Hurricane Laura Is Pummeling the Gulf Coast - 1st Post

 

WEATHER Hurricane Laura Is Pummeling the Gulf Coast National Hurricane Center Hurricane Laura, a massive and "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm, was expected to make landfall on the Texas and Louisiana coasts early this morning. It's only the eighth Category 4+ storm to hit the Gulf Coast in modern history.  As you can see from the tweet above, the National Hurricane Center warned of an “unsurvivable” storm surge. Authorities are working to limit the damage:  The American Red Cross said it sent over 600 workers to the states and provided shelter for more than 5,000 people Tuesday night.  The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority closed at least 410 floodgates, shut off pumps, and tried to plug gaps in the area’s many waterways.  What it means for the economy: Gulf of Mexico drilling platforms account for as much as 17% of U.S. oil production. Laura is forecast to cause $25 billion in damage—at least $5 billion of that to refineries alone, per Enki Research.  We’re thinking about all of our readers in the storm’s path. Stay safe.