The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. August 28, 2020 Hurricane Laura Leaves Path of Devastation in Louisiana, Triggers Chemical Plant Fire ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Louisiana, at least six people were killed after Hurricane Laura came ashore Thursday as one of the strongest recorded storms ever to hit the United States. The category 4 hurricane failed to produce the massive storm surge feared by forecasters, but brought fierce winds of up to 150 miles per hour that overturned vehicles, ripped the roofs off houses, and shattered the glass windows of a 22-story office tower. The storm triggered a massive fire at a chemical plant near Lake Charles that sent plumes of black smoke and poisonous chlorine gas billowing across Interstate 10. Local residents who hadn't already evacuated were ordered to shelter in place with their windows and doors closed.  .