400 students at Nicholls State University without power after Hurricane Francine

Sep 12, 2024 | 10:59 am ET

By Piper Hutchinson

400 students at Nicholls State University without power after Hurricane Francine

A portion of the roof from Francis Gouax Hall at Nicholls State University lies in the street Sept. 12, 2024, after Hurricane Francine passed over the Thibodaux campus a day earlier. (Photo by Savanah Rome via WVUE-TV Fox 8)

Nicholls State University is not sure when it will have power again after Hurricane Francine brought significant rains and winds to the Thibodaux campus Wednesday.

Nearly 400 students were unable to evacuate ahead of the storm, university spokesman Jerad David said. The university is working to set up a couple of buildings on campus with generator power as cooling stations for those students, David said.

While the damage to campus was lesser than it could have been, David said several buildings, including its primary science building, have roof damage.

Students who stayed on campus for the storm were supplied with two days worth of meals, but David said the university is working to get its dining vendor back on campus with generator power to feed remaining students.

The campus cannot reopen until it has its power restored, and Entergy has not yet determined when that will be. David said he hoped to get an estimate sometime Thursday.