Hurricane Laura Slams Louisiana, Kills Four, but Less Damage Than Forecast

Hollie Moore walks through debris at her home in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, La., on Aug. 27, 2020. Gerald Herbert/AP Photo

LAKE CHARLES, La.—Hurricane Laura ripped through Louisiana on Thursday, destroying buildings in towns across the southwestern corner of the state and killing four people who were crushed by falling trees as they sheltered in their homes, officials said.

Still, the damage Laura has inflicted so far is less than what forecasters predicted.