DULAC, La. — Following the storm surge from Hurricane Francine, which recently flooded a cemetery in Dulac, Lori-Ann Bergeron visited to assess the damage to her family’s gravesite. Thankfully, her relatives’ tombstones remained untouched, but nearby caskets surfaced amidst broken crosses and soggy flower bouquets.
“It’s almost always like this when the water rises, but this is the only resting place for them,” said Bergeron, 51, recalling a similar experience when Hurricane Rita disturbed her sister’s burial in 2005.
The aftermath of Hurricane Francine, which made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, left Gulf Coast residents grappling with extensive cleanup efforts. Many are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Ida three years prior.
The storm caused widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands, inundated coastal communities, and led to significant flash flooding.
“The human spirit is defined by its resiliency, and resiliency defines Louisiana,” expressed Governor Jeff Landry at a news conference. “We face challenging situations, yet it’s in those moments that our state shines brightest.”
Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities or injuries from the storm.
Francine, fueled by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, brought heavy rainfall across much of the South, impacting areas in Arkansas and Florida as well. Forecasters anticipate the storm will weaken as it crosses northern Arkansas, but its slow progression could lead to days of continued heavy rain and heightened risks of flash flooding, particularly in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
Areas in central and northern Alabama could see an additional 3 to 6 inches of rain, while parts of northeastern Mississippi, western Tennessee, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle may expect an extra 2 to 4 inches through the weekend.
Hurricane Francine struck the Louisiana coast with winds reaching 100 mph, battering Terrebonne Parish and impacting the New Orleans area with torrential rainfall, resulting in power outages and debris-covered roads.
New Orleans experienced intense flooding, with water nearly submerging a pickup truck in an underpass. A local emergency room nurse heroically rescued the trapped driver by breaking the truck’s window with a hammer and pulling him to safety.
As the storm receded, coastal communities documented waves crashing against seawalls and water flooding city streets. At the peak of the storm, around 450,000 customers were without power, primarily due to falling debris.
“The investments made in resilience have greatly reduced the impact of the storm on power outages and home damage,” noted the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator during a press briefing.
In Cocodrie, Louisiana, where fishing camps are prevalent, police enforced road security to deter looting while families began cleaning their properties, assessing the damage left by significant flooding.
Brooks Pellegrin and his family were among those clearing debris from their fishing camp, which suffered extensive water damage from a 10-foot storm surge that washed away key structural features.
“We raised everything to avoid this, but this storm brought in much more water than we anticipated,” Pellegrin remarked.
For residents living in this bayou region, the threat of hurricanes and flooding has become an ingrained part of life, according to Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre. The area, home to approximately 97,000 residents, has made substantial advancements in storm preparedness, including improved drainage systems and quicker evacuation responses.
“This population is resilient, independent, and resourceful,” Webre concluded.
