Hurricane Laura - Huge chemical fire spews toxic chlorine gas over Louisiana and at least four dead as Mike Pence is blasted for empty offer of prayers
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Your support makes all the difference.Hurricane Laura strengthened into a Category 4 storm before it made landfall in Louisiana early on Thursday.
The storm arrived with sustained 150mph winds, and officials had warned it would bring an "unsurvivable" storm surge as high as 20ft for coastal areas.
Authorities had urged residents on the coast to evacuate, but not everyone did before the storm hit.
Four fatalities have been reported, including a 14-year-old girl. More than 825,000 homes and businesses are without power.
A fire is burning at a chemical plant near the city of Westlake, with the governor of Louisiana instructing people to stay indoors and turn off their air conditioning.
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Louisiana official says damage will be as bad as that caused by Hurricane Katrina
An official in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, has told NBC that Hurricane Laura will cause a similar amount of damage to that left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Scott Trahan made the comment on the broadcaster's "Today" programme.
Referring to Katrina, Mr Trahan said: “I’m afraid we’re going to have the same damage we had last time."
"A few houses might make it, most of them will probably be gone," he added.
Laura downgraded but still 'extremely dangerous'
The US National Hurricane Center says Laura has weakened to a category 2 hurricane as it moves deeper inland over Louisiana.
That's no longer a major hurricane but experts say it still has extremely dangerous maximum sustained winds of 110mph (175 kph), nearly five hours after striking the coast and pushing an "unsurvivable" storm surge miles inland.
Forecasters say it's centered about 45 miles (70km) from the city of Lake Charles and is moving north at 15mph (24 kph).
Authorities had ordered more than 580,000 coastal residents to evacuate their homes, but those who refused have to wait until conditions ease before rescuers may be able to reach them and to assess the damage.
Residents who refused to leave homes call for help
Some people who did not evacuate their homes are now requesting assistance, according to an official in southwest Louisiana, NBC reports.
Tony Guillory, president of a police jury in the city of Lake Charles, said: “People are calling the building but there ain’t no way to get to them.”
Mr Guillory, who was sheltering in a government building that was shaking as phones were ringing, said he hoped those stranded could be rescued later, but blocked roads, downed power lines and flooding could complicate the process.
Evacuees wait to board a bus leaving Lake Charles
Video shows winds ripping facade off building
Footage posted by an extreme meteorologist shows how bad the damage is likely to be in Lake Charles, as winds rip the front off a building, sending debris into the air:
Louisiana official says damage will be as bad as Katrina
An official in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, has told NBC that Hurricane Laura will cause a similar amount of damage to that left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Scott Trahan made the comment on the broadcaster's "Today" programme.
Referring to Katrina, Mr Trahan said: "I'm afraid we're going to have the same damage we had last time."
"A few house might make it, most of them will probably be gone," he added.
Weather reporter in near miss
Meteorologist Stephanie Abrams was nearly hit by some hurricane debris as she was reporting from Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Thursday.
Ms Abrams, who works for the Weather Channel, later told viewers that she was okay.
Tornado warning issued for New Orleans
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for the New Orleans metropolitan area until 4pm on Thursday. Strong thunderstorms are also expected.
Damage on the ground in Louisiana
The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Department in Lousiana posted this image of wind damage from the storm.
First fatality confirmed
Governor John Bel Edwards said he has received a report of the first fatality from Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, a 14-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on her home.
Search and rescue teams continue to look for any fatalities or people trapped by debris or flood waters.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is crediting the evacuations of thousands of people for preventing deaths in Texas. Mr Edwards says they are only beginning to assess the damage.
Both governors say the storm surge appears to have been not as bad as they feared.
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