Louisiana residents prepare for Hurricane Francine strengthening
As the state prepares for Hurricane Francine, many communities along Louisiana’s coast are under mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders.
Louisiana residents prepared for landfall Wednesday after Francine strengthened into a hurricane, threatening the Gulf Coast with damaging winds, up to 12 inches of rain and storm surges of up to 10 feet in some areas.
The Category 1 hurricane reached sustained winds of 90 mph early Wednesday, and forecasters warned that the storm was expected to reach the central Louisiana coast by Wednesday afternoon or evening. The National Weather Service in New Orleans said the storm’s impacts would include coastal flooding, strong winds, heavy rains and a few tornadoes from early Wednesday into Thursday morning.
“Life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force winds are expected in Louisiana later today,” the National Hurricane Center warned in a warning.
The center said significant strengthening was likely on Wednesday, and AccuWeather’s computer models used to forecast possible increases in intensity showed Francine approaching or reaching Category 2 strength. An increase in wind shear and the intrusion of dry air mean the hurricane is not expected to strengthen further as it makes landfall, but it will continue to pose a “significant risk” after reaching the Louisiana coast, the center said.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said the National Guard has been mobilized and has nearly 400 flood vehicles, 87 boats and 50 helicopters ready to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.
Francine is forecast to move into Mississippi as a tropical depression and then north into the Mississippi Valley, reaching Memphis by Thursday night.
Developments:
∎ Early Wednesday, the center of Francine was located about 195 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, according to the hurricane center. The storm was moving northeast at 12 miles per hour. Hurricane-force winds reached out to 40 miles, and tropical storm-force winds reached 115 miles.
∎ Blue Cross Blue Shield in Louisiana allowed early reordering of prescription drugs to ensure members have enough medications in case they need to evacuate or are unable to leave their homes for an extended period of time.
∎ President Joe Biden approved Louisiana’s emergency order late Tuesday after state officials delivered a letter to him urging him to grant the request. The federal emergency order will support response and disaster relief efforts.
∎ In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott spoke of a “high probability” of life-threatening storm surge and urged Gulf Coast residents to follow local authorities’ advice, including possible evacuations.
Louisiana prepares for landfall: Francine strengthens into a hurricane:
The National Weather Service in New Orleans warned that areas along and west of the Pearl River should prepare for damaging winds, while areas in bayou parishes and some lower riverside communities should prepare for hurricane-force winds. Other likely problems include power outages and damage to trees, mobile homes and roofs.
“Conditions will worsen throughout the day! Make sure you complete all preparations as soon as possible!” the bureau tweeted. “Then prepare to take cover and seek shelter through the night!”
The police chiefs of Morgan City and Berwick announced a curfew from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday. Morgan City Police Chief Chad M. Adams urged all residents to stay home.
Storm Tracker: View Projected Path of Hurricane Francine towards the coast of Louisiana
A hurricane warning was in effect from the Texas-Louisiana state line to Grand Isle, Louisiana. A tropical storm warning extended along the entire Louisiana coast from Grand Isle across Lake Pontchartrain to the southern coast of Mississippi and Alabama.
Francine is expected to bring 4 to 8 inches of rainfall. Local amounts of up to 12 inches are possible in southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, far southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through Thursday night, the hurricane center said. The rainfall could cause “significant” flash flooding and urban flooding.
Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were in effect in many Louisiana parishes, including Terrebonne and Lafourche. Emergency shelters were opened in Terrebonne Parish. Mandatory evacuations in Lafourche Parish include residents of a FEMA-provided housing unit or state-provided mobile home.
The storm prompted oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico to halt production. Energy companies halted oil production of 412,070 barrels per day – about 24 percent of production – and evacuated employees from 130 production platforms, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said Tuesday.
About 26 percent of natural gas production in the Gulf was offline, according to reports submitted to the offshore regulator. The region produces about 15 percent of U.S. oil production and two percent of natural gas production, according to Reuters.
Sources familiar with operations at Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana, refinery also told Reuters the company would cut production as Francine is expected to pass east of the facility. The company plans to cut production to as much as 20% of the refinery’s 522,500 barrels-per-day capacity by Wednesday, when Francine comes ashore.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who previously declared a state of emergency, urged residents to “make a plan, listen to local authorities and follow local news” to help minimize the impact of Francine.
Parts of the state could face storm surge of 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters), depending on the region, widespread flooding and up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in isolated areas. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in some coastal communities in Texas and Louisiana.
Some schools were closed and sandbags were distributed.
Francine could be the third hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast this year – Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, and Beryl near Matagorda Bay, Texas.
The most recent hurricane to hit Louisiana was Ida in 2021, according to AccuWeather. “Between 2019 and 2021, Louisiana experienced eight tropical storms or hurricane landfalls, including major hurricanes Laura and Ida,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said in an online report.
Francine is also the fourth hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season. On average, the fourth Atlantic hurricane forms on September 16, according to Phil Klotzbach, chief hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.
Contributors: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Reuters
