(212) 680-4911

Hurricane Laura extremely dangerous according to the National Hurricane Center. At least 20 million people are in the storm’s path and over half a million people have been ordered to evacuate.

The hurricane, currently a Category 3, was “rapidly intensifying” over the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday, the hurricane center said. It warned of potentially catastrophic and life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding Wednesday night along the northwest Gulf Coast.

Eye of Hurricane Laura

“Only a few hours remain to protect life and property,” it said late Wednesday morning.

Hurricane Laura

Laura was located about 225 miles south-southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and 235 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, according to the hurricane center. It was moving northwest at 16 mph and had maximum sustained winds near 125 mph.

Workers board up property prior to Hurricane Laura Landfall

“On the forecast track, Laura will approach the Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland within that area tonight. The center of Laura is forecast to move over northwestern Louisiana tomorrow, across Arkansas Thursday night, and over the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday,” the hurricane center said.

Laura is expected to rapidly weaken after it makes landfall. Never Forget 9-11 Foundation is discussing a donor page to assist with recovery, but no decisions have been made yet.