More than a quarter million people were left without electricity after Hurricane Francine slammed into the Louisiana coast Wednesday evening. With sustained winds near 100 mph (155kph), France struck Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of Morgan City, before proceeding to a coastline that is still recovering from previous hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. According to Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham, the hurricane quickly flooded streets, snapped power lines, and sent tree limbs crashing down.
"It's a little bit worse than what I expected, to be honest with you," Cockerham said of the damage. "I pulled all my trucks back to the station. It's too dangerous to be out there in this."
There were a reported 261,000 power outages hours after the storm made landfall, spreading widely across Louisiana. According to the tracking site poweroutage.us, blackouts affected a majority of homes and businesses in coastal parishes not far from where the storm made landfall, as well as their inland neighbors.
Laura Leftwich, who is sheltering at her mother's home just outside Morgan City, said blasts of wind had swept away two large birdhouses outside. Using a generator to power an internet connection so she could video chat with friends, Leftwich held her computer to a window to show them water overflowing in the street.
If the storm had been any more intense, "I wouldn't have the guts to look outside," Leftwich, 40, said. "It's a little scary."
The National Hurricane Center urged residents to remain sheltered overnight as the hurricane went inland. Forecasters said that New Orleans would be on the storm's projected path, where the storm's eye could pass through.
France, the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, drew strength from exceedingly warm Gulf of Mexico waters. It strengthened to a Category 2 storm with winds exceeding 96 mph (155 kph) hours before landfall.
Three hours after landfall, it barely remained a hurricane, with top sustained winds decreasing to 75 mph (120 kph). It is expected to weaken further while pushing northward through Mississippi on Thursday. Meanwhile, widespread rains in the coming days could cause potential flooding in cities including Jackson, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee; and Atlanta. There is also the threat of spin-off tornadoes.
President Joe Biden granted an emergency declaration to help Louisiana receive expedited federal money and assistance in response to the hurricane. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves also declared states of emergency.
Landry announced that the National Guard would distribute food, water, nearly 400 high-water vehicles, about 100 boats, 50 helicopters, and possible search-and-rescue operations to those affected by Francine.
Prayer for Natural Disaster
Lord God,
There is nothing natural about a disaster, because You supernaturally control the world and everything in it. You made the world; You created us. With one breath, you can destroy or give life. But You are also a God of grace, mercy, and love. In times like this, Lord, we admit our helplessness. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You. Help us to provide solutions, not blame. Lord, we desperately need You.
During actual storms, when the floods try to overtake us or when we’re holding on to escape the rising waters, Lord hear our cry. When the winds howl around us and threaten to shred our hopes and steal our lifelong dreams, God help us! Send Your heavenly angels to protect us and our loved ones, and provide lifelines from earth angels to keep us safe. Speak peace to the wind and the waves, and still our own souls so we can hear Your sweet whispers of love. When the hot fires of death encircle us or those we love, shower us with Your life-giving water and extinguish the hungry flames with Your words or Your touch.
Bless those who lay down their lives for others, for there is no greater love than this. Mend broken lives from heart-rending catastrophes, and pour mercy and grace into hurting hearts. Make Your presence known in amazing and surprising ways as You often do when Your people cry out for intervention. Multiply both the efforts of responders and helpers and the material resources needed for life-giving sustenance—just as You did in Bible times when You fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fish. Thank You for those who mirror Your character in their selfless efforts to help.
Turn the hands of storms destined for destruction. Wrap Your people in a blanket of protection and love who remain in the path, and give safe passage to those who are fleeing the disaster before it hits. As Jehovah-Jireh, You are the only One who can provide what we need. When insurance won’t cover, and human resources for survival or rebuilding look dim, Lord open the hearts of the Body of Christ. Replace selfishness with sacrifice. Cross barriers of all kinds so all may have a chance to know You. In Your Word You have promised that You provide for us so that we can all give something to others who need encouragement, hope, or practical help. Show us how to use our God-given gifts to bless others in desperate need.
Breathe life into hopeless situations, and give courage to those on the brink of giving up. To those already grieving from loss, provide comfort as only You can. Protect victims from those who would take advantage of their situation. Turn away evil, and cancel the plans of the enemy who wants to cause havoc and destroy faith.
Lord, when we don’t understand, help us to cling to You anyway. Teach us what You want us to know in these kind of situations. Enlarge our love and trust in You, and show us any lessons we can learn that will help us now and in the future. Give us wisdom to discern truth and reject lies. When answers seem slow or we feel like You don’t hear, remind us of Your track record of faithfulness, Lord. Strengthen our faith, and forgive us for doubting or turning from You in the past in any way. Help us to trust You to bring good out of disaster. Keep drawing people together, helping them to look upward and forward. Turn regrets into gratitude, and cause us to see Your purposes in all things.
Lord, as we sort through the wreckage of disaster, present or future, may our confession always be:
Though the hurricanes blow and the angry storms surge; though the fires ravage and the floods rise; though our homes collapse and loved ones are gone; though the crops are destroyed and food is scarce; though the power fails, and the drought remains; though our resources are depleted, and all hope seems gone—Yet still, we will trust in You, Lord. For You are Our Life; You are our Rock; You are our Refuge; You are Our Hope. Without You we are nothing, and without You we have nothing. You are still the God of miracles, and You still love the world. So, once again, we turn our eyes to You and pray, and wait, and trust. Thank You for the promises in Your Word. Thank You that You never fail us and that You never leave us—alone.
In Jesus’s precious name,
Amen
Prayer quoted from A Prayer in Time of Natural Disaster by Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Brandon Bell/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.