Hurricane Laura prompts evacuation orders in Texas and Louisiana

Window coverings are fixed in place in Galveston ahead of Hurricane Laura’s arrival (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP)

Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate the Texas and Louisiana coasts as Laura strengthened into a hurricane.

More than 385,000 residents were told to flee the Texas cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur, and more were ordered to evacuate Louisiana, where forecasters said more than 11 feet of storm surge topped by waves could submerge entire towns.