Now a Category 4 Hurricane, Laura is swamping southwestern Louisiana after it reached Cameron, east of Texas border at 1 a.m. Thursday carrying 20ft-deep ocean waters that forecasters described as unsurvivable.
Before slamming the 400-resident community, Laura was fueled by the warm conditions in the Gulf of Mexico: “It looks like it’s in full beast mode, which is not what you want to see if you’re in its way,” Hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said.
More than 200,000 homes are without power across Texas and Louisiana. Local authorities urged people to evacuate expecting winds would strengthen in the next few hours ripping buildings apart and tossing cars like toys at 240 kph.
Despite the grim predictions, at least 150 residents out of 500,000 ordered to leave refused to heed. Trent Savoie said he won’t do with four kids and 100 farm animals, “it’s just hard to move out.”
