By Isabella Kwai
Parts of New Orleans and the swampy communities to its southwest woke to rising floodwaters and overflowing canals Thursday morning after Francine lashed Louisiana overnight. Rescuers pulled residents from waterlogged homes in the dark, as high winds toppled trees and knocked out power to nearly half a million people.
The storm came ashore Wednesday evening with 100 mph winds, pounding a sparsely populated part of the marshy coastline. It had weakened to a tropical depression by sunrise, but heavy rainfall was expected through parts of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle as it moves inland.
Here’s what we’re covering:
— Water rescues: Officials in Louisiana urged residents to stay off the roads Thursday, imposing curfews in some parishes. Rescuers reached some people who were stranded by rising waters, including more than two dozen in and around the town of Thibodaux, near where the storm came ashore.
— Other damage: Downed trees and utility poles, along with high waters, caused much of the damage in southeastern Louisiana, according to the State Police. The storm also prompted widespread power outages, knocking out power for more than 440,000 customers across Louisiana and Mississippi. Several universities, schools and government offices closed their campuses Thursday.
— New Orleans: Floodwaters inundated low-lying streets and homes in suburban New Orleans. Drainage systems, which local officials said had been overwhelmed, worked overnight to pump out rainwater. Waters were receding in canals on the east bank of the Mississippi River, according to one official, but remained high. Some residents were asked to conserve water to avoid overloading the sewer system.
— Neighboring states: Heavy rainfall is forecast for Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle, with up to 10 inches in some areas. Tornadoes were also possible in some areas, especially from the Florida panhandle to north-central Alabama.
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