Hurricane Laura brings tornado threat after Louisiana landfall, Lake Charles ‘severely damaged’
At least 4 people have been killed by falling trees in Louisiana, according to the governor

Heavy rains and winds battered Louisiana Thursday morning as a weakening Hurricane Laura roared northward, threatening to spread further damage well inland after slamming the Lake Charles area and causing at least four deaths.

The historic Hurricane Laura made landfall early Thursday in Cameron, about 45 miles south of Lake Charles, as a dangerous Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph. It’s since weakened to a tropical storm.

“As we wake up today, everyone must remember that the threat Laura poses to Louisiana is ongoing,” Lousiana Gov. John Bel Edwards tweeted Thursday morning. “Stay home, continue to heed the warnings and instructions of local officials and monitor your local news to stay informed.”

The first fatality from the storm in Lousiana was a 14-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on her home, according to the governor.

“We do expect that there could be more fatalities,” Edward’s Deputy Chief of Staff Christina Stephens tweeted.