HOUMA, LOUISIANA – September 11, 2024: In the face of Hurricane Francine’s formidable arrival, Houma and surrounding areas in Louisiana are bracing for the brunt of a storm that has rapidly intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. Emergency personnel were seen traversing the town as forecasters warned residents of the potentially life-threatening weather events set to unfold.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Francine made landfall in Terrebonne Parish at approximately 5:00 pm local time (2200 GMT), bringing with it sustained winds reaching 100 miles per hour (155 kilometers per hour). The powerful storm is projected to yield up to 10 feet of storm surge and 12 inches of rain in various parts of Louisiana.
“Heavy rains and hurricane-force winds are spreading inland across southern Louisiana,” the NHC warned. “Now is the time to stay inside and away from windows.”
Multiple coastal towns along the Gulf coast, including the small village of Dulac, began experiencing flooding, rain, and strong winds on Wednesday afternoon well before Francine’s landfall. In Houma, residents were seen fervently preparing by filling sandbags, stocking up on essential supplies, and refueling their vehicles.
“We’re working hard to stay here as long as we can to take care of our people,” said Alicia B., a local gas station manager.
Forecasts indicate that Francine will weaken rapidly upon moving inland over Louisiana and neighboring Mississippi. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency and had earlier requested federal emergency support from President Joe Biden, which was promptly approved.
“This federal assistance will be pivotal to save lives and property,” Governor Landry stated, expressing his gratitude to the president on social media platform X.
As part of the emergency preparations, the Louisiana National Guard announced on X that its soldiers were fueling vehicles in preparation for the hurricane. On Tuesday, the Guard had also mobilized helicopters, boats, and supplies for potential evacuations and search and rescue missions.
In anticipation of Hurricane Francine’s impact, schools and universities in and around Baton Rouge have been preemptively closed until Friday. Local media also reported that curfews starting as early as 6:00 pm local time (2300 GMT) were being enforced in communities across the region to ensure public safety.
Louisiana’s vulnerability to hurricanes is a chilling reminder of past calamities, notably Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That catastrophic event claimed over 1,300 lives and caused widespread destruction in New Orleans, a major city significantly impacted by a breached levee system.
The location at the mouth of the Mississippi River means Louisiana holds critical importance as a significant trade hub in the United States. Its economy is closely linked to the oil and natural gas industry, making these hurricane events particularly disruptive.
Interestingly, while the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, commencing on June 1 and concluding on November 30, was anticipated to be busy, it has been surprisingly mild with only three hurricanes thus far, perplexing scientists. Earlier in the season, Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm, set records by forming in late June and devastating parts of the Caribbean before impacting Texas and Louisiana, resulting in numerous fatalities.
Climate scientists have pointed to the increasing ocean temperatures as a contributing factor to the rapid intensification of hurricanes, with warmer waters providing additional energy for these powerful storms.
As Hurricane Francine continues to traverse inland, the focus remains on safety and effective response measures to mitigate the storm’s imminent threats.
