The National Hurricane Center says the eye of Hurricane Laura will come ashore early Thursday in Texas, just across the state line with Louisiana, putting Louisiana on the side of the storm with some of the most intense impacts. The forecast calls for 115 mile per hour winds, meaning that there is potential for a 13 foot wall of water pushing inland, deep enough to completely cover one story structures. The storm surge is forecast to be up to six feet as far east as the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Tropical Storm Marco has weakened into a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center. However, the storm still has the potential for storm surges.
There are evacuation orders across southern Louisiana, here is what you need to know about mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders in the area.
Acadia Parish:
A voluntary evacuation for parish residents south of Highway 90 in flood-prone areas. Those who live in unstable structures, including mobile homes and other structures that cannot withstand tropical or hurricane-force winds, are encouraged to evacuate immediately.
Calcasieu Parish:
A mandatory evacuation went into effect at 11 a.m. CDT on Tuesday. “We’re asking you to either evacuate the area or move to a safer structure," said head of Calcasieu Emergency Preparedness, Dick Gremillion, on Tuesday.
Cameron Parish:
A mandatory evacuation went into effect at 1 p.m. CDT on Monday. Big Lake, Cameron, Creole, Grand Chenier, Holly Beach, and communities south of Johnson Bayou and Kelso Bayou Bridge in Hackberry are affected by the orders, reports The Weather Channel.
Grand Isle:
Both residents and visitors were asked to leave on Sunday under a mandatory evacuation order.
Iberia Parish:
The Parish of Iberia has requested that residents consider voluntary evacuation if they:
Living in areas vulnerable to potential storm surges;
Having special needs;
Living in low-lying areas along lakes, bayous, streams and drainage structures that have experienced flooding in the past; and/or
Living in a structure that has experienced flooding following heavy rain events.
Jeff Davis Parish:
Jefferson Davis Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness has issued a Voluntary Evacuation order for low lying areas and residents living in mobile homes.No shelters are set up within the parish.
Jefferson Parish:
Parts of the parish are under voluntary evacuation orders. Barataria, Crown Point, Jean Lafitte, and Lower Lafitte are affected.
Lafayette Parish:
Lafayette Consolidated Government says residents south of I-10 should consider evacuating by Tuesday afternoon. LCG says it "strongly encourages" people living south of U. S. 90 to evacuate by Tuesday afternoon.
Lafourche Parish:
Parts of the parish are under mandatory evacuation orders. All residents and businesses South of the Leon Theriot Flood Gate are affected.
New Orleans:
Areas outside the levee protection system are under a voluntary evacuation order. Neighborhoods like Venetian Isles, Lake Catherine, and Irish Bayou are included in the voluntary order
Homeland Security Director Collin Arnold has recommended that residents sign up for alerts by texting LAURA to 888-777.
Plaquemines Parish:
Parts of the parish were under mandatory evacuation orders, but officials lifted on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
This is a developing story.
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