter.com/PIURPXTcLo
A large chemical fire reportedly happened Thursday morning in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but crews were having challenges accessing the scene.
BREAKING: Large chemical fire & leak in Lake Charles, Louisiana amid the aftermath of #HurricaneLaura2020. Emergency services say they are not able to get to the scene at this time. pic.twitter.com/unvubixY0s
— Cicada News (@cicada_news) August 27, 2020
There were some residents who did not experience much damage, but instead just saw heavy storms and branches blow throughout their neighborhoods.
I made this video pleading with #HurricaneLaura2020 to be nice...#Shreveport #Louisiana pic.twitter.com/AxyIfqLHgV
— Onyema (@onyema_winz) August 27, 2020
Update: We’re good.
— CajunAsian (@RiflemansCreed) August 27, 2020
No damage, lots of branches on the ground and loss half a tree but that nothing considering. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would’ve been.
Winds are still kicking with some rough wind gusts. No rain. We’re under tornado watch til 4. #HurricaneLaura2020
Forecasters expect Laura to weaken but cause widespread flash flooding in states far from the coast. An atypical tropical storm warning was issued as far north as Little Rock, Arkansas, where forecasters expected gusts of 50 mph and a deluge of rain through Friday. After turning eastward and arriving to the Atlantic Ocean, it could once more become a tropical storm, threatening the Northeast.