Hurricane Francine hits the US: 380,000 homes left without power

Hurricane Francine has struck the state of Louisiana in the southern US. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued an announcement stating that the hurricane made landfall in the city of Morgan at 5:00 PM local time yesterday as a 'Category 2' storm.

Due to severe winds reaching speeds of 155 kilometers per hour in the city, roofs were blown off houses, trees were uprooted, and property damage occurred. The heavy rainfall caused by the hurricane left streets and avenues flooded.

Following 6-8 inches of rainfall in the city of New Orleans, authorities were put on high alert due to flash flooding.

Officials in Louisiana and the neighboring state of Mississippi declared a state of emergency and warned residents to exercise caution.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, in a press conference, called on residents of the state not to take to the roads, to stay in their homes, and not to relocate.

As of this morning, it was reported that more than 380,000 homes and businesses in the state of Louisiana were experiencing power outages.

While all flights at New Orleans airport were canceled, according to a police statement, 26 people trapped in flooded homes in the Lafourche region were rescued.

Hurricane Francine weakened toward the night hours and downgraded to a tropical storm.

News Source: İHA