First Article Review by: Kathryn PetersonLink:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/29/us/louisiana-lake-charles-trump-power-generators.html“Trump Visits Storm-Ravaged Lake Charles, a Louisiana City Still Without Power”This article is about the devastation that has occurred in parts of Louisiana and Texas. HurricaneLaura recently swept through those states and has left a trail of destruction behind. Lake Charles,a small community in Louisiana, is still without power and many people lack running water. Therescue teams that have been employed in the past have struggled to bring them relief because ofthe ongoing winds and the
COVID-19 crisis.Hurricane Laura made landfall on Thursday as a category 4 hurricane. This was ahurricane like no other. Not only was the rain a torrent of unforgiveness, the winds were an evenmore unrelenting foe. Trees were uprooted and slammed into cars and houses, roofs were tornoff, and powerlines snapped like toothpicks. Not only did Hurricane Laura leave many peoplewithout power, it also left some without running water. This is especially dangerous at this timein history.Many people have expressed concerns about that lack of running water during this timebecause people have been unable to flush their toilets and wash their hands. This is especiallydangerous as COVID-19 sweeps across the world. Many people have either had to live withoutwater for days or find friends and neighbors that have running water and shack up with them.One Lake Charles resident stated that he had opened his home to a few strangers who had losttheir houses in the storm. This is an obvious example of a risk for spreading COVID-19.
Unfortunately, many of these communities do not have the luxury at the moment to care aboutthe pandemic.Another risk factor that has claimed the lives of several people in Louisiana and Texas isthe unsafe use of generators. Four people died and a fifth was rushed to the hospital when agenerator they had in their garage leaked fumes into their house through an open door. Anelderly couple died as well when they left their generator in their house. Carbon monoxidepoisoning is a huge risk at this time. Unfortunately, progress to restore power in many areas hasbeen slow and it could take another few weeks for everyone to regain power.I think it was really cool that Trump visited Lake Charles on Saturday to see how thecommunity was doing and show his support. The article said that Louisiana was one of the statesthat voted for Trump in the 2016 election, so him coming out to show support was kind of a coolway to say thank you and keep their support. Many torn up yards can be seen with “Trump2020” signs in them that people have put up since the storm.Even though the death toll was not as high as some other storms in the past, we stillgrieve the lives lost in Hurricane Laura and our thoughts go out to the families of the dead. Restin peace you brave Americans. You will be missed.
