Hurricane Delta, record US storm, hits Gulf Coast at 160kph

The storm is hitting people and places that were also battered by Hurricane Laura in August

A "Dead End" sign in floodwaters as Hurricane Delta makes landfall in Delcambre, Louisiana, US. Bloomberg

Satellite image shows Hurricane Delta over the US Gulf Coast. AFP

A man sandbags the doorway to a hair salon as rain from Hurricane Delta falls in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. EPA

A pickup truck drives through flooded road as Hurricane Delta approaches in Lake Arthur, Louisiana. AFP

A dog walks in a puddle of water during a rain storm as Hurricane Delta approaches in Jennings, Louisiana. AFP

Sheep take shelter from the rain during Hurricane Delta near Lake Arthur, Louisiana. AFP

Piles of debris from Hurricane Laura still line the streets of Lake Charles as residents prepare for Hurricane Delta. AP

Earnst Jack, whose home was severely damaged during Hurricane Laura, sits in his front doorway as he waits for the arrival of Hurricane Delta in Lake Charles. AP

The Lafleur family of Bell City gathers in their garage near where a wall was destroyed by Hurricane Laura several weeks ago, as they watch the arrival of Hurricane Delta. AP

American Red Cross volunteers Cindy Romig and Cliff Boyer unload supplies outside the Pike County Community Safe Room storm shelter in Magnolia, Mississippi, ahead of Hurricane Delta's landfall. AP

A reporter covers his face as he reports while Hurricane Delta makes landfall in Lake Charles, Louisiana. AFP

The roof of a business is damaged as Hurricane Delta makes landfall in Delcambre, Louisiana. Bloomberg

Deserted streets as Hurricane Delta makes landfall in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Bloomberg

A truck flipped on its side due to winds from Hurricane Delta is seen at Lake Charles, Louisiana. Reuters

Hurricane Delta slammed into the US Gulf Coast with a deadly storm surge and violent winds, threatening to batter an area of Louisiana still recovering from Hurricane Laura.

Delta made landfall at 6pm local time in a rural, marshy stretch west of New Orleans, as a category 2 storm with 160kph winds. It was the record 10th tropical storm or hurricane to hit the US this year.

The storm is the latest in a string of natural disasters in the country.
In California, wildfires have burned an unprecedented 4 million acres. The Atlantic, meanwhile, has spawned 25 storms this year, the second most after 2005.

Delta is weaker than the ferocious blast that Laura unleashed. But it brings flooding and a storm surge that could reach as high as 11 feet in some places.

The hurricane come ashore near Cameron, Louisiana, a tiny bayou town that's still in ruins after Laura roared through in late August.
Delta shut about 92 per cent of oil production and 62 per cent of gas output as it crossed the Gulf on Friday.
The storm will probably cause about $2 billion in losses and destruction to Louisiana, said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeller with Enki Research.
In the city of Lake Charles, 50km inland from where Delta came ashore, rain pelted the tarp-covered roofs of buildings that Hurricane Laura damaged when it barrelled through.

“It’s devastating and it’s emotional for the citizenry,” Mayor Nic Hunter said as he prepared to ride out the storm in downtown Lake Charles.

As Delta approached, winds picked up in inland areas such as Lafayette, where occasionally strong gusts buffeted trees and sheets of rain were falling. Many parishes and towns implemented curfews Friday until Saturday morning to encourage people to stay off the roads during the worst of the storm.