Hurricane Francine leaves 400,000 without power in Louisiana

On Sept. 11, 2024, Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing widespread flooding and power outages for 400,000 homes, according to data from USA Today. AP News reported that up to 10 inches of rain was possible in some areas of Alabama and Florida, and up to 6 inches was possible in parts of Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia.

The morning of Sept. 12, Francine weakened into a tropical depression over south-central Mississippi, and the storm continues to travel inland. In the live updates from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Tropical Depression Francine will continue to bring heavy rainfall and the risk of flash, urban and river flooding to areas of the Lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley and the Southeast. Flash and urban flood risk is possible in parts of Alabama and Florida, which NOAA predicts will lead into Georgia and Tennessee by Friday, Sept. 13.

Travis Hodges, managing director, VIU by HUB, writes to Digital Insurance, “The significant natural catastrophe losses from Hurricane Francine underscore the severe challenges facing the home insurance industry. Francine, which highlights the magnitude of these storms and the potential for inland flooding across many states – not just the coast, represents a critical juncture for homeowners in high-risk hurricane zones and beyond. We expect insurance premiums to rise. They have to in order to support the financial viability of insurance carriers.”

Hodges added, “With insurers withdrawing from climate-risk-prone markets or not renewing policies, securing essential coverage is becoming increasingly challenging. Residents now face a difficult choice: endure the financial burden of increased premiums or risk substantial financial loss in the event of property damage. Seeking expert guidance is key to helping homeowners navigate this evolving landscape and protecting their financial futures.”