Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:
Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents living outside of the federal levee protection system ahead of Tropical Storm Francine, which is expected to become a hurricane before landfall Wednesday.
The order will affect residents in Crown Point, Jean Lafitte, Barateria, lower Lafitte and Grand Isle.
Lee Sheng said at a press conference Monday the order was necessary “due to the life threatening storm surge that we’re expecting for this storm event.” As of Monday evening, storm surge was forecast to be up to 4-7 feet in the evacuation areas and 2-4 feet along Lake Pontchartrain.
The Weather Channel reports:
A hurricane warning is in effect along the Louisiana coast from Sabine Pass to Grand Isle. Areas from High Island, Texas, to the Mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana are in a storm surge warning.
These warnings are typically issued when hurricane conditions (74+ mph winds) and life threatening storm surge are likely within the next 36 hours.
Tropical storm watches and warnings also cover much of the rest of the western and northern Gulf Coast from northeastern Mexico to the Alabama-Mississippi border. New Orleans is included in a tropical storm warning, meaning sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are expected there within 36 hours.
New Orleans’ Fox affiliate reports:
Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency today. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell urged residents to be prepared for shelter-in-place orders. City Hall will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and sandbag distribution is set to begin tomorrow.
The Department of Public Works is actively clearing catch basins and drains to mitigate flooding, but officials warn that excessive rainfall could overwhelm the system.
Grocery store parking lots throughout the New Orleans metro area are packed as residents rush to prepare. At Costco in Mid-City, shoppers faced long lines to purchase essentials like non-perishable food, bottled water, batteries, and fuel for generators. Gas stations also saw congestion as drivers topped off their tanks.
The storm is presently forecast to make landfall at Category Two, but the Weather Channel this morning says Category Three is possible.