The storm made landfall at 1 a.m. CDT Thursday as a powerful Category 4 hurricane near Cameron, Louisiana, with 150 mph winds and more than 9 feet of storm surge. There where an estimated 150 people in the surrounding parish that refused to evacuate. Some planned to ride out the storm in elevated homes, while others were reportedly in recreational vehicles.
In Calcasieu Parish, the parish just to the north of Cameron, Dick Gremillion, director of emergency management, said there was "a lot of tree damage, a lot of utility damage."
He said trees fell on homes and mobile homes turned over. Laura ripped roofs off commercial buildings, it would be several hours before officials could begin to survey the damage because the parish was still experiencing 50 mph sustained winds as of 6 a.m. CDT.
Hurricane Laura Devastates Swath of Louisiana; Roofs Ripped Off, Buildings Shattered
Some of the people who chose not to evacuate began calling for help as the storm roared around them. With a Lake Charles government building shaking around him, the president of Calcasieu Parish’s police jury said the phones were ringing.
“People are calling the building but there ain’t no way to get to them,” he said, adding he hoped they could be rescued later Thursday if the roads were passable.
