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Louisiana's National Guard is clearing roads in Lake Charles
The Louisiana National Guard tweeted photos of its members beginning to clear roads in Lake Charles.
Yesterday, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that the full Louisiana National Guard had been activated ahead of Hurricane Laura. The last time the state activated the full guard was for Hurricane Issac in 2012, he said.
Louisiana governor reports state's first death from Hurricane Laura
From CNN's Devon M. Sayers in Atlanta.
A 14-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell on her home, marking the state's first hurricane-related death, the governor's office reported.
Christina Stephens, a spokesperson for the governor's office, said they “do expect that there could be more fatalities.”
The death took place in Vernon Parish, according to Shauna Sanford with Gov. John Bel Edwards office.
Laura is weakening, but strong wind gusts are still expected
Hurricane Laura continues to travel northward through Louisiana, and the storm is now about 55 miles southeast of Shreveport, according to the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. ET advisory.
The National Hurricane Center said that although Laura is weakening, "strong wind gusts are likely to spread over northern Louisiana and Arkansas into this evening."
The center warned that "high water levels persist" along parts of the coast.
Louisiana governor: Hurricane Laura's threat is "far from over"
From CNN's Devon Sayers
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards urged residents to remain inside as Hurricane Laura travels northward through the state, saying that the storm was still dangerous.
“The threat Laura poses to Louisiana is far from over” he tweeted.
Houston isn't reporting any impacts from Hurricane Laura
The City of Houston is not reporting any impacts from Hurricane Laura, according to a statement from the city.
“Houstonians who evacuated are free to safely return home,” the statement said.
Non-essential city employees will return to their normal schedule today and all city offices will be open, the statement says.
Overnight, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo tweeted this:
A CNN meteorologist answers your questions about Hurricane Laura
From CNN's Melissa Mahtani
Hurricane Laura roared across the Louisiana coastline early Thursday as a Category 4 storm, bringing 150-mph winds and devastating destruction.
Authorities warn a “life-threatening” storm surge continues along much of the Louisiana coastline with the risk of strong winds, flooding and possible tornadoes.
The damage is only beginning to come into full view as day breaks but more than 600,000 people are already without power.
CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar is answering viewer questions.
Watch the video here:
Texas county urges evacuated residents to give crews time to clear roads before returning home
Jefferson County in Texas is set to lift its evacuation order at 11 a.m. ET, according to a post on the county Office of Emergency Management page.
The county borders Louisiana to the east and includes Port Arthur and Beaumont.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, along with local law enforcement agencies “are assessing roadways and trying to clear debris.”
The office asks that residents give crews time to clear the roadways before returning to their homes.
Galveston, Texas, says it was "spared" from Laura and lifts its evacuation order
The Shark Shack Beach Bar and Grill is boarded up on the nearly deserted Strand Street in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, August 26. Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via APThe City of Galveston is lifting its evacuation and curfew orders this morning after the city “was spared the destruction of Hurricane Laura.”
The city said it “did not sustain wind or storm damage, and water is receding in low-lying areas that experienced street flooding,” according to a post on Facebook. Additionally, there are no major power outages to report.
“We're feeling very fortunate this morning,” the city said.
“While we feel thankful and lucky this morning, our thoughts are with our neighbors along the upper Texas Coast and Louisiana. The City has reached out to our various partners to see how we may be able to provide help to those affected by Hurricane Laura," Galveston added in the post.
Hurricane Laura has weakened into a Category 1 storm
CNNHurricane Laura is now a Category 1 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Laura made landfall overnight in Louisiana as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, but it has been weakening as it travels northward through Louisiana.
However, earlier today, Ken Graham, the director of the National Hurricane Center, said that Laura is expected to remain a hurricane until it nearly reaches Arkansas.
"We expect Hurricane Laura to still be a hurricane even when you get up to Shreveport, right on the Arkansas border," he said on CNN this morning.
