 Before the storm weakened rapidly , people feared a large storm surge over much of southeastern Louisiana . Preparing for the storm induced stress , which in one person contributed a fatal heart attack . In Louisiana , a compact , rapidly weakening Hurricane Ethel brought significant wind and rain primarily east and southeast of New Orleans . However , the storm caused a maximum surge of only 7 feet ( 2 @.@ 1 m ) . Although Ethel weakened significantly , the hurricane still lashed far southeastern Louisiana . At the United States Coast Guard station in Quarantine in Plaquemines Parish , Louisiana , sustained winds reached 92 miles per hour ( 148 km / h ) . A weather station in Venice reported a sustained wind speed of 90 miles per hour ( 140 km / h ) and gusts to 105 miles per hour ( 169 km / h ) . Rainfall totals included 7 @.@ 45 inches ( 189 mm ) at Quarantine , 5 @.@ 66 inches ( 144 mm ) at Hopedale , 5 @.@ 50 inches ( 140 mm ) at Buras , 4 @.@ 85 inches ( 123 mm ) at Burrwood , and 2 @.@ 90 inches ( 74 mm ) at Port Sulfur . 
