LAKE CHARLES, La. — Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said state officials now know of four storm-related deaths caused by Hurricane Laura.
Watch Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards remarks in the player above.
The deaths were all caused by trees falling on residences, Edwards said. None were on the coast, having happened in Vernon, Jackson and Acadia parishes. Jackson is in north Louisiana, demonstrating the power of the storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm early Thursday, as it moved through the state.
Edwards said the current priority is search and rescue, followed by efforts to find hotel or motel rooms for those who have lost their homes.
Hotel rooms are needed because conventional communal shelters pose a risk for spreading the coronavirus.
The PBS NewsHour will update this story as it develops.