Hurricane Laura Causes Massive Damage And Widespread Power Outages

Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwestern Louisiana (near Cameron) as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States. Wind speech clocked in around 150 mph when it hit at 1 am CT. The National Hurricane Center says the eyewall of Laura pushed inland across southwestern Louisiana bring pounding rain, catastrophic storm surge, and flash flooding. A storm chaser in Downtown Lake Charles, Jeff Piotrowski, reports that many tall buildings have blown-out windows, many roofs flew off and some of the buildings may be total losses. There are now four confirmed deaths as a result of the storm. The AP reports:

Gov. John Bel Edwards said he’s received report of the first fatality from Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, a 14-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on her home in Leesburg.

The governors of Louisiana and Texas say search and rescue teams are still looking, but they’ve found no reports so far of widespread fatalities.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is crediting the evacuations of thousands of people for preventing deaths in Texas. Edwards says they are only beginning to assess the damage.

https://twitter.com/KATVToddYak/status/1299009655641911297

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I always find that Before/After pictures can really put things into perspective. #Laura and its destructive winds leaving this building in Lake Charles, LA basically window free! pic.twitter.com/ZFuFdweCLb

— Alex Wallace (@TWCAlexWallace) August 27, 2020

Power is out for more than 600,000 people.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is also warning residents about a fire that is causing concern:

There is a chemical fire in the Westlake/Moss Bluff/Sulphur area. Residents are advised to shelter in place until further notice and close your doors and windows. Follow the directions of local officials

Watch more from NBC News above.