Louisiana is bracing for the arrival of Hurricane Francine, which has gained strength as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall on Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed on Tuesday that Francine had strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane and could reach Category 2 before it hits Louisiana.
In response to the storm, both Louisiana and Mississippi have declared states of emergency.
Francine is expected to bring heavy rainfall, dangerous winds, and the threat of tornadoes to central and eastern Louisiana. Forecasts predict between 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) of rain, with potential storm surge posing life-threatening risks for coastal residents.
Officials have urged those in eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama, and western Florida to complete their hurricane preparations by Tuesday evening.
Michael Brennan, director of the NHC, emphasised the importance of finding a safe space to ride out the storm: “You’re going to want to be in your safe space to ride out the storm likely by tonight.” He also warned that residents should prepare to shelter in place until Thursday.
One of the most significant dangers from Francine is storm surge, with water levels potentially rising as high as 10 feet (3 meters) in some areas. The NHC also warned of the likelihood of flash and urban flooding, especially in parts of Louisiana, including New Orleans.
Several coastal parishes in Louisiana have issued voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders, and schools and colleges have closed in anticipation of the storm. Major oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil and Shell, have evacuated staff and paused some operations along the Gulf of Mexico.
Brennan warned residents to expect widespread power outages, damage to trees, and structural damage as the storm moves inland. The impact is expected to stretch west of the New Orleans metropolitan area.
Louisiana’s preparations for Hurricane Francine come just after the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the state in 2005, killing more than 1,800 people.
In neighboring Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has urged residents to heed warnings and evacuation orders, stressing that conditions could change unpredictably.
“The predicted pathway of a storm like this doesn’t always turn out to be true,” Abbott said, as his state also began mobilising resources and deploying water rescue teams. The Texas National Guard is on standby if needed.
Francine is the sixth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which has been relatively quiet so far. As of Tuesday evening, the storm was located about 360 miles (579 km) southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana.
Hurricanes are classified on a scale of one to five, with Category 5 storms being the most destructive, featuring winds exceeding 155 mph (250 km/h). Francine’s intensification and trajectory will be closely monitored as the Gulf Coast prepares for its impact.
Chioma Kalu
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