Officials in Terrebonne Parish say damage assessments are slow due to the lack of electricity, water pressure, and communications.
This lack of basic services is also forcing hospitals in the parish to close, forcing those facilities to evacuate patients, some in ICU, to other hospitals in Shreveport, Lafayette, Mississippi, and Texas as WWLTV reports.
"Without electricity to power traffic signals, travel through these intersections is very dangerous," said Parish President Gordon Dove's office. "With no street lights and the abundance of hanging power lines - some stretched low across roadways - travel at night is dangerous."
Parish officials say there is no way to give an accurate timeline for when utilities will be restored.
"Terrebonne Parish is dealing with an unprecedented situation brought on by a strong Category 4 hurricane," Dove said. "Recovery will be slow until critical utilities are restored, and we do not know when these will be available."
