Jeff Flock: Power's out, wind's blowing

CNN's Jeff Flock, soaking wet in Louisiana on Thursday

Story Tools

(CNN) -- As Hurricane Lili slammed into Louisiana on Thursday, CNN Correspondent Jeff Flock was standing by in Morgan City to report its effects.

FLOCK: Authorities finally did open a shelter of last resort here at the municipal building. We are told now between 30 and 35 people are there.

I also want to tell you about the power situation right now. Those guys from the Hurricane Intercept Research Team, about two hours ago, lost power to this section of Morgan City.

Apparently a transformer has gone out, although they're not sure exactly what went wrong. The whole city has not lost power.

Sometimes, as you know, they'll cut it off in a pre-emptory fashion to make sure that they do it in an orderly way and they don't have live power lines around. But they are telling us that they have not shut all of the power down, it's just this one area that's lost.

We have the weather radar up from the Hurricane Intercept Research guys, and there is a dry band that is over us right now. Boy that wind -- that rain -- really gets you wet. Nice to be able to dry out a little bit. So it's a little blow-dry effect that we've got right now and I'm happy for it.

Gusty winds, hail forecast for parts of U.S. • Storms sweep across nation • Storms expected in central U.S. • Thunderstorms across U.S.

CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards • Bin Laden deputy sends message • U.S. House votes to keep U.N. dues • Iran poll to go to run-off