Hurricane Francine Hits Louisiana, Causes Major Damage

Hurricane Francine made landfall near Morgan City, Louisiana, as a Category 2 storm on Wednesday evening, causing widespread flooding and power outages. The storm's eyewall affected New Orleans and Baton Rouge, leading to significant rain and wind damage, with over 388,000 residents losing power. Emergency officials reported downed trees, blocked roadways, and localized flooding, urging residents to stay off the roads. Francine weakened to a tropical storm as it moved inland, but continued to drench southeast Louisiana and posed ongoing risks of flash flooding in Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and President Joe Biden declared states of emergency to facilitate relief efforts. Fortunately, no immediate reports of deaths were recorded, though several injuries occurred due to falling debris.