As the southwestern portion of Louisiana took a beating Thursday from Category 4 Hurricane Laura, some evacuees took shelter in Columbia. The American Red Cross set up an evacuation shelter in the Wesley Center at First United Methodist Church this past week.
As of Thursday, only five people have taken advantage of the free shelter to ride out the storm, but it has been available since Monday.
With two storms hitting the Gulf Coast this week, the first one being Tropical Storm Marco then the major Hurricane Laura three days later, the opportunity and need for shelter was quickly established and set up.
Shelter Manager Aaron Baldridge said Thursday more were expected to come Wednesday night, but no additional people arrived. Inside the building, cots were set up to accommodate people to stay overnight.
Mayor Justin McKenzie said Thursday, “I think it is a great thing that Columbia was able to host a shelter. With all the natural disasters we have experienced, to be able to reach out to the homeless, helpless and hopeless, it is great we could open our arms to allow people to escape the storm.”
Hurricane Laura made landfall at Cameron, La., after 1 a.m. Thursday with winds at 150 mph. The storm was steadily weakening as it continued its path into Louisiana and Arkansas.
Marion County was under a tornado watch as a result of the hurricane Thursday and was expected to get one to three inches of rain. Overall, Marion County was spared this week by the dual storms.
“Based on everything that has happened since I have been in office, I am happy and relieved that we were spared. However, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was and is still in the path of Laura,” McKenzie said.
Tuesday the county was inundated with rain from Marco, but that was the extent of the effects received.
The National Weather Service in Jackson said Marion County could receive rain and cloud coverage throughout the weekend from the remnants of Laura.
Baldridge said if anyone wants to donate to the American Red Cross they can text Laura Marco to 90999.
