Francine did not pose a particularly severe test of the New Orleans region's ability to handle stormwater, but the results were not reassuring.

For a city that routinely sees flooding, New Orleans residents and business owners were taken aback by the intense rains of Hurricane Francine, which still was at Category 1 strength when it passed over the city Wednesday night.

Hurricane Francine swept through south Louisiana on Wednesday, leaving downed power lines, street flooding and littered roadways in its wake. Why it matters: Storm cleanup already began Thursday, and official updates on water,