This is the year Coronavirus, and two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time.

Probability cones as of Saturday, August 22, 2020, before Marco fizzled out and Laura shifted west.

We packed up the synod office, moving things to the interior and plastic-wrapping the filing cabinets.

Laura made landfall at 1:00 am on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at Cameron, Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds up to 145 MPH, then marched up the Texas-Louisiana state line.

By sunrise it had been downgraded to a Cat 2. Later it moved to Arkansas. When the smoke cleared, 800,000 were without power in 3 states. 74,000 in SW Louisiana. They estimated it would take 4-6 weeks to get water and power back in Lake Charles.

Damage to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana was extensive. Pastor Tim and Robin Norris evacuated to Baton Rouge with their two dogs. Most of the congregation evacuated town as well.
Pastor Paul Zoch says damage at Good Shepherd in Bridge City, Texas was not so bad, though their recently resurfaced playground took a hit.

The next day, Friday, August 27, Bishop’s Associate Chris Markert and Pastor Chris Lake drive out to Lake Charles and Bridge City for a pastoral visit, to deliver generators, water, and tarps, and to assess the damage.

Here are their photos:

Here is some video drone footage:

The team found Good Shepherd in Bridge City was in much better shape. The building is fine. Pastor Paul Zoch is already delivering bottled water and food to folks. He is positioning the church to be a staging ground for local recovery. They dropped off generators and supplies:

According to CBS News, Hurricane Laura has claimed 14 lives so far. 10 in Louisiana and four in Texas. Most were by trees falling on houses, ranging from age 14 to age 68. Sadly, five of the deaths were by carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, one 24-year old man and a family of four in Calcasieu Parish. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/hurricane-laura-death-toll-louisiana-texas/

Gulf Coast hurricane season runs from June through November, but the worst time, the red zone is August 26 to September 26:

By date

  • August 26, 2017 – Hurricane Harvey (Landfall between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor as a Cat 4, then again a few days later in Cameron, Louisiana)
  • August 27, 2020 – Hurricane Laura (Cameron, LA landfall at Cat 4)
  • August 28, 2012 – Hurricane Isaac (Louisiana landfall)
  • August 29, 2005 – Hurricane Katrina (Louisiana & Mississippi landfall)
  • September 1, 2008 – Hurricane Gustav (Cocodrie, Louisiana landfall)
  • September 8, 1900 – The 1900 Galveston Hurricane (Galveston, Texas landfall)
  • September 13, 2008 – Hurricane Ike (Galveston, Texas landfall)
  • September 24, 2005 – Hurricane Rita (Texas & Louisiana landfall)

By year

  • August 27, 2020 – Hurricane Laura (landfall at Cameron, LA as a Cat 4.
  • August 26, 2017 – Hurricane Harvey (Landfall between Port Aransas & Port O’Connor as a Category 4, then again a few days later in Cameron, Louisiana)
  • August 28, 2012 – Hurricane Isaac (Louisiana landfall)
  • September 13, 2008 – Hurricane Ike (Galveston, Texas landfall)
  • September 1, 2008 – Hurricane Gustav (Cocodrie, Louisiana landfall)
  • September 24, 2005 – Hurricane Rita (Texas & Louisiana landfall)
  • August 29, 2005 – Hurricane Katrina (Louisiana & Mississippi landfall)
  • September 8, 1900 – The 1900 Galveston Hurricane (Galveston, Texas landfall)