BATON ROUGE, La. – Amidst the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico, a new storm is brewing. Tropical Storm Francine is gaining strength and is expected to reach hurricane status on Tuesday before making landfall in Louisiana.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a storm surge warning for a large area stretching from just east of Houston to the mouth of the Mississippi River south of New Orleans. This means that there is a possibility of life-threatening flooding in these areas.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has urged residents to “not panic, but be prepared” and to follow evacuation warnings. Forecasters predict that Francine will reach Category 2 hurricane status with wind speeds of 155-175 kph when it hits the south coast of Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon.
“We do not want people to wait until the last minute to get on the road and then run out of fuel,” Landry said, emphasizing the importance of preparedness. “We have been providing information throughout the summer and hurricane season so that people can be ready. The more prepared we are, the easier it will be for us.”
Unfortunately, Francine is heading towards a Louisiana coastline that is still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020, followed by Hurricane Ida a year later. Over the weekend, a 22-story building in Lake Charles, which had become a symbol of storm destruction, was demolished after standing vacant for nearly four years. Its windows were shattered and covered in tattered tarps.
The storm surge from Francine is expected to reach up to 10 feet (3 meters) from Cameron to Port Fourchon and into Vermilion Bay, which is a significant cause for concern. “It has the potential to cause dangerous, life-threatening flooding,” said Michael Brennan, director of the hurricane center. He also warned of “dangerous, damaging winds” that could reach far inland.
According to forecasts, the storm is likely to make landfall somewhere between Sabine Pass, on the Texas-Louisiana border, and Morgan City, 350 kilometers to the east.
In response to the imminent threat, Louisiana officials are urging residents to prepare immediately, while “conditions still allow,” said Mike Steele, spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. “We always talk about how anytime something gets into the Gulf, things can change quickly, and this is a perfect example of that,” Steele said.
In Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, long lines have formed as people rush to fill their gas tanks and stock up on groceries. Others are filling sandbags at city-operated locations to protect their homes from potential flooding.
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome has stressed the urgency of the situation, urging residents to stock up on three days’ worth of food, water, and essentials. “It is crucial that all of us take this storm very seriously and begin our preparations immediately,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Cameron Parish, a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for seven remote coastal communities, including Holly Beach, also known as Louisiana’s “Cajun Riviera.” The laid-back stretch of land, with many homes built on stilts, has been repeatedly destroyed by past hurricanes but always rebuilt by its resilient residents.
In Grand Isle, Louisiana’s last inhabited barrier island, Mayor David Camardelle has recommended that residents evacuate and has ordered a mandatory evacuation for those living in recreational vehicles. Hurricane Ida caused severe damage to the city just three years ago, destroying 700 homes.
Officials are advising residents to prepare for potential flooding, high winds, and power outages in the affected areas starting Tuesday afternoon through Thursday.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is urging residents to be ready to shelter in place as the storm approaches. “Now is the time to finalize your storm plans and prepare, not only for your families but also for your neighbors,” she said.
The city is expected to receive up to 15 centimeters of rain, gusty winds, and isolated tornado activity, with the most intense weather likely to hit on Wednesday and Thursday.
As of Monday, Francine was located about 205 kilometers south-southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande and about 690 kilometers south-southwest of Cameron, with sustained winds of approximately 100 kilometers per hour. It is moving in a north-northwest direction at 7 kph.
Across the border in Mexico, the city of Matamoros is already
