9-10-24
TROPICAL STORM FRANCINE IS ABOUT A HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE MILES FROM THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER PACKING WINDS OF SIXTY-FIVE MILES AN HOUR, JUST NINE MILES AN HOUR SHORT OF HURRICANE STATUS. FRANCINE IS EXPECTED TO BE A HURRICANE SOMETIME TODAY AND STRENGTHEN INTO A CATEGORY TWO STORM BY THE TIME IT HITS LANDFALL. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN THOUGH SOME PLACES COULD SEE AS MUCH AS TWELVE INCHES. A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER IS IN PLACE FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF CAMERON PARISH.
WITH FRANCINE EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN LOUISIANA, GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY HAS ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
VOICER S :40
WE HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOOL CLOSURES TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF AS ACADIANA BRACES FOR FRANCINE. HERE’S SYLVIA MASTERS WITH THE LIST.
VOICER R :43
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT MONIQUE BOULET HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN ANTICIPATION FOR FRANCINE. SHE SAYS THIS HELPS THEM WORK WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT A HIGHER LEVEL. DESPITE THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, A MANDATORY EVACUATION IS NOT IN PLACE FOR PARISH RESIDENTS. LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF MARK GARBER SAYS THEY HAVE RESCUE FUNCTIONS IN PLACE IF NEEDED AND HE URGES PEOPLE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK IS HOSTING AN EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENT THIS MORNING IN LAFAYETTE. IT BEGINS AT TEN AT THEIR LOCATION AT TWO-FIFTEEN EAST PINHOOK ROAD AND WILL LAST UNTIL NOON OR WHEN SUPPLIES RUN OUT. THE EVENT IS AIMED AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND FOR AT-RISK FAMILIES THAT MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE STORM. NATALIE JAYROE, THE C-E-O AND PRESIDENT OF THE FOOD BANK, SAYS SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK STANDS READY TO HELP WHEN THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SUPPORT.
LAST NIGHT IBERIA PARISH PRESIDENT LARRY RICHARD ISSUED A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION ORDER FOR RESIDENTS. HE SAYS THOSE LIVING IN AREAS VULNERABLE TO STORM SURGES, THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THOSE LIVING IN LOW-LYING AREAS NEAR BODIES OF WATER AND THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FLOODING DURING HEAVY RAINS, SHOULD CONSIDER LEAVING. HE SAYS RESIDENTS WHO STAY COULD FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT POWER AND UNABLE TO LEAVE UNTIL FLOOD WATERS RECEDE AND STORM DEBRIS IS REMOVED. HE SAYS RESIDENTS WHO DON’T LEAVE SHOULD CHECK EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND PAY ATTENTION TO LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS.
ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY PRESIDENT BEAU PETITJEAN ISSUED AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION. ALL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANS AND RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PARISH WILL BE UTILIZED TO MINIMIZE DAMAGING EFFECTS. THE POLICE JURY IS URGING RESIDENTS TO MAKE TENTATIVE PREPARATIONS FOR THE STORM.
STATE POLICE SAY A PEDESTRIAN WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A VEHICLE ON L-A THIRTY-ONE NEAR MELANIE LANE IN ARNAUDVILLE. A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REVEALS TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD DENZEL FLUGENCE OF LAFAYETTE WAS IN THE ROADWAY WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A TWO-THOUSAND -TWO CHEVY TAHOE AT AROUND EIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT. FLUGENCE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE DRIVER, WHO WAS UNINJURED, TOOK A VOLUNTARY BREATHALYZER TEST WHICH SHOWED NO ALCOHOL.
