Checking in from Louisiana and the aftermath of Hurricane Laura [View all]

[Solly Mack]

I'm OK. Miserably hot. 24 hours later and still no power. Very minor damage to home and hearth. A few small tree limbs on the ground. Have a separate hot-spot for occasions such as this and for travel. Battery running low on laptop. Phone has gone on 3 rides to get a charge-up. Not much damage on my end of the Parish. Aside from the Parish-wide power outage.

But the damage elsewhere in the Parish is surprisingly major.

A young girl died when a tree crashed into her bedroom. Six deaths total statewide. All but two from falling trees.

Trees down, power line poles snapped in two, roofs gone, sides of buildings and homes collapsed, debris everywhere. Roads closed. Minor flooding.

I was online until about 3 AM Thursday morning and had to let the dogs out. Quick trip because the wind became worse. The wind was already blowing stuff around but then the actual storm was upon us and it got scary.

Howling winds with the unknown flying about everywhere until about 6 AM. Lights flickering constantly and then went out at 5 AM.

Tried to sleep and actually managed a couple of hours.

We went to check on a few people - older, disabled vets. That's when we saw how bad it was in the Parish seat. Bad. Very bad.

We are not a coastal Parish. However, not far from Lake Charles, which got hit hard. Far worse than we did.

This wasn't my first hurricane but it has been the most miserable.

We're alive. House intact. Animals safe. I'm grateful.

Still, no power sucks. I really need coffee. Really, truly need coffee.

Nothing opened, of course. No word on when power might be restored.

Thanks for listening!

Solly