9-11-24
Hurricane Francine is barreling toward Louisiana and an expected landfall in coming hours amid forecasts of a potentially deadly storm surge, destructive winds and widespread flooding. Francine reached Category 1 hurricane status Tuesday night after gaining strength from warm Gulf waters. The National Hurricane Center says Francine might even reach Category 2 strength with winds of 96 to 110 mph before landfall sometime Wednesday afternoon or evening. A hurricane warning is in effect from the Louisiana border with Texas eastward to Grand Isle, about 50 miles south of New Orleans.
A COUPLE OF ACADIANA PARISHES HAVE ISSUED CURFEWS. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS THE DETAILS.
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RESIDENTS OF SAINT MARTIN PARISH ARE PREPARING FOR THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE FRANCINE. PARISH PRESIDENT PETE DELCAMBRE SAYS ALL HANDS ARE ON DECK AND READY TO ASSIST THE LOWER AREA OF THE PARISH DURING AND AFTER THE STORM. HE SAYS THEY ARE THERE TO ASSIST AND AID IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. PARISH OFFICIALS HAVE ADVISED RESIDENTS IN THE LOWER AREAS OF THE PARISH TO VOLUNTARILY EVACUATE.
THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH GOVERNMENT HAS HAD ITS ROAD CREWS AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WORKERS OUT CLEARING DRAINAGE WAYS TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF FLOODING DURING THE STORM. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR BARRY SOILEAU SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN OUT SINCE MONDAY AND WILL CONTINUE THE WORK UNTIL THEY CAN’T DO IT ANYMORE. HE SAYS THEY ARE RELYING ON RESIDENTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT STREETS NEED ATTENTION. THE NUMBER TO CALL IS NINE-FOUR-EIGHT-THIRTY-SIX-EIGHTY-EIGHT.
LAFAYETTE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE OPENING A SHELTER FOR THOSE WHO NEED SAFE HAVEN DURING THE STORM. IT WILL BE A THE DUPUIS RECREATION CENTER AT TWELVE-TWELVE EAST PONT DES MOUTON. PEOPLE COMING TO THE SHELTER WILL NEED A STATE ISSUED I-D PLUS THEIR OWN BEDDING, PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS, MEDICATION, PHONE CHARGERS, FOOD AND WATER AND BABY SUPPLIES, IF APPLICABLE. ALSO, TRASH PICKUP SCHEDULED FOR TODAY BY A-W-S HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AND THURSDAY’S COLLECTION WILL BE DELAYED.
SLEMCO HAS BROUGHT IN EXTRA POWER POLES, POWER LINES AND MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED CONTRACT CREW WORKERS. THEY PLAN TO EITHER INCREASE OR DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CONTRACT CREWS DEPENDING ON THE STORM’S IMPACT. POWER CREWS WILL BEGIN GOING OUT AND MAKING REPAIRS ON THE LINES WHEN WINDS GET BELOW THIRTY MILES AN HOUR. SLEMCO COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR MARY LAURENT SAYS IF YOU SEE A TRUCK IN YOUR AREA THE FIRST DAY AFTER THE STORM, IT COULD JUST BE MAKING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGE AND THE MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED.
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS APPROVED THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION REQUESTED BY GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY FOR LOUISIANA AHEAD OF HURRICANCE FRANCINE. IN A LETTER, LANDRY REQUESTED FEDERAL AID FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL AND EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES. HE ALSO ASKED FOR DIRECT FEDERAL ASSISSTANCE FROM SEVERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE U-S COAST GUARD, THE U-S ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND CIVIL AIR PATROL. LANDRY THANKED PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR QUICKLY APPROVING THE REQUEST, WHICH, HE SAYS, WILL BE PIVOTAL IN SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTY.
