Storm Francine Slams U.S. South, Causes Widespread Power Outages and Flooding

Storm Francine swept across the U.S. South, causing severe weather disruptions including heavy rains, high winds, and power outages. Over 400,000 homes and businesses lost power, and numerous rescues were carried out due to flooding. Although it weakened to a tropical depression, the storm's impact left significant damage and prompted emergency declarations.

Storm Francine barreled across the U.S. South on Thursday, pounding the region with heavy rains and gusty winds while causing widespread power outages for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. Initially a Category 2 hurricane, it weakened to a tropical depression as it moved northeastward over central Mississippi. Winds of 35 miles per hour and dangerous storm surges still threatened areas early Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to weaken further, becoming a post-tropical cyclone later in the day.

The low-lying coastal city of Houma in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, where the storm made landfall Wednesday evening with 100 mph winds, witnessed significant disruption. Christine Bundy, a 72-year-old resident, was hooking up a new generator she had just bought. 'A Cat. 2 is nothing,' she told Reuters. 'This house has been through every storm since 1975.'

Heavy rains continued throughout Thursday in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle, with some areas expected to receive as much as 12 inches of rain. Government offices, schools, and libraries were closed due to widespread flooding. 'Our drainage system just couldn't keep up,' said Jennifer Van Vrancken, councilwoman in Jefferson Parish. Residents in New Orleans were urged to conserve water following a significant failure in the sewage treatment plant.

More than 400,000 homes and businesses lost power, and dozens of people had to be rescued from floodwaters. In Lafourche Parish, south of New Orleans, over two dozen individuals, including small children, were saved from rising waters. The French Quarter in New Orleans was locked down, with Carnival Cruise Line's Valor cruise ship held at sea awaiting the reopening of its home port.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency, releasing emergency management resources and potential financial aid. Richard Ayla in Metaire, near New Orleans, dealt with minor flooding at his home, while fisherman Barry Rogers in Dulac rode out the storm on his shrimp boat. 'It was worse than the weatherman said it was going to be,' Rogers remarked.

(With inputs from agencies.)