Hurricanes are fierce storms made up of high-speed winds and treacherous rains that are known to have potentially devastating effects on neighborhoods, cities, and other residential and urban areas. Hurricanes take their form when a tropical depression causes hot air to rise up and eventually descend back down, forming a spiral shape. The newly formed hurricane then begins to collect rain and wind from nearby storms. The severity of a hurricane depends on the amount of time that the hurricane spends in the water.
If a hurricane makes landfall immediately after forming, then the effects of the hurricane would be minimal. However, if a hurricane spends a significant amount of its formation in the ocean, the effects of that hurricane have the potential to be severe to the surrounding communities. Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which separates them into different categories based on their wind speeds. Hingham High School Junior Troy Leibovici reported that, “[He] cannot help but feel for victims of hurricanes, [He] has only lived through a couple minor ones so [he] cannot imagine what they are going through.”
On September 11th, 2024, Hurricane Francine made landfall in Southern Louisiana, tearing through suburban and metropolitan areas with wind speeds up to 100 mph. The storm, classified as a category two hurricane, thrashed the streets of southern Louisiana, causing statewide power outages and flash flooding. Both Louisiana and the neighboring state of Mississippi were quick to declare a statewide emergency, notifying residents of the dangers and consequences that the storm could bring. Residents living in affected communities were reportedly told to “Shelter in place” and to “Stay away from windows.”
Quickly after Hurricane Francine made its initial landfall, the storm decreased from a hurricane to a tropical storm, providing a small amount of relief to those affected by the initial hurricane. However, Louisiana was not out of the water yet, literally, and figuratively. The storm caused a massive amount of damage to neighborhoods and other residential areas of Louisiana, downing large trees and spreading a significant amount of debris to residential roads and busy highways. “[He] cannot imagine how scared the citizens of Louisiana must be,” added Junior Charlie Peak. Over the course of the day, many houses and local businesses that were constantly pounded by the immense rain would end up flooding, requiring local police and fire departments to dispatch many of their forces to assist in rescue and cleanup efforts. Hurricane Francine has been the fifth hurricane to hit the state of Louisiana since 2020. Others that have impacted the state include Hurricane Laura, Delta, Ida, and others.
