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Videos, photos show Hurricane Laura hitting Gulf Coast, damage

Videos show glass, debris torn from Lake Charles buildings, casino

Associated Press

Rebecca Salinas, Digital Executive Producer

Tags: Hurricane Laura, Gulf Coast, weather
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Debris surround damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: An escalator is seen in Capitol One Bank Tower that had its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Buildings and homes are flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Cameron, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Smoke is seen rising from what is reported to be a chemical plant fire after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A person is seen walking through Capitol One Bank Tower with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Capitol One Bank Tower is seen with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Joyce vanDenberg and Kyana Myers stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A room that had its roof blown off is seen in a hotel after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Kyana Myers looks into a room that had its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Dustin Amos walks near debris at a gas station on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A truck and Interstate 10 sign is seen on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Reginald Duhon prepares to work at his home on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura moved through the state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A tree is uprooted in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, in Sabine Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Capitol One Bank Tower is seen with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Capitol One Bank Tower is seen with its windows blown out in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A street is seen strewn with debris and downed power lines after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
SABINE PASS, TX - AUGUST 27: Flooding caused by Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Sabine Pass, Texas. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the eastern part of the state. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Lake Charles police officers help clear the roads in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A person stands next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: People stand next to a hotel that had parts of its roof blown off as Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Donnie Rogers prepares to raise the American flag on a pole after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Mitch PIckering plays his guitar while walking through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27:A Lake Charles police officer helps clear the streets in the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A street is seen strewn with debris and downed power lines after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
HOLLY BEACH, LA - AUGUST 27: A damaged travel trailer sits among flood water after Hurricane Laura passed through the area August 27, 2020 in Holly Beach, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the South East region of the state causing extensive damage to the area. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
HOLLY BEACH, LA - AUGUST 27: Damaged homes sit among flood water after Hurricane Laura passed through the area August 27, 2020 in Holly Beach, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the South East region of the state causing extensive damage to the area. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: Reagan Cotten and Kate Cotten walk through the downtown area after Hurricane Laura passed through on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: A damaged home is seen after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 27: James Sonya surveys what is left of his uncles barber shop after Hurricane Laura passed through the area on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana . The hurricane hit with powerful winds causing extensive damage to the city. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Latasha Myles and Howard Anderson stand in their living room where they were sitting when the roof blew off around 2:30 a.m. as Hurricane Laura passed through the area in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
A building that was damaged overnight by Hurricane Laura stands in Lake Charles, La., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (Stephen Jones via AP)
The L'Auberge Casino Resort is seen after the lights went out with the arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the South West region of the state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Trees blow in the winds from Hurricane Laura near the Golden Nugget Hotel on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the South West region of the state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
A tree blows in the winds from Hurricane Laura near the Golden Nugget Hotel on August 27, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura came ashore bringing rain and high winds to the South West region of the state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Crew members of a shrimp boat called the Sea Lion V prepare as they wait for Hurricane Laura to make landfall, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Port Arthur, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Crew members of a shrimp boat called the Sea Lion V prepare as they wait for Hurricane Laura to make landfall, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Port Arthur, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Blown down trees and debris surround damaged homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Debris surround damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, near Lake Charles, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Click through the gallery above to see images of the storm’s aftermath

As Hurricane Laura made landfall on a stretch of Louisiana near the Texas state line, videos and photos emerged of the Category 4 storm’s impact.

Videos on social media show heavy winds and rain battering a tall building in Lake Charles, Louisiana, blowing out windows and littering glass and debris into the air and onto the ground as Hurricane Laura moves over southwestern Louisiana.

The damage was observed in Lake Charles, which is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of where the storm made landfall in Cameron early Thursday.

Laura, now a Category 2 hurricane, still extremely dangerous

Houston TV station KTRK reported portions of the roof of the Golden Nugget casino were disintegrating as the storm made landfall. Another image showed the L’Auberge Casino Resort had a blackout.

WATCH: Video shows part of roof blowing off Golden Nugget Casino as Hurricane Laura makes landfall

Other videos from the area show road signs bending, trees shaking violently and a large recreational vehicle being blown over.

In a video captured by KSAT Photojournalist Bill Caldera, Meteorologist Justin Horne had a scare with an electrical transformer while reporting in Orange, Texas.

WATCH: Follow Meteorologist Justin Horne with the KSAT Storm Chaser on the coast

His Twitter post captures him jumping out of the way following the flash of electricity.

A first look at the damage in Orange shows toppled trees, broken windows and scattered debris.

More than 290,000 homes and businesses were without power in Texas and Louisiana, as near-constant lightning provided the only light for some. Officials say search and rescue missions will begin as soon as conditions allow, along with damage assessments.

Laura has weakened into a Category 2 hurricane as it moves deeper inland over Louisiana. Interstate 10 along the Texas-Louisiana border is closed due to areas expected to flood.

Laura has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane as it moves deeper into Louisiana

WATCH: Aerial footage shows damage over Louisiana following Hurricane Laura

Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

About the Authors
Rebecca Salinas headshot

Rebecca Salinas is the Digital Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News. A San Antonio native, Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019.

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