Power Outage in Morgan City, LA

Widespread trees and power lines were downed. Roof damage, some significant, was reported across the parish. Wind gust estimates across the parish were in the 50 to 80 mph range.

Power lines were downed in western Saint Mary Parish.

Wind gusts to hurricane force in the west portions of the parish caused damage to homes at Cypremort Point. Strong wind gusts in the east sections downed trees and power lines. Surge at Cypremort Point reached a height of 7.93 feet MHHW and 5.74 feet MHHW at Amerada Pass.

There was a voluntary evacuation for the parish. Many trees and power lines were blown down across the parish. Homes and businesses were damaged from trees falling on them or wind. Property south of the intracoastal waterway was flooded by the storm surge. Over 50 percent of the parish was without power immediately after the storm. Wind gusts ranged from 40 to 70 mph. Storm surge reached 9.45 NAVD88 at Cypremort Point.

Saint Mary Parish saw widespread wind damage due to hurricane force wind gusts. Power outages were widespread and lasted for several days. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Many homes and businesses saw wind damage. The highest wind gust recorded at Cypremort Point was 64 knots.

KWBJ reported power lines and a gas station awning downed during a thunderstorm.

An EF-1 tornado touched down in a sugar cane field near highway 90...and was on the ground for 2.6 miles before it dissipated in another sugar cane field near highway 87. In between 2 businesses and 28 homes were damaged. One restaurant lost most of its flat metal roof, several mobile homes lost most of their metal roofs, and a few homes were knocked off their pilings. Other homes had windows and sheet metal damage...as well as garages and carports. Many trees were snapped and at least 20 telephone/power poles were snapped as well.

An isolated strong thunderstorm moved east across the lower sections of the Atchafalaya Swamp including Flat Lake. As the storm neared the northern sections of Morgan City and Lake End Park the storm intensified farther producing winds around 70 knots. The storm downed many trees and power lines and flipped 3 recreational vehicles at Lake End Park on their side. One business had its metal roof partially blown off and several structures had trees fall on them and awnings removed. The roof of an elementary school in the area suffered minor damage and began to leak. A wind gust of 100 knots was recorded at the heliport in Amelia. Note this anemometer was at 145 ft AGL. Another nearby anemometer on the heliport failed at 44 MPH.

Lightning struck the Bayou Ramos power substation near Morgan City that and combined with other issues to cut power to the city through the afternoon. The lightning caused a fault in one of the lines at the substation cutting power from the east side of town. The generators from the other side of the city kicked in, however a natural gas leak feeding the generators was discovered and had to be shut down.

Scattered trees and power outages were reported across Saint Mary Parish Tuesday through Thursday August 28-30th. Maximum power outages were around 6600 customers. A few homes had trees land on them and a warehouse had a section of its roof blown off. The Morgan City pump station had its roof ripped off. 39 homes reported damage like lost shingles...a fence...or shed. As the hurricane was making landfall in Southeast Louisiana the gauge at the Tesoro Terminal recorded a tide of -3.01 feet before returning back to +1.10 feet. The tide gauge at Amerada Pass recorded a storm tide of -1.79 feet before rising to +3.46 feet resulting in a surge of 2.18 feet. A sustained wind of 40 knots with a gust of 51 knots at Amerada Pass.

Lightning struck a pole breaking it in half around 15 feet above the ground. This knock out power to a portions of Morgan City until 8:15 PM local time.

Isolated power outages were reported due to a few trees blown down across St. Mary Parish.

Franklin Banner Tribune reported power poles and lines blown down along Highway 83 which knocked out power to 1800 customers in Cypremort Point and surrounding areas.

The Morgan City Daily Review newspaper reported wind damage across Morgan City. Several trees were blown down with some falling on homes. Traffic signs and power lines were also knocked down.

Numerous reports from local media indicate a large downburst with winds estimated up to 80 mph struck the city of Charenton. The roof was blown off the Chitimacha Police Station trailer and a nearby radio tower was toppled. Many flag poles at the Immaculate Conception Church were blown over. The Highway 324 bridge over Bayou Teche received minor wind damage to its wooden beams. Several homes received minor to moderate damage to roofs and siding, and numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Damage was reportedly worse than seen during Hurricane Gustav.

Power lines were blown down in Franklin.

St. Martin and St. Mary Parishes were on the outer fringes of Hurricane Katrina. Wind gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range blew many trees down across the region. Around 30 percent of St. Mary Parish lost power. Minor flooding occurred around Stephensville when the water pumps failed.

Severe thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines.

Trees and power lines were downed from Patterson to Morgan City.