Thousands of Louisiana residents are facing a difficult recovery from Hurricane Laura and residents in six parishes are eligible for FEMA assistance. Residents in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vernon Parish can apply for disaster aid at disaster-assistance-dot-gov, calling 1-800-621-FEMA or through the FEMA app. Edwards says so far more than 52-thousand people in Louisiana have applied and he expects additional parishes will become eligible
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If you are looking to assist in the recovery effort, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says check out volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov…
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Tulane researchers have been awarded a 150,000 dollar grant to begin making a second-generation COVID-19 vaccine. A first-generation vaccine is not available yet, but Tulane Microbiologist Dr. Lisa Morici says the sooner version 2.0 is available the better.
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Morici’s work will involve adding bacteria-based adjuvants to vaccines that are already in development with the goal of strengthening those existing vaccines.

LSU star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will reportedly opt out of the 2020 season to prepare for next year’s NFL draft. Chase broke LSU and SEC records with 1,780 yards receiving, 20 touchdowns, and 84 catches last year. NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier says the Tigers will miss this playmaker…
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Detillier says Chase is likely to be the first wide receiver taken in the 2021 draft and possibly a top-five pick.

Getting the electricity back on in southwest Louisiana will be a long process. Governor John Bel Edwards says the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s initial damage estimate in the Lake Charles area found 172 towers damaged or destroyed
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As of 3 PM yesterday, the state had 368-thousand customers without power and the outages can be found in north Louisiana as well. There are also 87 water systems that are not operating.

LSU’s big-play receiver Ja’Marr Chase has reportedly decided to opt-out and instead of playing for the Tigers in 2020, he’ll get ready for the 2021 NFL draft. Draft analyst Mike Detillier says it’s not a surprise to see Chase come to this decision…
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Chase will likely be a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

For Louisiana residents looking to help in the Hurricane Laura recovery efforts, the state has a website called volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov. On that site, you can view current disaster recovery volunteer needs. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is confident the state will recover because citizens came together in 2016 after the south Louisiana flood and rebuilt 15 years ago after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
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You can also follow Volunteer Louisiana on Facebook and Twitter.

Two more people have died as a result of Hurricane Laura, bringing the death toll to 12. The Louisiana Department of Health says an 84-year-old man and an 80-year-old woman in Allen Parish died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator. This comes a day after Governor Edwards confirmed that a family in Lake Charles also died from carbon monoxide poisoning related to a generator, which brought the death toll to 10.

In an effort to help Louisiana recover as quickly as possible after devastation from Laura, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is urging Louisianans to volunteer, much like they did with Hurricane Katrina. Nungesser says volunteering is a way to pay tribute to those who lost their lives 15 years ago today.

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For information go to volunteer Louisiana dot gov and follow Volunteer Louisiana on Facebook and Twitter.

Governor John Bel Edwards will join President Trump on his visit to Lake Charles this afternoon. The president will survey damage and receive briefings on emergency operations and relief efforts. Last night Trump approved a major disaster declaration for 23 parishes, it opens FEMA assistance to individuals and communities impacted by the Category 4 storm.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the city has been devastated by the strongest storm to hit the state in 150 years, but he’s optimistic that they can recover.

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A curfew is in effect across the city.

Cleco reports they have restored power to over 40 percent of their approximate 140,000 customers with outages from Laura. The company says there are some areas that they have still not been able to fully survey due to flooding.

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

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President Trump will visit Lake Charles and Orange, Texas this afternoon Last night he approved Governor Edward’s request for a major disaster declaration in 23 parishes following Hurricane Laura. Trump will survey damage and receive briefings on emergency operations and relief efforts.

In response to Hurricane Laura Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser urges Louisianans to volunteer to help rebuild areas of the state damaged by the category 4 storm.

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For information go to volunteer Louisiana dot gov And follow Volunteer Louisiana on Facebook and Twitter.

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 they are still assessing the damage but says the school is committed to finishing the fall semester.

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Louisiana’s request for a major disaster declaration in 23 parishes following Hurricane Laura receives approval from President Trump.   Gov. John Bel Edwards made the announcement Friday evening. It opens FEMA assistance to individuals and communities impacted by the Category 4 storm. President Trump has visits scheduled to Lake Charles and Orange, Texas this afternoon. He will survey damage and receive briefings on emergency operations and relief efforts.

The City of Lake Charles is devastated and Mayor Nic Hunter warns it could be weeks before some semblance of normality returns. Water lines are destroyed, and power is down and there’s no solid estimate on when either will return. Hunter is asking residents who return to Lake Charles, be prepared to look, and leave.

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Today is the 15^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

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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About 81,000 SWEPCO customers are still without power following Hurricane Laura, down from the peak of 136,000.  SWEPCO spokesperson Carey Sullivan estimates most customers in Bossier City should have power restored by 10 PM Tuesday and Shreveport customers by 10 PM Wednesday.

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Entergy is reporting 208,000 customers are without power.

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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