A dramatic rescue operation was broadcast live on television in New Orleans as Hurricane Francine swept through the city.
The Category 2 storm hit Louisiana on Wednesday evening, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that caused flooding and knocked out power to more than a quarter of a million homes.
Jonah Gilmore, a reporter with New Orleans Broadcaster WDSU was live on air when he spotted a vehicle driving into the floodwaters.
“We saw the pickup truck enter the canal underpass from the opposite direction… against traffic… when that area was closed,” he said.
The panicked reporter flagged down a nearby police officer as he described how “the water was rising so fast” – but at that moment a passing Good Samaritan jumped into action and approached the car with a hammer.
Mr Gilmore told viewers: “You can see the guy smashing the window (of the vehicle).”
The footage showed a man’s head sticking out of a rear door window and squeezing through the gap.
The driver was eventually brought to safety by rescuer Miles Crawford before the fire department arrived at the scene.
Submerged cars in New Orleans: Image: AP
Mr Crawford, who works in a hospital emergency room, said afterwards: “I just had to go in there and get him. I’m a nurse, so I have to save lives.”
hurricane Francine came ashore in Louisiana According to the National Hurricane Center, winds reached nearly 100 mph in Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles southwest of Morgan City.
It led to evacuation orders for thousands of people in a region that has still not fully recovered from a series of devastating hurricanes. in 2020 And 2021.
Evacuation orders were issued before the hurricane. Image: Reuters
Firefighters in Morgan City, near where the storm made landfall. Image: AP
Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham said the hurricane quickly flooded streets, downed power lines and toppled trees.
“To be honest, it’s a little worse than I expected… it’s too dangerous to be out there,” he said.
The hurricane later moved inland, knocking out power to 261,000 homes in southeastern Louisiana before weakening to a tropical storm.
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Much of Louisiana and Mississippi There could be 4 to 8 inches of rain, with as much as 12 inches possible in some places, said Brad Reinhart, a senior specialist at the hurricane center.
Francine is the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and was fueled by extremely warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
president Joe Biden has approved emergency assistance to help Louisiana receive federal funds and assistance.
