hurricane laura

National Weather Service evacuates Lake Charles office as Hurricane Laura approaches

Thursday, August 27, 2020
"This is more than just a Lake Charles problem, this is going to be a southwest Louisiana problem," said Mayor of Lake Charles, Louisiana Nic Hunter on Wednesday, Aug. 26, ahead of Hurricane Laura's landfall.
LAKE CHARLES, La. -- The National Weather Service evacuated its office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as Hurricane Laura approached the Gulf Coast.

NWS meteorologists in Brownsville, Texas, assumed forecasting duties for the Lake Charles office. Lake Charles television station KPLC-TV also evacuated their studios in advance of the storm.

Mandatory evacuations ordered Tuesday for Calcasieu Parish impacted more than 200,000 residents, including in Lake Charles. Neighboring Cameron Parish to the south is also under a mandatory order.

Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be "unsurvivable" and capable of sinking entire communities. Authorities implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate and worried that not enough had fled.

VIDEO: What is storm surge and why is it dangerous
What is storm surge and why is it dangerous?


The storm grew nearly 70% in power in just 24 hours to a size the National Hurricane Center called "extremely dangerous." Drawing energy from the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, the system was on track to arrive late Wednesday or early Thursday as the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. so far this year.

A Category 4 hurricane can cause damage so catastrophic that power outages may last for months in places, and wide areas could be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Click here for the latest information about Hurricane Laura.

PHOTOS: Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Laura
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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