Louisiana’s Gov. Jeff Landry and other state-level authorities told residents that it was time to “stay home and stay put” and announced the first road closures as Hurricane Francine drew closer and closer to land.
It is time to hunker down, he said. We are no longer in a prepare-for-a-hurricane mode but in a respond-to-a-hurricane mode.
Louisiana’s Gov. Jeff Landry confirmed that President Joe Biden accepted his state of emergency declaration on Sept. 10.
The public assistance Biden approved includes “emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding” for 36 parishes.
He also approved “emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding” for an additional 28 counties.
Landry said he has not spoken directly to Biden yet but has spoken with other federal partners, including the FEMA and Louisiana’s congressional delegation.
“I am fully confident that our federal partners are working very well with the state agencies and our local partners,” he said.
Hurricane-force winds (74 mph or greater) extend 40 miles out from the storm’s center, and tropical storm-force winds (39 mph to 73 mph) extend out 115 miles.
The storm’s center is now expected to make landfall in or around the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area and Game Preserve at about 7 p.m. Central time. From there, it is expected to turn north-northeast, passing between Baton Rouge and New Orleans before crossing into Mississippi along Interstate 55.
Meteorologist Jay Grymes said that tropical storm force winds “aren’t that far away” and would begin to move onto land shortly after noon. The first line of hurricane-force winds is expected to arrive “just a couple of hours” later.
Grymes added that most of the storm’s “impacts” should be out of the state “by or soon after midnight.” The NHC reported that Francine is expected to lose half of its strength within 12 hours of making landfall, with winds down to 45 mph as it heads toward the vicinity of Jackson, Mississippi.
Still, Landry reminded his state’s residents that utility crews cannot repair lines if the winds exceed 30 mph. He told residents to take advantage of power while they still had it to ensure all devices, such as cell phones and external batteries, were fully charged.
Heavy rainfall and a risk of considerable flash flooding, urban flooding, and river flooding are expected across Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle through Sept. 12, as well as in the Lower Tennessee Valley and Lower Mississippi Valley through Sept. 13.
A few tornadoes could also develop on Sept. 10, and the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has begun to monitor for possible tornado watches.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves joined Landry in declaring a state of emergency in preparation for the storm’s arrival.
A storm surge of up to 10 feet is still expected in the impact area between Vermilion Bay and Port Fourchon. Meteorologists expect up to seven feet of surge from Port Fourchon to the mouth of the Mississippi River, and as much as six feet is expected for Lake Pontchartrain.
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Joe Donahue confirmed four road closures due to rising water levels or closing floodgates during the press conference.
Those closures were portions of La. State Roads 317 in St Mary Parish—which Donahue said was requested by the locals—45 in Jefferson Parish, 3147 in Vermilion, and 27 in Cameron.
Hurricane warnings extend inland to Baton Rouge. Tropical storm warnings are issued for Lafayette, New Orleans, and portions of Mississippi, including Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Laurel.
Hundreds of thousands of sandbags have been distributed across Mississippi and Louisiana.
Adjunct General of Louisiana, Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Friloux said that the total mobilized force of national guardsmen will reach 2500 before the storm hits, and they currently have 58 boats and 101 high-water vehicles in the area of operations, as well as 61 aircraft in the aviation task force.
The National Guard pre-staged 14 route clearance teams in seven parishes to help remove debris and clear roads for first responders.
Louisiana’s emergency response resources also include 150 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents with rescue trucks and vessels and 400 active Louisiana State Police troopers.
Landry ended the press conference urging residents to properly prepare for the storm.
“Just because it is a category one or possibly a category two doesn’t mean it’s just going to be a thunder bumper, right,” he said. “I know that we have been through a lot here in Louisiana. Again, I urge everyone to take the necessary preparations if you’re in the storm’s pathway.”
