Delta adds ‘gut punch’ six weeks after Hurricane Laura

Hurricane Delta followed a path through Louisiana almost identical to Hurricane Laura’s nearly six weeks earlier. At 7:30 a.m., Oct. 10, Sandy Creek in Pollock had overflowed its banks and flooded nearby homes. (Photo by Brian Gunter)

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Louisiana received a “gut punch” Oct. 9, as the second hurricane in six weeks made landfall in the state.

The eye of Hurricane Delta crashed ashore at 5 p.m. as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph in Creole, nearly 13 miles east of Cameron, where Laura made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane (150 mph winds) on Aug. 27.

According to the National Weather Service, Delta had weakened to barely a tropical storm (35 mph sustained winds) as it exited into Mississippi at 7 a.m., on Saturday, having followed a nearly identical path as Laura.

More than 565,000 businesses and homes in the state were without power on Oct. 10.

Delta also dumped heavy rain on parts of the state, which resulted in numerous road closures. AccuWeather reported late Friday that approximately 17.02 inches of rain fell in Iowa, just east of Lake Charles. Meanwhile, Bell City, about seven miles south of Iowa, received 16.31 inches of rain, and Lake Charles, 15.68 inches.

Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth received water damage in the Indian Creek Lodge, as well as the activities building and the game room, according to Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn.

“These will continue to be challenging times, but the beauty of this morning can be a reminder to us that God’s faithfulness is new every morning,” Horn told the Baptist Message.

PRAY FOR THE WEARY

Bruce Baker, director of missions for Carey Baptist Association, said people are weary. Many were repairing their homes that were damaged by Laura and must now deal with the aftermath of a second hurricane.

“Adding damage from Delta to the area will be devastating for many,” he said. “I am praying that I suffer well, that people will remember how much we love Jesus and our neighbors and not how much we suffer. In many ways, it is better that the storm followed a track similar to Laura. No reason for someone else to get new damage.”

Gibbie McMillan, state strategist for Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief efforts, said a response plan has been put into place.

— Written by staff of the Baptist Message, newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.