On Wednesday, Hurricane Zeta slammed into the southern United States as a Category 2 storm, bringing dangerous winds and surging ocean waves to Louisiana, which has been hit repeatedly during a busy hurricane season.
Zeta, packing sustained winds of 110 miles an hour, strengthened and moved onto land near Cocodrie in remote in southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon.
It was expected to sweep through the New Orleans area before moving along the Mississippi coast.
The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning that covered New Orleans, and said a life-threatening storm surge and strong winds (are) expected along portions of the northern Gulf Coast.
Officials had urged residents to evacuate vulnerable areas or stock up on emergency supplies of food, water and medication for at least three days.
Some coastal areas were under a mandatory evacuation order, though not New Orleans and its suburbs.
Zeta hit with just six days to go until Election Day, although it was not expected to affect the outcome, with early voting in Louisiana already finished.
