September 11th 2024.
As the sun sets on the Gulf of Mexico, a satellite image reveals a menacing sight - Tropical Storm Francine swirling and churning off the coast of Louisiana. It's a powerful storm, and it's about to make its mark on the United States.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Francine hit the US as a Category 2 storm. Its target? Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. At around 5 PM CDT on Wednesday, the storm made landfall, bringing with it intense winds reaching 100mph. And that's not all - the storm was moving at a rapid pace of 17mph, making its presence known as it headed northeast.
As the hurricane raged on, the residents of Louisiana braced themselves for the worst. And for Gary Driskell, sheriff of St Mary Parish which includes Morgan City, the worst had indeed arrived. In an interview with NBC News, he described the chaos and destruction caused by the storm - "It's a lot of rain, we have trees down, power out." He went on to say that it felt like a direct hit from Francine was imminent.
Fortunately, the people of St Mary Parish had been lucky in avoiding hurricanes in recent times, but they were prepared for the worst. "This is probably the worst storm we've had in a while," said Driskell, adding that he had been through the devastating Hurricane Andrew in the past. He emphasized the importance of staying safe and following safety protocols, urging everyone to stay indoors.
The impact of Hurricane Francine was felt far and wide, as a hurricane warning was issued for most of Louisiana's coastline. Storm surge warnings were also put in place, stretching from Vermilion and Cameron Parish to the Alabama and Mississippi border. The governors of Louisiana and Mississippi declared a state of emergency and advised those living in coastal and low-lying areas to evacuate.
In the midst of the chaos and destruction, it's important to remember that this is not the first time Louisiana has faced a hurricane. Just last year, Hurricane Ida made landfall in the state. But the resilience and strength of the people of Louisiana cannot be underestimated. They have weathered many storms before, and they will do so once again.
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