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Photography
By Olivier Laurent | Aug 27, 2020
Hurricane Laura slammed southern Louisiana on Thursday as a Category 4 storm, one of the most powerful to strike the Gulf Coast in decades.
Lake Charles, La., took a heavy hit, with widespread destruction from Laura’s devastating winds. Roofs were peeled off, buildings were destroyed, and lampposts were tossed into the streets.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
The storm, which leaped from a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday to a high-end Category 4 on Wednesday night, packed 150 mph peak winds when it crossed the coast. It is now headed northward as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of more than 100 mph.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Deweyville, Tex.
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Callaghan O’Hare for The Washington Post
Aug. 27 | Holly Beach, La.
Eric Gay/AP
Eric Gay/AP
Aug. 27 | Lake Charles, La.
Gerald Herbert/AP
Gerald Herbert/AP
Aug. 27 | Sulphur, La.
Adrees Latif/Reuters
Adrees Latif/Reuters
Aug. 27 | Sabine, Tex.
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020
Thousands of people were forced to evacuate the coasts of Louisiana and Texas after the National Hurricane Center warned of “unsurvivable” storm surges in the wake of the approaching Category 4 Hurricane Laura.
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News
Aug. 26 | Port Arthur, Tex.
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Aug. 26 | Port Arthur, Tex.
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Aug. 26 | Port Arthur, Tex.
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Michael Stravato for The Washington Post
Aug. 26 | Sabine, Tex.
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News