Hurricane Francine Batters Louisiana: Evacuations and Power Outages Follow

Hurricane Francine struck southern Louisiana, impacting New Orleans with heavy rain, fierce winds, and life-threatening storm surge that prompted widespread evacuations. The storm caused significant power outages and disrupted energy production. Officials declared a state of emergency, and the region remains on high alert as the storm progresses inland.

Hurricane Francine came ashore in southern Louisiana on Wednesday, slamming New Orleans with torrential rains and gusty winds while threatening the wider Gulf Coast with a potentially deadly storm surge. Thousands received evacuation orders. Francine's maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph (120 kph) after its eye traveled inland and was located 50 miles (80 km) west-southwest of New Orleans, as per the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane center briefly upgraded the storm from Category 1 to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale just before landfall. Despite returning to Category 1, Francine's dangerous winds are still capable of causing damage. The entire Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Mississippi is under a storm surge warning deemed life-threatening by the hurricane center. Over 200,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana were without power, reported PowerOutage.us.

The famous French Quarter in New Orleans, known for its crowded tourist spots, was locked down with a noticeable police presence. On Bourbon Street, resident Gina Kralek worked at Clover Grill, covering for co-workers who evacuated. Both Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and U.S. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency, mobilizing resources and potential financial aid for serious damages.

More than 78,000 commercial real estate properties worth approximately $143 billion are in Francine's path, according to Moody's Ratings. These buildings face a greater than 50% chance of experiencing wind speeds of at least 50 mph (80 kph), potentially causing damage. Several Gulf Coast parishes issued mandatory evacuation orders with state transportation maps available for safe routes. New Orleans provided sandbags at multiple sites.

Memories of Hurricane Katrina loom as Francine churned Lake Pontchartrain's waters over its seawall. The federal government's $14.5 billion levee system installed post-Katrina aims to protect the city from similar catastrophes. Streets were quiet by afternoon as locals stocked up on supplies. Veteran New Orleans resident Steve Rodriguez said, "We're all set. We have our canned goods. Have our supplies."

Francine also halted energy production and agricultural exports from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, with nearly 39% of oil and almost half of natural gas production offline. The offshore regulator reported the evacuation of 171 production platforms and three rigs.

(With inputs from agencies.)