Hurricane Laura becomes Category 4 and will bring 'unsurvivable storm surge' that could damage buildings 30 miles inland in Texas and Louisiana - amid warnings that 'only hours remain to protect lives and property' (35 Pics)


Hurricane Laura rapidly gained strength Wednesday to become a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane with 140mph winds, and is expected to bring an 'unsurvivable storm surge' that could damage homes and buildings 30 miles inland in Texas and Louisiana.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) tweeted on Wednesday afternoon that an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft has reported that Laura has become an 'extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane'. 
'Catastrophic Storm Surge, Extreme Winds, and Flash Flooding Expected Along the Northwest Gulf Coast Tonight,' the NHC wrote. 
Shortly before that dire warning, the NHC said that the storm is likely to bring an 'unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves' that will 'cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes'.
'This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. Only a few hours remain to protect life and property and all actions should be rushed to completion.' 
Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards said Hurricane Laura 'is shaping up to be just a tremendous storm'.
The NHC kept raising its estimate of Laura's storm surge, from 10 feet just a couple of days ago to twice that size. Satellite images show Laura has become 'a formidable hurricane' in recent hours.

Hurricane Laura rapidly gained strength Wednesday to become a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane that is expected to bring 'unsurvivable storm surge' that could damage homes and buildings 30 miles inland in Texas and Louisiana as local officials warn that only hours remain to protect lives and property
Hurricane Laura rapidly gained strength Wednesday to become a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane that is expected to bring 'unsurvivable storm surge' that could damage homes and buildings 30 miles inland in Texas and Louisiana as local officials warn that only hours remain to protect lives and property
Several cities in Texas and Louisiana were issued hurricane warnings as of Wednesday afternoon
Several cities in Texas and Louisiana were issued hurricane warnings as of Wednesday afternoon
Stacy Stewart, a senior hurricane specialist, said: 'We could see storm surge heights more than 15 feet in some areas'
Stacy Stewart, a senior hurricane specialist, said: 'We could see storm surge heights more than 15 feet in some areas'
'Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,' the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned (above) Wednesday morning
'Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,' the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned (above) Wednesday morning
Flash flood warnings have been issued for several coastal cities in Texas and Louisiana. Tornado watches have been also been issued to cities in both states
Flash flood warnings have been issued for several coastal cities in Texas and Louisiana. Tornado watches have been also been issued to cities in both states 
This satellite image shows Hurricane Laura moving in the Gulf of Mexico towards Louisiana and Texas on Wednesday
This satellite image shows Hurricane Laura moving in the Gulf of Mexico towards Louisiana and Texas on Wednesday


'Some areas, when they wake up Thursday morning, they're not going to believe what happened,' said Stacy Stewart, a senior hurricane specialist.'What doesn't get blown down by the wind could easily get knocked down by the rising ocean waters pushing well inland.' 
A Category 4 hurricane can cause damage so catastrophic that power outages may last for months in places, and wide areas could be uninhabitable for weeks or months, posing a new disaster relief challenge for a government already straining to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. 
Storm surge along the Gulf Coast could raise water levels to as high as 12 feet to 15 feet in Intracoastal City and Morgan City, Louisiana, and Laura was expected to drop 5 to 10 inches of rain over the region, the NHC said. 
Weather experts say that Laura underwent what's known as 'rapid intensification', a phenomenon where a tropical cycle intensifies by at least 35mph in a 24-hour period. 
Laura, located 200 miles south-southeast of Port Arthur on Wednesday afternoon, had maximum sustained winds of 140mph and was expected to pack winds of up to 145mph before landfall on Wednesday night.
'Heed the advice of your local authorities. If they tell you to go, go! Your life depends on it today,' said Joel Cline, tropical program coordinator at the National Weather Service. 'It's a serious day and you need to listen to them.'
Hurricane warnings were issued from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and reached inland for 200 miles. Storm surge warnings were in effect from Freeport, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
A Cameron Parish Sheriff deputy wipes his face as he mans a roadblock in the rain on LA 27 while residents evacuate Cameron in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday
A Cameron Parish Sheriff deputy wipes his face as he mans a roadblock in the rain on LA 27 while residents evacuate Cameron in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday 
Louisiana State Police warned residents to please 'stay weather aware,' especially if they encounter 'high water in your area, please turn around and  Utilize http://511la.org Picture: La 1 south of the Leon Theriot flood gate in Golden Meadow.8666241 Hurricane Laura will bring 'unsurvivable storm surge' and hit Texas and Louisiana as Category 4, as officials warn 'only hours remain to protect lives and property'
Louisiana State Police warned residents to please 'stay weather aware,' and if they encounter 'high water' to turn around and find an alternate route
Houston residents Thomas Mezquiti and his son Drake Mezquiti, 13, fish ahead of Hurricane Laura in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday
Houston residents Thomas Mezquiti and his son Drake Mezquiti, 13, fish ahead of Hurricane Laura in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday 
A gas terminal is seen as the first band of rain from Hurricane Laura passes in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Wednesday
A gas terminal is seen as the first band of rain from Hurricane Laura passes in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Wednesday 
Chris Colvert takes a photograph of the 1900 Storm statue on Wednesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast

Chris Colvert takes a photograph of the 1900 Storm statue on Wednesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast
Cody Cloud walks back toward the beach after taking pictures of the waves Wednesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast

Cody Cloud walks back toward the beach after taking pictures of the waves Wednesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast
A man walks along the beach Wednesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast

A man walks along the beach Wednesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf Coast
Josue Blanco (left) and Alex Mendez photograph waves generated by Hurricane Laura as they crash into the rock groin at 37th Street in Galveston, Texas on Wednesday
Josue Blanco (left) and Alex Mendez photograph waves generated by Hurricane Laura as they crash into the rock groin at 37th Street in Galveston, Texas on Wednesday
The Shark Shack Beach Bar and Grill is boarded up on the nearly deserted Strand Street in Galveston as business owners and residents wait for Hurricane Laura on Wednesday
The Shark Shack Beach Bar and Grill is boarded up on the nearly deserted Strand Street in Galveston as business owners and residents wait for Hurricane Laura on Wednesday


'Devastating wind damage will occur near where #Laura makes landfall in the hurricane warning area. Well-built homes may incur major damage, trees will be snapped or uprooted, and electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks,' the center added. 
A National Weather Service meteorologist in Lake Charles, Louisiana - in the bullseye of Laura's projected path - took to Facebook Live to deliver an urgent warning for people living south of Interstate 10 in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas.
'Your life will be in immediate and grave danger beginning this evening if you do not evacuate,' Donald Jones said.
In the largest US evacuation of the pandemic, more than half a million people were ordered Tuesday to flee from an area of the Gulf Coast along the Texas-Louisiana state line.
More than 420,000 residents were told to evacuate the Texas cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur. 
Another 200,000 were ordered to leave the low-lying Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in southwestern Louisiana, where forecasters said as much as 13 feet of storm surge topped by waves could submerge whole communities.
Officials say the storm surges and downpour of rain could leave an area the size of Rhode Island underwater in Louisiana.
The storm was also expected to spawn tornadoes Wednesday night over Louisiana, far southeastern Texas, and southwestern Mississippi, the NHC said. 
People line up to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning ahead of Hurricane Laura
People line up to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning ahead of Hurricane Laura 
Victoria Nelson with her children Autum Nelson, 2, Shawn Nelson, 7, and Asia Nelson, 6, wait to board a bus evacuating Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday
Victoria Nelson with her children Autum Nelson, 2, Shawn Nelson, 7, and Asia Nelson, 6, wait to board a bus evacuating Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday 
Christopher Thomas holds one-year-old Taiyren Sylvester as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday
Christopher Thomas holds one-year-old Taiyren Sylvester as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday 
Port Arthur Firefighters check temperatures of people arriving at the civic center where evacuation buses wait in Port Arthur, Texas, on Wednesday
Port Arthur Firefighters check temperatures of people arriving at the civic center where evacuation buses wait in Port Arthur, Texas, on Wednesday 
Evan Raggio and other people purchase supplies at the Stine hardware store before the arrival of Hurricane Laura on Wednesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Evan Raggio and other people purchase supplies at the Stine hardware store before the arrival of Hurricane Laura on Wednesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana 
Marvin Weikal (right) and other people purchase supplies at the Stine hardware store in Lake Charles on Wednesday
Marvin Weikal (right) and other people purchase supplies at the Stine hardware store in Lake Charles on Wednesday 
David Rosenbaum Jr helps load plywood into vehicles as people purchase supplies at the Stine hardware store before the storm on Wednesday
David Rosenbaum Jr helps load plywood into vehicles as people purchase supplies at the Stine hardware store before the storm on Wednesday 
Lake Charles Fire Department personnel Alvin Taylor (right) and Jeremy Harris (left) assist Tim Williams into a transport van as he evacuates Lake Charles, Louisiana on Wednesday
Lake Charles Fire Department personnel Alvin Taylor (right) and Jeremy Harris (left) assist Tim Williams into a transport van as he evacuates Lake Charles, Louisiana on Wednesday 
Houston SPCA staff members Linnea Wood (foreground) and Calista Stover carry pets from the Galveston Island Humane Society, onto a Wings of Rescue plane headed to Dallas/Fort Worth on Tuesday
Houston SPCA staff members Linnea Wood (foreground) and Calista Stover carry pets from the Galveston Island Humane Society, onto a Wings of Rescue plane headed to Dallas/Fort Worth on Tuesday 
Ropes are used to tie a house down ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Laura in Rutherford beach near Cameron, Louisiana on Wednesday
Ropes are used to tie a house down ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Laura in Rutherford beach near Cameron, Louisiana on Wednesday 
On Tuesday locals in Louisiana boarded up their homes and business and filled sandbags to keep their houses dry. In Galveston, Texas, long lines of locals waited to board buses to be taken to Austin to wait out the storm. 
'If you decide to stay, you're staying on your own,' Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie said. 
Urging people in southwest Louisiana to evacuate before it's too late, Louisiana Gov Edwards said they need to reach wherever they intend to ride out the storm by noon Wednesday, when the state will start feeling the storm's effects.
'Wherever you are by noon is where you'll have to ride out the storm. Be smart and be safe,' Edwards tweeted. 
Officials urged people to stay with relatives or in hotel rooms to avoid spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.
Buses were stocked with protective equipment and disinfectant, and they would carry fewer passengers to keep people apart, Texas officials said.
Even before dawn Wednesday, officials in Austin said the city had run out of free hotel rooms to offer evacuees and had begun directing families fleeing the storm to a shelter nearly 200 miles farther north.
'Everyone´s recent memory is Harvey. We want them to evacuate,' said Bryce Bencivengo, a spokesman for the Austin´s homeland security and emergency management office.
Whitney Frazier, 29, of Beaumont spent Tuesday morning trying to get transportation to a high school where she could board a bus to leave the area.
'Especially with everything with COVID going on already on top of a mandatory evacuation, it´s very stressful,' Frazier said.
Yvonne Lancgo, of Lake Charles, waits to board a bus to evacuate Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday
Yvonne Lancgo, of Lake Charles, waits to board a bus to evacuate Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday 
Members of the Louisiana National Guard prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Laura on Wednesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Members of the Louisiana National Guard prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Laura on Wednesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Members of the Louisiana National Guard stage near a high school before the arrival of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Tuesday as Laura upgraded from a storm to a hurricane
Members of the Louisiana National Guard stage near a high school before the arrival of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Tuesday as Laura upgraded from a storm to a hurricane
The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized 98 high water vehicles and 55 boats for response efforts
The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized 98 high water vehicles and 55 boats for response efforts 
Louisiana National Guard Sgt Aaron Dugas prepares a boat for the arrival of Hurricane Laura on Wednesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Louisiana National Guard Sgt Aaron Dugas prepares a boat for the arrival of Hurricane Laura on Wednesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Power outages are extremely likely in Lake Charles and possible for surrounding cities, including Little Rock and Memphis
Power outages are extremely likely in Lake Charles and possible for surrounding cities, including Little Rock and Memphis 
Severe weather is possible in multiple cities through Thursday night, according to forecasters
Severe weather is possible in multiple cities through Thursday night, according to forecasters 
The wind gust forecast shows 75mph gusts or more for Lake Charles, Louisiana, early Thursday morning
The wind gust forecast shows 75mph gusts or more for Lake Charles, Louisiana, early Thursday morning
Shelters opened with cots set farther apart to curb coronavirus infections. Evacuees were told to bring a mask and just one bag of personal belongings each.
'Hopefully it's not that threatening to people, to lives, because people are hesitant to go anywhere due to COVID,' Robert Duffy said as he placed sandbags around his home in Morgan City, Louisiana. 'Nobody wants to sleep on a gym floor with 200 other people. It's kind of hard to do social distancing.'
Kathleen Tierney, the former director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, said: 'We need to be concerned about the federal capacity to respond to a major hurricane disaster, particularly in light of failings that are all too obvious in the public health area. I really worry: Who's minding the store?'
Laura also is expected to dump massive rainfall over a short period of time as it moves inland, causing widespread flash flooding in states far from the coast. 
Flash flood watches were issued for much of Arkansas, and forecasters said heavy rainfall could move to parts of Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky late Friday and Saturday. 
Reeling from the storm: Residents of Port-au-Prince, Haiti pictured cleaning up a street reduced to rubble from the passage of Tropical Storm Laura on Tuesday
Reeling from the storm: Residents of Port-au-Prince, Haiti pictured cleaning up a street reduced to rubble from the passage of Tropical Storm Laura on Tuesday
A man removes mud outside of a store in Haiti that was decimated by Laura, then a tropical storm, before it upgraded to a hurricane on Tuesday
A man removes mud outside of a store in Haiti that was decimated by Laura, then a tropical storm, before it upgraded to a hurricane on Tuesday
Laura's arrival comes just days before the August 29 anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which breached the levees in New Orleans, flattened much of the Mississippi coast and killed as many as 1,800 people in 2005.
Less than a month later, Hurricane Rita struck southwest Louisiana as a Category 3 storm.
The storm also imperiled a center of the US energy industry. The government said 84 per cent of Gulf oil production and an estimated 61 per cent of natural gas production were shut down. Nearly 300 platforms have been evacuated.
'If Laura moves further west toward Houston, there will be a much bigger gasoline supply problem,' Oil analyst Andrew Lipow said, since refineries usually take two to three weeks to resume full operations. 
While oil prices often spike before a major storm as production slows, consumers are unlikely to see big price changes because the pandemic decimated demand for fuel
Laura passed Cuba and Hispaniola, where it killed nearly two dozen people, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic.
The deaths reportedly included a 10-year-old girl whose home was hit by a tree and a mother and young son crushed by a collapsing wall.
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