hurricane laura

14-year-old Louisiana girl among 6 killed by falling trees during Hurricane Laura

Friday, August 28, 2020
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards discusses storm damage in his state after Hurricane Laura.
At least six people in Louisiana were killed by falling trees during Hurricane Laura, including a 14-year-old girl.

The girl in Vernon Parish was the first reported fatality. The other deaths occurred in Calcasieu, Jackson and Acadia parishes.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said search and rescue teams continued to look for victims, but so far have found no reports of widespread fatalities.
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Abbott credited the evacuations of thousands of people for preventing deaths in Texas while Edwards said they are only beginning to assess the damage.

Laura pounded the Gulf Coast with ferocious wind and torrential rain and unleashed a wall of seawater that was originally predicted to push 40 miles inland as the Category 4 storm roared ashore Thursday in Louisiana near the Texas border.

VIDEO: Hurricane Laura tears apart funeral home in Lake Charles
Hurricane Laura tears apart funeral home in Lake Charles, Louisiana


More than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power in the two states, according to the website PowerOutage.Us, which tracks utility reports.
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The National Hurricane Center said Laura slammed the coast with winds of 150 mph at 1 a.m. CDT near Cameron, a 400-person community about 30 miles east of the Texas border. Forecasters had warned that the storm surge would be "unsurvivable" and the damage "catastrophic," though both governors said the storm surge appears to have been not as bad as they feared.



Abbott said the hurricane's storm surge hit the East Texas communities of Port Arthur, Beaumont and Orange "pretty hard" overnight, and the eye of the hurricane has continued to move about 100 miles north along the Texas-Louisiana state line.

PHOTOS: Hurricane Laura impacts Gulf Coast
Dustin Amos, right, walks near debris at a gas station on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
A tree is uprooted in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas.AP
Dustin Amos walks near debris at a gas station on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
A woman passes on a street near businesses on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in downtown Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.AP
Debris is seen near a business on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.AP
A truck and Interstate 10 sign is seen on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
Chris Johnson views destruction at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
Brian McClendon sorts through debris at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.AP
Reginald Duhon prepares to work at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state.AP
People walk past a destroyed building after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
A man rests in front of his house after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
People walk past a destroyed building after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
People walk past a destroyed building after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
A woman walks down a street filled with debris after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
Kyana Myers looks into a room that had its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
A road is blocked off by destroyed trees after the passing of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on August 27, 2020.none
A person stands next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
A room that had its roof blown off is seen in a hotel after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
Mitch Pickering plays his guitar while walking through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
An escalator is seen in Capita One Bank Tower that had its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiananone
A street is seen strewn with debris and downed power lines after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Reagan Cotten and Kate Cotten walk through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Joyce vanDenberg and Kyana Myers stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles.none
A person is seen walking through Capital One Bank Tower with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles.none
Capital One Bank Tower is seen with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Lake Charles police officers help clear the roads in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Donnie Rogers prepares to raise the American flag on a pole after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.none
Flooding is seen from Hurricane Laura August 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state.none
Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state.none
A building that was damaged overnight by Hurricane Laura stands in Lake Charles, La., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.AP
Daoith Porm, right, and Bunsant Khov, left, board their business with Hurricane Laura just hours away, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Bridge City, Texas.AP
Daoith Porm, left, and Bunsant Khov, right, board their business with Hurricane Laura just hours away, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Bridge City, Texas.AP
Families in Beaumont, Texas, prepare to board a charter bus to be evacuated to North Texas ahead of Hurricane Laura.AccuWeather
Families in Beaumont, Texas, prepare to board a charter bus to be evacuated to North Texas ahead of Hurricane Laura.AccuWeather
Families in Beaumont, Texas, prepare to board a charter bus to be evacuated to North Texas ahead of Hurricane Laura.AccuWeather
Issac Alvarado, right, and Kevin Enriquez board up windows on coastal decor store Bayside Chic, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas.AP
Workers board up windows at the Galvez Hotel & Spa Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Owner Nick Gaido, left, helps board up windows at his Gaido's Seafood Restaurant Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Workers board up windows at the Galvez Hotel & Spa Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Cody Cloud walks back toward the beach after taking pictures of the waves Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast.AP
Helpers distribute water as people board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura.AP
Municipal workers fill sandbags for the elderly and those with disabilities ahead of Hurricane Laura in Crowley, La., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.AP
Lake Charles Fire Department personnel assist Tim Williams into a transport van with as he evacuates in Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Alaira Brown, right, takes her niece Delilah Francis, 6 months, from Ledonna Brown, as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Jada Lawson, wipes the face fo her daughter Skyler Lawson, 4, as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura.AP
A Cameron Parish Sheriff's deputy mans a roadblock in the rain on LA 27 as residents evacuate Cameron in Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Christopher Thomas holds Taiyren Sylvester, 1, as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura.AP
Municipal workers fill sandbags for residents in advance of Hurricane Laura in Abbeville, La., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020.AP
Victoria Nelson with her children Autum Nelson, 2, Shawn Nelson, 7, and Asia Nelson, 6, line up to board a bus to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP
Victoria Nelson with her children Autum Nelson, 2, Shawn Nelson, 7, and Asia Nelson, 6, wait to board a bus evacuating Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.AP


The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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