Parishes across Louisiana are calling for voluntary and mandatory evacuations ahead of Tropical Storm Francine.
The storm is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall in southern Louisiana near New Iberia on Wednesday afternoon or evening, according to a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Slidell.
Francine is expected to bring a storm surge of 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) along the coast, damaging winds and possible flooding in southern Louisiana. Several schools in the region have announced they will close ahead of the storm.
Here are the areas for which evacuation orders have been issued so far:
Cameron Community
An evacuation order was issued for all of Cameron Parish as of 6 a.m. Tuesday.
There will be no ambulance service in Johnson Bayou, Little Florida, Long Beach, Gulf Breeze Beach and Holly Beach, Cameron OHSEP said. Service will resume once the evacuation order is lifted.
Parish of Iberia
Iberia Parish President M. Larry Richard urged residents south of U.S. Highway 90 and other vulnerable populations to evacuate.
Part of the community of Iberia is located in the northeastern part of Vermilion Bay, where a storm surge of 1.5 to 3 meters could occur.
“Residents who choose to stay could be without power and unable to leave the area until the tide recedes and the storm debris is cleared,” he said.
Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said she plans to order mandatory evacuations for residents who live outside the federal levee protection system, which includes residents of Crown Point, Jean Lafitte, Barataria, Lower Lafitte and Grand Isle.
St. Tammany Parish
The City of Mandeville called for a voluntary evacuation of Old Mandeville south of Monroe Street due to expected flooding from Lake Pontchartrain.
Lafourche Municipality
On Tuesday morning, Parish President Archie Chaisson III ordered the mandatory evacuation of residents of a FEMA or State House unit, as well as residents south of the Leon Theriot Locks.
Chaisson recommended voluntary evacuation for anyone living in the Bayou Blue community below Eagle Island Road, in mobile or manufactured homes, or in low-lying areas, as well as anyone with special medical needs.
Evacuations will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Lafourche Parish also imposed a curfew that begins at noon Wednesday and ends at sunrise at about 6:45 a.m. Thursday. All businesses should be closed by noon Wednesday so employees can go home, officials said.
Plaquemines Township
Mandatory evacuations were ordered Monday evening for Lake Hermitage, Happy Jack, Myrtle Grove, Tidewater Road, Venice, White Ditch to Phoenix, Woodpark and Grand Bayou.
Voluntary evacuations to Alliance have been ordered for Eastbank and Venice North.
Tangipahoa Township
A curfew is in effect for Francine in Amite, Ponchatoula and the village of Tangipahoa.
Amite has a curfew from 6 p.m. Tuesday evening to 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. Tangipahoa Village also has a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
The curfew in Ponchatoula begins at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday and will remain in effect until further notice.
Municipality of Terrebonne
An evacuation order has been issued for Zone 1 in Terrebonne Parish. This zone covers most of the western and southern parts of the parish. Residents must leave the area by 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Click here to view the zones of the municipality of Terrebonne.
