Trees were ‘bending like straws’ during Hurricane Francine, Patterson residents say

ST. MARY PARISH, La. ( KLFY ) — Hurricane Francine was a Category 2 storm when it passed through Patterson with winds so strong that it bent trees “like straws” and sent them crashing into homes on Wednesday, residents say.

Larry Williams said he and his family were sitting outside Wednesday afternoon when the wind suddenly picked up. The wind resulted in a tree falling on the side of the porch, he said.

“If it would have fell on the porch, the whole family probably would’ve been killed or seriously injured,” Williams said.

“I’m just glad everybody’s safe, this whole alley. My neighbor across the street, she was on the porch when a tree fell and she was screaming and hollering,” Williams said.

Tina Gant, Larry’s next-door neighbor, said she and her family were inside when Hurricane Francine made landfall. She said two trees through her home, exposing the inside of her home to rain.

Gant said she is thankful no one was hurt or killed.

“The trees was just bending like straws. I was sitting on the sofa and a tree just fell, right where I was sitting. Then in my son’s room, it made a big old hole and water just came down, two trees fell on my house,” she said.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan said crews are cleaning up debris. He said the cleanup efforts should be complete in about two days.

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