Hurricane Francine slammed into the Louisiana coast Wednesday evening, leaving more than 250,000 people without power. With sustained winds of nearly 100 mph (155 kph), Francine struck Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Morgan City, before moving toward a coast still recovering from hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham said the storm quickly flooded roads, downed power lines and downed tree branches.
“It's a little worse than we expected, to be honest,” Mr Cockerham said of the damage. “We've brought all the trucks back to the station. It's just too dangerous to be out there in this condition.”
Hours after the storm made landfall, 261,000 power outages were reported across Louisiana. The outages affected most homes and businesses in coastal parishes not far from where the storm made landfall, as well as neighboring areas inland, according to tracking site poweroutage.us.
Laura Leftwich, who is sheltering at her mother's home outside Morgan City, said gusts of wind blew over two large birdhouses outside her home. She used a generator to connect to the internet so she could video chat with friends and held her computer up to a window to show water flooding the street.
If the storm had been more violent, “I wouldn't have had the courage to look outside,” said Leftwich, 40. “It's kind of scary.”
The National Hurricane Center urged residents to shelter in place overnight while the storm moves inland. Forecasters said New Orleans was in the storm's predicted path and could be passed through by the eye of the storm.
France, the sixth storm 2024 Atlantic hurricane seasonIt strengthened out of the very warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened into a Category 2 storm with wind speeds of more than 96 mph (155 kph) just hours before making landfall.
Three hours after landfall, the hurricane was barely a hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). It is expected to weaken further on Thursday as it moves north across Mississippi. Meanwhile, widespread rain over the next few days could cause flooding in cities such as Jackson, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee; and Atlanta. There could also be a risk of spin-off tornadoes.
President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in Louisiana to allow the state to quickly access federal funding and assistance in response to the hurricane. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves also declared states of emergency.
Landry announced that the National Guard would distribute food, water, about 400 high-water vehicles, about 100 boats and 50 helicopters to those affected by Francine, and would also assist with search and rescue efforts.
Prayers for Natural Disasters
Lord God,
Disasters are not natural, for You are supernaturally in control of the world and everything in it. You created the world and You created us. With one breath, You can destroy or give life. But You are also a God of grace, mercy and love. Lord, we admit that in times like these, we are powerless. We don't know what to do, but Your eyes are on You. Help us to provide solutions, not blame. Lord, we need You so badly.
In times of real storms, when floods threaten to overwhelm us, or when we cling to escape the rising waters, Lord, hear our cries. When the winds howl around us, threatening to shred our hopes and snatch away our lifelong dreams, Lord, help us! Send Your angels to protect us and our loved ones, and provide a lifeline from earthly angels to keep us safe. Speak peace to the winds and waves, and quiet our souls so that we may hear the sweet whispers of Your love. When the hot fires of death surround us or our loved ones, shower us with Your life-giving waters, and quench the hungry flames with Your words and Your touch.
Bless those who give their lives for others. There is no greater love than this. Heal lives damaged by heartbreaking catastrophes and pour out your mercy and grace upon broken hearts. Make your presence known in amazing and remarkable ways, as you so often do, when your people cry out for intervention. Multiply both the efforts of responders and helpers and the material resources needed for life-giving sustenance; as in biblical times you fed the multitude with five loaves and two fish. Thank you for those who reflect your character and seek to help with their selfless efforts.
Stop the sting of the storm that is heading for destruction. Wrap your people who stay on the road in a blanket of protection and love, and give a safe path to those who flee from disaster before it strikes. As Jehovah Ire, you are the only one who can provide what we need. When insurance doesn't work and human resources for survival and rebuilding are scarce, Lord, open the hearts of the Body of Christ. Replace selfishness with sacrifice. Overcome barriers of all kinds so that all have the opportunity to know you. In your Word, you have promised to give us what we need so that we can all give something to those who need encouragement, hope, or practical help. Teach us how to use the gifts God has given us to bless those in desperate need.
Breathe life into hopeless situations and give courage to those who are about to give up. Give the comfort that only You can give to those who are already grieving loss. Protect the victims from those who would take advantage of their situation. Drive away evil and halt the enemy's plans to wreak havoc and destroy faith.
Lord, help us to still cling to you even when we don't understand. Teach us what you want us to know in these situations. Extend our love and trust in you, and teach us lessons that will help us now and in the future. Grant us the wisdom to discern the truth and reject the lies. When answers seem slow or we feel like you are not listening, Lord, remind us of your track record of faithfulness. Strengthen our faith and forgive us for times in the past when we have doubted or turned our backs on you. Help us to trust you to bring good out of calamity. Keep people united so they can look above and ahead. Turn regret into gratitude so we can see your purpose in all things.
Lord, as we sort through the wreckage of current or future disasters, may our confession always be:
When hurricanes rage and violent storms surge, when fires rage and floods rise, when homes collapse and loved ones are gone, when crops wither and food runs short, when the power goes out and the drought continues, when resources are depleted and all hope seems lost, still, Lord, we trust in you. You are our life, our rock, our refuge and our hope. We are nothing without you and we have nothing without you. You are still the God of miracles and you still love the world. So, once again, we look to you, we pray, we wait and we trust. Thank you for the promises in your word. Thank you that you will never leave us and that you will never forsake us.
In Jesus' precious name
Amen
Excerpted from “Praying During Natural Disasters” by Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Brandon Bell/staff
