Fraudulent contractors have targeted Louisiana residents numerous times over the last several years. The United States Attorney's Office said that over 1,200 complaints for fraudulent cases were reported in Baton Rouge in 2016 after historic floods devastated south Louisiana.

The National Hurricane Center said Francine gained hurricane status about 350 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana.

Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions are moving onto shore. Hurricane Francine’s eyewall is nearing the Louisiana coast, bringing hurricane-force winds close to shore. Francine is now located 115 miles southwest of New Orleans and is moving northeast at 17 mph.

Nearly all of the hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses that suffered power outages in Louisiana due to Hurricane Francine had their lights turned back on by late Monday, though there were still a few outages in hard hit coastal areas.

The dogs had been staying at St. Landry Parish Animal Control in Louisiana, but were transported to Binghamton due to the impact of Hurricane Francine. Recent adoptions freed up space at Broome's facility, and the Humane Society was able to take in some of the displaced dogs.

Brandon Joseph Lavergne, who is incarcerated at the Lafourche Parish jail, helps clear trees after Hurricane Francine. (Photo by Julie O'Donoghue/Louisiana Illuminator)

The Oklahoma Humane Society received seven dogs displaced byHurricane Francine on Wednesday, Sept. 18.The pups were brought to Oklahoma following a request fr