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

Cut 10 (09) “…without water.”

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.

Cut 5 (10)  “…to do so.”

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.

Cut 7 (09) “…recognizable”

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.

Cut 14 (07) “…our restoration time.” 

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

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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…

Cut 16 (12) “…fight fires.” 

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.

Cut 4 (11)“ …us an assessment.” 

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…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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.

Cut 15 (08) “your life” 

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

Cut 12 (11) “…very encouraging”

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…

Cut 9 (10) “…better”

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….

Cut 3 (06)  “…water intrusion there.”  

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.

Cut 13 (11) “…to address immediately.”

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.

Cut 11 (14) “…back up.”

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.

Cut 8 (10) “right now”

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.

Cut 5 (10)  “…to do so.”

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

Cut 10 (09) “…without water.”

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.

Cut 16 (08) “…a boil advisory..” 

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.
Cut 6 (07) “the ground”
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.

Cut 4 (11)“ …us an assessment.” 

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.

Cut 14 (08) “town”

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.

Cut 16 (08) “…a boil advisory..” 

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…
cut 12 (12) “…the top”
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…
cut 3 (06) “…water intrusion there”

Thousands of workers are trying to restore power following Hurricane Laura. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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…
Cut 18 (07) “…of the damage.”
Ames says depending on how long water service may be out, bottled water may be delivered to an area.

In a Facebook Post, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter tells residents that if you plan on coming to Lake Charles, the best option is to look and leave, as water and power are not available and there’s no timetable on restoration. Governor Edwards says there are 21-hundred people sheltered by the state, most of them in hotels and motels paid for by FEMA…
cut 5 (09) “…the space”
Entergy Louisiana says they have 62-hundred workers trying to restore power. Vice President of Customer Service Melonie Stewart says some customers could be without power for weeks and restoration has to be prioritized to benefit the health and safety of communities…
cut 11 (09) “….to energize first”
Entergy reports nearly 240-thousand of its customers are without power.

Governor Edwards is expected to tour storm damage in Alexandria and Ruston this afternoon. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says 95-percent of the city lost power, compared to the 70-percent that lost power when an EF-3 tornado did damage to Ruston in April of 2019…
cut 15 (09) “….out”
In Rapides Parish, numerous trees are down and power is out in most of the parish. Tommy Carnline with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office…
cut 13 (09) “….here”

Hurricane Laura is responsible for six deaths in Louisiana. Four of the victims died when a tree came crashing into their home. A 24-year-Calcasieu Parish man also died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his home. Another death in Calcasieu has been classified as a drowning. The victim was on a sinking ship.

The videos and pictures of damage from Hurricane Laura in southwest Louisiana are heartbreaking and the recovery will be lengthy. Many people are returning to Calcasieu Parish to find their homes no longer habitable. Those needing shelter are encouraged to text LA Shelter to 898-211. Governor Edwards says Disaster food stamp assistance is not yet available but encourages residents in impacted areas to pre-register.
Cut 6 (11) “…eligible”
The governor’s office says there are 530-thousand customers without power. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says there’s widespread damage with broken utility poles. down wires and structural damage…
cut 9 (05) “…start making repairs”

The damage from Hurricane Laura is not just confined to southwest Louisiana. Central and North Louisiana also took a big hit. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 3 (31) “…I”m Matt Doyle”

State Police is investigating the death of an individual who was in the custody of the Monroe Police Department. Authorities say the individual caused a serious two-vehicle crash on Wednesday night and attempted to leave the scene after officers arrived. Monroe Police subdued the individual and the person was taken to a hospital and later passed away. No other details have been provided.

Louisiana is recovering from the effects of Hurricane Laura, having to dislodge a riverboat casino from the I-10 Bridge in Lake Charles and house nearly 2,000 evacuees in hotels. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state health department reports 67 Hurricane Laura related water system outages, which is impacting over 220-thousand residents. L-D-H Chief Engineer Amanda Ames…
cut 17 (11) “…people without any water”

Hundreds of thousands of people spent last night without any power. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says they are receiving additional manpower to restore service to their customers.
Cut 8 (12) “…425 line mechanics.”
Cleco reports about 100-thousand of their customers are without power. Entergy has 240-thousand customers in the dark and SWEPCO is reporting about 128-thousand outages.

Hurricane Laura cut a path of destruction from Lake Charles through north Louisiana. In Rapides Parish, the Sheriff’s Chief of Staff Tommy Carnline says they had no idea they’d be hit so hard so far inland….
cut 12 (12) “…the top”
A curfew is in place for Rapides Parish from 9 PM to 6AM.