Francine accelerates as tropical storm conditions move inland

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Hurricane Francine is expected to remain a Category 1 storm when it makes landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday. Officials said the time for evacuations is over and residents must now wait out the storm, with storm surge of up to 10 feet possible in some areas.

A tornado warning has been issued for the entire region until 11:00 p.m. Residents should be prepared for rapidly developing tornado warnings as conditions worsen.

At 2 p.m., the National Hurricane Center said tropical storm conditions and rainfall were moving inland and conditions would continue to worsen over the next few hours. Francine was located about 80 miles from Morgan City and was moving northeast toward the coast at 17 mph, with sustained winds at 90 mph. Little change in strength is expected before landfall.

An oil platform southeast of the center reported sustained winds of 92 mph and peak gusts of 112 mph.

The National Weather Service expects Francine to bring a “life-threatening” storm surge of 5 to 10 feet from the Cameron-Vermillion border to Port Fourchon. With the hurricane expected to make landfall around sunset Wednesday, severe weather threats inland will continue into the night.

The track predicted by the National Weather Service will take the storm inland near St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes and move through the Northeast, past Baton Rouge and Hammond, before reaching southwest Mississippi Wednesday evening.

Ultimately, the concern in southeast Louisiana will be the “eye wall” and landfall of Francine, which should approach the coast between 4 and 6 p.m. Wednesday evening. Conditions will rapidly deteriorate, leading to hurricane-force winds, flooding, and storm surge. All residents should monitor the weather today and complete their preparations quickly.

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Mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders apply to vulnerable coastal areas.

Drawing fuel from the extremely warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Francine strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday evening.

Governor Jeff Landry on Wednesday urged Louisiana residents who have not yet evacuated to stay where they are and seek safety until Hurricane Francine leaves the state.

“We are ready to handle whatever Francine gives us,” Landry said Wednesday during a press conference in Baton Rouge.

“The time for evacuation is over. Now it is time to hide and take cover,” said Jacques Thibodeaux, director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Once Francine makes landfall, residents should stay put, Landry said, and not venture onto flooded streets and risk blocking first responders or utility crews repairing power lines.

Even after the storm passes, Landry said Louisiana residents should stay home and avoid the roads if possible. With less traffic, it will be easier for emergency responders and repair workers to get around, he said.

“Make sure you charge all your devices so you can maintain maximum charge,” Landry said.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux of the Louisiana National Guard said up to 2,500 members will assist in rescue and relief efforts. They are stationed in southeast and south-central Louisiana to assist in the storm's aftermath.

The guard has prepared 58 boats, 101 high-water vehicles and 61 aircraft for use after the storm, with another 270 vehicles in reserve in case of need, Friloux said.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has 150 law enforcement officers with trucks and boats on standby to assist with the hurricane, Secretary Madison Sheahan said. More than 400 Louisiana State Police troopers are also on standby to help, Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges said.

“If you are in the path of the storm, you should expect to be without utility services for some time,” Landry said.

Reconstruction efforts after Francine were set to begin in earnest on Thursday. Governor Jeff Landry received approval from President Joe Biden late Tuesday for a federal disaster declaration that would speed up the deployment of resources from Washington to help with things like cleaning up storm damage and providing emergency shelters.

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