Parts of Kenner, Metairie Underwater After Hurricane

Hurricane Francine made landfall on the Gulf Coast, including Louisiana, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.

The National Hurricane Center said tropical-storm-force winds had begun to spread across the state, and conditions would worsen throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The storm made landfall about 5 p.m. CT in Louisiana as a dangerous Category 2 with maximum sustained winds estimated at 100 mph.

Midnight — Fox 8 reports that University City in Kenner is underwater. Also, a nearby canal overflowed and water is now in homes and cars.

Parish officials don’t know when the water will completely drain out.

9:00 pm — More than 400,000 homes and businesses are reportedly without power as the storm, now a tropical depression, moves through south Louisiana.

8:00 pm — Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. “Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly,” according to the National Weather Service.

7:30 pm — Areas around New Orleans, Kenner and Metairie were under a flash flood warning, according to the National Weather Service.

7:15 pm — In nearby Houma, news cameras capture flying debris and gusting winds damaging the roofs of local businesses.

7:00 pm — Hurricane Francine is downgraded to a Category 1 storm after hitting Morgan City, according to the National Hurricane Center.

6:45 pm — The City of New Orleans has issued a flash flood warning.

Power outages are being reported in the New Orleans area.

New Orleans officials had made preparation for potential flooding with 4-8 inches of rainfall expected from Francine.

Nolafi.com will update you on the storm’s progress as it weakens.

Francine will bring rounds of heavy rainfall totaling 4 to 6 inches with locally higher amounts, according to the National Weather Service. This will lead to flash flooding especially in urban and poor drainage areas.

The storm is expected to weaken rapidly as rainfall, storm surge and damaging winds take their toll.

Francine is expected to become a tropical storm as it travels north up the Mississippi River.

Keisha Smith

Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.