Hurricane Delta Claims One Louisiana Mortality; Threatens the Carolinas with Tornadoes

Hurricane Delta claimed the life of one person in Louisiana, and is now moving northeast and is bringing the threat of tornadoes to the Carolinas.

Delta's Aftermath

One died in Louisiana, and two were injured in Georgia last Saturday as the storm brought tornadoes. The mortality was a St. Martin Parish resident who was 

86 years old. He died from a fire from his generator when he was adding fuel to it.

In central and northern Georgia, two tornadoes were formed from Delta's aftermath, which caused two injuries.

READ: Delta: Floods and Destruction in Louisiana and Mississippi

Tornadoes Coming to the Carolinas

The National Weather Service forecasted the possibility of tornadoes hitting the Carolinas this Sunday, with Delta moving northeastward. One tornado was already seen in South Carolina last Sunday.

There will also be possible flash floods in areas from southern Virginia to northern Georgia.

Power Outage

Over 400,000 Louisiana residences and establishments lost power last Sunday morning as the hurricane downgraded into post-tropical cyclone classification. Two hundred fifty thousand power outages were reported by Sunday evening, and over 40,000 from Texas also lost power.

Meanwhile, in Mississippi, there were over 21,000 outages. South Carolina and Georgia had nearly 6,000, where Delta caused downpours before heading to the East Coast.

Train Derailment

A train in Lilburn in Georgia was also derailed due to the heavy rain caused by the Hurricane Delta. It was found by firefighters lying on its side, having 38 of its cars derailed. Some were on fire. Minor injuries were sustained by the train conductor and engineer and were hospitalized, as reported by the Fire & Emergency Services of Gwinnett County.

READ ALSO: 2020 Disasters: Hurricanes, Heatwaves, Wildfires, and Drought, Cost US $16 Billion

Tornadoes

The National Weather Service reported that one of the tornadoes in Georgia was classified as an EF1, bearing winds with speeds measuring between 87 to 90 mph. It struck near the area of Covington, which is approximately 35 miles east from Atlanta, injuring two people. It also displaced 30 as it caused damage to a shelter for the homeless, according to Jody Nolan, city emergency management director.

Another tornado classified as an EF0 hit the Pike County area about 51 miles from Atlanta.

Damages

The National Weather Service is expecting Delta to weaken on Monday significantly. According to forecasters, the region encompassing the Carolinas, western Virginia, and Northeast Georgia may expect a rain of up to six inches, which may cause flash floods. The areas of southern New Jersey and Central Appalachia may also have lots of rain.

Delta left southwest Louisiana with 17 inches of rain, and according to Governor John Del Edwards, it was bigger than Laura, even if it was not as powerful.

Edwards said that Delta caused a lot of hazards such as damaged power lines, displaced wildlife, and flooded roads. He is urging residents to stay vigilant, as he reported that over one hundred roads, as well as 35 bridges, remained closed. Many traffic lights are also still inoperative.

According to Nic Hunter, Lake Charles mayor, the city experienced significant flooding and more evacuations surpassing those caused by Laura. Around 7,000 people are still displaced due to Laura. Now, over 9,000 residents remain in state shelters, with most of them, 8,230 to be exact, being Laura evacuees.

Hurricane Delta affected not only Louisiana but also Texas, which may take a week before power is restored. The Carolinas should now brace for tornadoes.

READ NEXT: Meteor Fireball Lights up Mexico Sky Together With Arrival of Hurricane Delta and Minor Earthquakes

Check out more news and information on Climate Change on Nature World News.