Hurricane Laura

Overview

Hurricane Laura made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana on August 27, 2020 as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph, tying the 1856 Last Island Hurricane as the strongest to strike Louisiana. The storm caused catastrophic damage in the Lake Charles metropolitan area, destroying homes, businesses, and industrial facilities. Over 75 people were killed, many from carbon monoxide poisoning from generator use during extended power outages. The storm caused an estimated $19 billion in damage. The disaster response was complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and Lake Charles was hit again just six weeks later by Hurricane Delta, compounding recovery challenges for an already devastated community.