Hurricane Laura’s Impact: ‘The Wind Just Tore Everything Up’

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Damaged buildings and homes are damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura near Lake Charles, La., Thursday.





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David J. Phillip/AP








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At a nearby mobile home park, Greg Lewis rode out the storm in his double-wide, staying behind after his wife went to a motel — a mistake, he now says.

As the Category 4 hurricane brought its furious winds ashore at about 1 a.m., Lewis crouched down behind his brick steps.

«It was the noisiest I have ever heard in my life, and it never quit, Lewis tells Goodwyn, adding that he could hear tornadoes in the midst of the storm’s howling winds. He regretted staying behind, Lewis said.

«Every minute. Every minute. I won’t do it again.

Another resident says her mobile home moved like a roller coaster in the intense winds.





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Hurricane Laura wrecked part of a Market Basket grocery in Lake Charles. Damages from the storm are expected to run in the billions of dollars.





Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images



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Hurricane Laura wrecked part of a Market Basket grocery in Lake Charles. Damages from the storm are expected to run in the billions of dollars.


Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

South of Lake Charles, Patrick Bright spent the night at his father’s house, and he says the structure started shaking as the storm hit. Then, they felt the roof get pulled off — and water started coming into the house.

It was very different, he said, from previous strong hurricanes that hit the area.

«I was here for a little bit of Rita and its massive flood waters in 2005, Bright said. He added, «This time it’s more, as you can see, the wind just tore everything up.

Laura’s remnants are now moving across the mid-Mississippi Valley, bringing rain and the chance of tornadoes. As Lake Charles and surrounding areas take stock and clear out the damage, forecasters say strong thunderstorms will hit the region Friday, bringing more heavy rain, pea-size hail, and winds up to 30 mph.