Two storms are headed to the Gulf of Mexico and are expected to develop into hurricanes. State emergency managers have been planning and preparing.
“It looks like there could be some merging of the two in the Gulf and everything, it has just been kind of incredible to watch, but you got to deal with the hand you are dealt,” Communications Director for the Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, Mike Steele told WWL First News.
The National Weather Service forecasts Tropical Storm Laura to be a hurricane when it makes landfall near the Alabama-Florida line on Wednesday. Tropical Depression 14 could become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall as Hurricane Marco near the Texas-Louisiana state line.
Related: Tropical Storm Laura forms, forecast to be one of two hurricanes in the Gulf
Steele says GOHSEP has been planning and preparing with parish and state emergency leaders for the storm. One concern emergency officials are preparing for is more people not evacuating because the pandemic hurt their finances and do not have the money to evacuate.
“There could be a greater need for general population shelters and those type of things, all those discussions have been going on even before hurricane season started,” Steele said.
Although the New Orleans area is not in the direct path, both storms are forecast to make landfall on either side.