President Trump approves Louisiana’s request for a major disaster declaration in 23 parishes following Hurricane Laura.   Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the approval Friday evening. President Trump has visits scheduled to Lake Charles and Orange, Texas this afternoon.

The number of deaths because of Hurricane Laura is up to ten and half of those victims died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the city is devastated and warns it could be weeks before some semblance of normality returns. Gator 99.5 Lake Charles on-air personality Buddy Russ says this is way worse than Hurricane Rita in 2005.

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Governor John Bel Edwards surveyed damaged in central and north Louisiana on Friday along with other state officials. In Jackson Parish, in the town of Jonesboro several are without power and water and Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau (loo-no) says the lack of water and electricity are major issues for Rapides Parish also.

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The number of water systems not operating statewide has risen to 82 many are down due to loss of power.

Governor John Bel Edwards is surveying the damage in central and north Louisiana Friday afternoon. Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown says he’s never seen a storm impact the entire parish like this one

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The White House announced President Trump is traveling to Louisiana and Texas on Saturday.
McNeese State hopes it can resume on-campus classes in a few weeks after it was damaged by Hurricane Laura. McNeese spokesperson Candace Townsend says the school is committed to finishing the fall semester.

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Lake Charles is devastated and Mayor Nic Hunter warns it could be weeks before some semblance of normality returns. Gator 99.5 Lake Charles on-air personality Buddy Russ says Laura has changed the face of Lake Charles.

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Russ adds this is way worse than Hurricane Rita in 2005.

About 102,000 SWEPCO customers are still without power following Hurricane Laura, down from the peak outage of 136,000.  SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan says over 3,000 workers have come to Louisiana from 14 states and Canada to help in the restoration efforts, but some of that work may be slowed down by the forecast.

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The hurricane damage is so extensive in Lake Charles that it will be weeks before people can live there again …

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The stretch of I-10 near Lake Charles reopens. Officials are encouraging motorists to use extra caution when driving through the area as clean-up operations are still underway. The shelter in place order for the area, due to a chemical plant fire, has also been lifted. DOTD says there are still multiple road closures through various central Louisiana parishes including Grant, Natchitoches, Winn, Rapides, Sabine, and Vernon.

The White House announces President Trump is traveling to Louisiana and Texas on Saturday as he is expected to tour the areas impacted by the storm.
Governor Edwards says he’s optimistic that power to most people in north and central Louisiana can be restored in a manner of hours and days, and not weeks which could be the case in the Lake Charles area. The number of water systems not operating statewide has risen to 82. Edwards says this is concerning for many health care facilities…

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McNeese State hopes it can resume on-campus classes in a few weeks after it was damaged by Hurricane Laura. McNeese spokesperson Candace Townsend says there was damage to several buildings and the school has a newly installed scoreboard at the football stadium that was torn up.

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The number of deaths as a result of Hurricane Laura is up to ten as half of those victims died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Jeff Palermo has more…

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The state reports an additional 627 COVID-19 cases today, bringing the grand total to just over 146-thousand. Active cases: 13,584. Fatalities increase by 30. Hospitalizations are up to 900, an increase of 14.

Governor Edwards says he’s optimistic that power to most people in north and central Louisiana can be restored in a manner of hours and days, and not weeks which could be the case in the Lake Charles area. In the meantime, he says be careful around downed lines.

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The Governor is surveying the damage in central and north Louisiana today. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says it’s a difficult time in Rapides Parish, but everyone is trying to stick together

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Luneau says the lack of water and electricity are major issues for Rapides Parish. The number of water systems down statewide has risen to 82. Governor Edwards says many of them are linked to a lack of electricity.

The water situation in Lake Charles is dire with three of the city’s six plants non-operational and the other three on minimal capacity. That’s led to an evacuation of Memorial Hospital patients, and a warning to residents who insist on staying in the devastated city from the Mayor that if you can leave, you should. Despite that Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter sounded optimistic…

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A family of five is dead in Lake Charles reportedly from carbon monoxide poisoning linked to their generator.

In-person classes in Lake Charles won’t be available for weeks at McNeese State. spokesperson Candace Townsend says the school’s new health and human performance complex is seriously damaged….

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About 102,000 SWEPCO customers are still without power following Hurricane Laura, down from the peak outage of 136,000.  SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan estimates most customers in the Shreveport-Bossier area should have power restored by 10 PM Wednesday and Cenla customers by 10 PM Thursday.

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Sullivan says over 3,000 workers have come to Louisiana from 14 states and Canada to help in the restoration efforts.

The full scope of damage in north and central Louisiana is becoming more clear. In Rapides Parish Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says the lack of water and electricity are major issues.

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Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter tells Lake Charles residents that they need to understand it will be weeks before the area returns to any sense of normalcy. Hunter says power and water are out, and there’s very little in the way of vital services.

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Because of the lack of Water Memorial Hospital in Lake Charles is evacuating patients.

On campus classes at McNeese State University in Lake Charles will not be available for weeks. McNeese spokesperson Candace Townsend says rooves have been peeled back and the school had a newly installed scoreboard at the football stadium that was torn up, but they’re committed to finishing the fall semester.

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Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson reportedly has COVID-19.

Governor John Bel Edwards is surveying the damage in central and north Louisiana today. Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown says he’s never seen a storm impact the entire parish like this one

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200,000 people statewide are believed to be without water right now after Hurricane Laura knocks off 67 water systems throughout Louisiana.  Chief Engineer at the Department of Health Amanda Ames says that is a tremendous amount of systems that can’t produce water right now because of loss of electrical power.

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Ames says depending on how long water service may be out, bottled water may be delivered to an area.

About 102,000 SWEPCO customers are still without power following Hurricane Laura, down from the peak outage of 136,000. 

Lake Charles is devastated and Mayor Nic Hunter warns it could be weeks before some semblance of normality returns. Gator 99.5 Lake Charles radio host Buddy Russ is there. He says at this point he’d rather have the catastrophic flood damage from Rita over what they’re seeing now.
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Russ says Laura has changed the face of Lake Charles.

The McNeese University campus in Lake Charles is expected to be closed for several weeks to fix up damage. Streets are still needing to be cleared to get a better idea of the severity. McNeese spokesperson Candace Townsend says the school has a newly installed scoreboard at the football stadium that was torn up.

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Governor Edwards is expected to fly over storm damage this afternoon in Central and North Louisiana. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says they’ve suffered a worse blow than they did during last year’s tornado.

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In Ruston, winds were clocked at over 70 miles per hour.
A heat advisory is in effect today La Salle Parish north into Arkansas and West into Texas, and many won’t have AC. SWEPCO estimates most customers in the Shreveport-Bossier area should have power restored by 10 PM Wednesday and Central Louisiana customers by 10 PM Thursday.
Hurricane Laura knocks off 67 water systems throughout Louisiana.  Chief Engineer at the Department of Health Amanda Ames says that is a tremendous amount of systems that can’t produce water right now because of loss of electrical power.

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Governor Edwards and members of his cabinet will conduct a flyover of central and north Louisiana today to survey the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Laura. In Rapides Parish, chief of Staff Tommy Carnline says they had no idea they’d be hit so hard so far inland…
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A curfew is in place for Rapides Parish from 9 PM to 6AM.

Lake Charles took the brunt of what Hurricane Laura had to offer. There’s damage throughout the city and on the McNeese State University campus. Spokesperson Candace Townsend says their new health and human performance complex along with many other buildings suffered wind damage…
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Thousands of workers are trying to restore power following Hurricane Laura. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Getting water turned back on is another issue. The state health department says Hurricane Laura has knocked 67 water systems offline. L-D-H’s Chief Engineer Amanda Ames says some of the systems could be functional again as soon as power is restored, but…
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Ames says depending on how long water service may be out, bottled water may be delivered to an area.