Skip to main content
Cloudy icon
46º

Powerful photos: Hurricane Laura leaves behind disaster, devastation after landfall in Louisiana

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A person is seen walking through Capitol One Bank Tower with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle, 2020 Getty Images)

HOUSTON – Here are some of the most powerful images coming out of areas along the Gulf Coast impacted by Laura.

Latasha Myles and Howard Anderson stand in their living room where they were sitting when the roof blew off around 2:30 a.m. as Hurricane Laura passed through the area in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)

Recommended Videos



KSAT Meteorologist Justin Horne surveys aftermath of Hurricane Laura
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A room that had its roof blown off is seen in a hotel after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: James Sonya surveys what is left of his uncles barber shop after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A street is seen strewn with debris and downed power lines after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Capitol One Bank Tower is seen with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Capitol One Bank Tower is seen with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A street is seen strewn with debris and downed power lines after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: An escalator is seen in Capitol One Bank Tower that had its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Lake Charles police officers help clear the roads in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Donnie Rogers prepares to raise the American flag on a pole after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Reagan Cotten and Kate Cotten walk through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27:A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A room that had its roof blown off is seen in a hotel after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Mitch PIckering plays his guitar while walking through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Kyana Myers looks into a room that had its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A person is seen walking through Capitol One Bank Tower with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A person stands next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
A truck and Interstate 10 sign is seen on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Reginald Duhon prepares to work at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
A tree is uprooted in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Dustin Amos walks near debris at a gas station on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
A man was spotted on top of a flooded vehicle in Vinton, Louisiana on Aug. 27, 2020. (KPRC 2)
Damage left by Hurricane Laura in the village subdivision in lake Charles off of 5th and van Buren. (KPRC2/Bill Barajas)
Damage left by Hurricane Laura in the village subdivision in lake Charles off of 5th and van Buren. (KPRC2/Bill Barajas)
Damage to a building in Lake Charles caused by Hurricane Laura. (KPRC)
Damage to an auto repair shop caused by Hurricane Laura. (KPRC)
Damage to an auto repair shop caused by Hurricane Laura. (KPRC)
A Valero station was damaged by Hurricane Laura. (KPRC)
Damage caused by Hurricane Laura.
Damage caused by Hurricane Laura. (KPRC)
A portion of Highway 87 on High Island is impassable. Debris and rocks from high surf scattered across the roadway. (KPRC 2/Brittany Jeffers)
A building that was damaged overnight by Hurricane Laura stands in Lake Charles, La., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (Stephen Jones via AP)
A gazebo in Lake Charles as Hurricane Laura Moves through the area. (NBC)
The same gazebo in Lake Charles was flattened as Hurricane Laura moved through the area. (NBC)
Debris left by Hurricane Laura. (NBC)
A vehicle was overturned by winds brought by Hurricane Laura. (NBC)
Hurricane Laura makes landfall as monster Cat. 4 storm
KPRC 2 reporter Robert Arnold leans into the wind in Lake Charles, Louisiana, during Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27, 2020. (KPRC)
A woman passes on a street near businesses on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in downtown Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Debris is seen near a business on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Here are some of the most powerful images from other areas hit by Laura, from Haiti to Florida.

Street vendors wade a flooded street during the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. Laura battered the Dominican Republic and Haiti and is heading for a possible hit on the Louisiana coast at or close to hurricane force as a hurricane, along with Tropical Storm Marco. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Lafaille Katia 28, removes salvage items from her flooded house the day after the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Forecasters fear Laura could become a major hurricane along the U.S. Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Mathurin Marie Javline removes her children's soaked booklets from inside her flooded home, the day after the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Laura battered the Dominican Republic and Haiti on it's way to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where forecaster fear it could become a major hurricane. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
A girl wades towards her flooded home the day after the passing of Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Laura battered the Dominican Republic and Haiti on it's way to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where forecaster fear it could become a major hurricane. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Workers for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - West, close floodgates in Harvey, La., just outside New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in advance of Tropical Storm Marco, expected to come near the Southern Louisiana coast. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, who over the weekend declared a State of Emergency ahead of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura making landfall, encourages Mississippians to prepare for the back-to-back storms during his news briefing at the Mississippi Emergency Management Headquarters in Pearl, Miss., Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (Copyright 2020. The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
A surfer rides one of the waves churned up by Tropical Storm Laura, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. Tropical Storm Marco began falling apart Monday, easing one threat to the Gulf Coast but setting the stage for the arrival of Laura as a potentially supercharged Category 3 hurricane. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 26: Demeteri Bushnell is hugged by her great niece as they and other evacuees prepare to board a bus as they are evacuated by local and state government officials before the arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 26, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura is expected to hit somewhere along the Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA- AUGUST 25: Evacuees wait to board buses as they are evacuated by local and state government officials before the possible arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 25, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura is expected to hit somewhere along the Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 25: New Orleans residents fill sandbags in preparation for Hurricane Laura on August 25, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura is expected to hit somewhere along the Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 25: Wesley Jacobs measures a space for plywood as he helps board up the windows on a business before the possible arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 25, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura is expected to hit somewhere along the Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 26: Members of the Louisiana National Guard prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 26, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura is expected to hit somewhere along the Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 26: The water border between Texas and Louisiana is seen ahead of Hurricane Laura August 26, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura, currently a Category 4 storm, is expected to make landfall along the Gulf Coast late Wednesday and early Thursday. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)

Loading...