Some areas of the Louisiana Coast are starting to feel the effects of Hurricane Francine. As of one this afternoon, Francine was located 95 miles southwest of Morgan City, packing maximum sustained winds of 90 miles an hour. It’s now moving northeast at 17 miles an hour. Tropical storm force winds extend 115 miles from the eye, so locations within the path are starting to get those high winds.

A tornado watch is in effect for many Southeast Louisiana parishes, including those in the New Orleans area. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form. A tornado WARNING, on the other hand, means a tornado is present. The watch is in effect until 11 tonight.

Governor Landry is urging you to stay off the roads, not only to keep yourself safe, but also to allow emergency workers room to do their rescue and recovery work during and after the storm.

Cut 10 (06) “…and stay put.”

Hurricane Francine may be bearing down on southeast Louisiana as a strong Category one storm. But it’s not all doom and gloom.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Tangipahoa (TAN-jee-pa-HOE-ah) Parish is preparing for Francine by learning lessons from past storms like Hurricane Ida. Parish President Robbie Miller says that Ida was a storm that changed how the parish prepares…

Cut  14 (05) “..time to recover.”

Shelter locations for Tangipahoa are Restoration Church, Amite (AY-meet) Community Center, and Brown’s Chapel.

Tropical-storm force winds are now coming onto the Louisiana coast. We just got the latest intermediate update from the National Hurricane Center on Hurricane Francine. The eye of the storm has moved to within 95 miles of Morgan City, moving northeast at around 16 miles an hour. Maximum sustained winds are still 90 miles an hour – no change from the ten o’clock update. Those of you near the path – the Hurricane Center says hurricane force winds extend up to 40 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend up to 115 miles outward.

GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodaux says if you have not evacuated by now, don’t bother.

Cut 9 (12)  “…response to a hurricane.”

Governor Landry echoes those sentiments, not only to keep yourself safe, but also to allow emergency workers room to do their rescue and recovery work during and after the storm.

Hurricane Francine could leave some people without power for days.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

St. John the Baptist Parish has seen its fair share of damage from previous hurricanes. Parish president Jaclyn Hotard says her biggest concern with Francine is flooding…

Cut 12 (09) “…heavy rainfall.”

St. John the Baptist Parish is bordered by lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas.

Conditions are beginning to deteriorate in south Louisiana as the center of Hurricane Francine churns closer to St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes. It’s a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 90 mph and it’s moving northeast at 13 miles per hour. The storm is about 120 miles southwest of Morgan City and is expected to make landfall later today. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there is an upside.

Cut 6 (09) “…approaches the coast.”

And Keim says Francine should move quickly through southeast Louisiana and the center of the storm is expected to be in Mississippi during the overnight hours.

Governor Jeff Landry urges the public not to relax, because it’s just a Cat 1 storm…

Cut 5 (15) “…stay put.”

A category one storm can have maximum sustained winds up to 95 miles per hour.

Hurricane Francine is expected to move quickly through southeast Louisiana, but unfortunately could leave some people without power for days. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

A curfew is now in place in Lafourche Parish. A shelter in place is now in effect for New Orleans. Over a hundred flights have been cancelled at Louis Armstrong International Airport. Afternoon flights are also canceled out of Lafayette and Baton Rouge airports. Numerous parishes in southeast Louisiana have opened evacuation shelters of last resort.

The National Hurricane Center says little change is expected in the strength of Category One Hurricane Francine before she makes landfall. Maximum sustained winds are at 90 and the latest track shows a path running between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemine says we’re fortunate that Francine is fast moving. Cut 29 (12) …Weaken Rapidly

St. John the Baptist Parish has seen its fair share of damage from previous hurricanes. Parish president Jaclyn Hotard says her biggest concern with Francine is flooding…

Cut 12 (09) “…heavy rainfall.”

Officials in New Orleans have ordered a shelter in place that began at eleven o’clock this morning. They are asking the public to stay off the roads for their safety and to leave roadways clear for emergency and storm responders.

Hurricane Francine started to develop over the weekend and officially became a named storm on Monday. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele believes most residents along the coast are prepared…

Cut 4 (11) “…works.”

Francine is expected to make landfall in southeast Louisiana late this afternoon. Governor Jeff Landry urges the public not to relax, because it’s just a Cat 1 storm. A category one storm can have maximum sustained winds up to 95 miles per hour.

Attorney Liz Murrill is reminding everyone that price gouging is a crime and she says Louisiana takes it seriously…

Cut 9 (07)  “…enforce the law.”

The National Hurricane Center has released the latest on Category One Hurricane Francine. Maximum sustained winds are at 90 mph moving northeast at 13 mph. Little change in strength is expected before landfall this afternoon between Vermillion and Terrebonne Bays. The latest track shows a path running between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

As Hurricane Francine makes landfall later today in St. Mary or Terrebonne parish. It will certainly produce power outages. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Mike Steele says many trees were weakened by last year’s drought and will that lead to more limbs and trees falling on power lines???

Cut 3 (12) “…or whatever.”

Governor Jeff Landry announced the White House has approved the Emergency Declaration for the State of Louisiana covering Hurricane Francine related emergency measures. Landry says he appreciates President Biden’s quick approval of his request.

The rush to prepare for this storm has led to some empty gas pumps.  GasBuddy.com Analyst Patrick De Haan says if drivers see empty pumps, don’t worry supply is on the way…

Cut 6 (05) …with a handle over it.”

De Haan says he expects gas prices to continue to decrease over the new few weeks.

The attorney general of Louisiana has a stern warning for price gougers. Andrew Greenstein reports

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Category One Hurricane Francine is expected to strengthen briefly to a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph before making Landfall this afternoon between Vermillion and Terrebonne Bays. A major concern is storm surge, expected between five and ten feet. The latest track shows a path through the Baton Rouge metro area and any eastward shift will bring more to metro New Orleans. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin…

Cut 26 (09) …biggest threat.

Leaders in the path of the storm say they’re ready. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says they’ve been preparing for Francine’s arrival for a while now.

Cut 12 (07) “…everywhere we look.”

Dragna says the city has greatly improved equipment needed to drain the city.

Francine’s current track of the storm will take the center near St. Tammany Parish. President Mike Cooper is urging people to take any and all precautions.

Cut 15 (12) “…low-lying areas.”

Cooper is also urging people to stay off the roads as not to interfere with rescue and recovery operations.

Many gas stations are running out of fuel. GasBuddy.com Analyst Patrick De Haan says when so many drivers are attempting to fill up it causes delays and says if residents don’t need fuel there is no need to worry about filling up.  De Haan reminds residents of the best time to fill up if they don’t want to deal with empty pumps and long gas lines…

Cut 5 (11) “…refuel their tanks overnight.”

Motorists are urged to remain patient and stay informed as the storm moves closer.

The latest National Hurricane Center update shows Francine a category one hurricane with max sustained winds of 90 mph but she continues to strengthen moving northeast slightly faster at 12mph. Francine is expected to briefly intensify to a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph before making Landfall this afternoon between Vermillion and Terrebonne Bays. The latest track shows a path through the Baton Rouge metro area and an eastward shift will bring more to New Orleans. She is expected to weaken quickly as Francine moves Northeastward through the state.

Local leaders in the cities and parishes in the path of the storm say they’re ready. In Morgan City, where Weather Channel reporter Jim Cantore is taking up temporary residence, Mayor Lee Dragna says the city has greatly improved equipment needed to drain the city.

Cut 13 (09)  “…pump station now.”

In Terrebonne Parish, President Jason Bergeron has called from a mandatory evacuation for all Coastal areas Zone 1

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In Lafourche Parish a curfew is set from noon today until sunrise Thursday.

As Francine approaches the Louisiana coast, drivers are encountering increasing challenges at the pump, with many gas stations running out of fuel. The rush to prepare for the storm has led to long lines, with residents topping off tanks and filling gas containers for generators in anticipation of power outages.  GasBuddy.com Analyst Patrick De Haan says don’t worry…

Cut 4 (09) “…those gas stations.”

Storms like Francine can not only bring out the best in people; unfortunately, it can also bring out the worst in people. That’s the message of Attorney General Liz Murrill, who warns that price gouging is illegal.

Cut 7 (12) “…during the storm.”

Hurricane Francine is expected to strengthen to a Category 2 storm before making landfall this evening. The National Hurricane Center’s latest update shows sustained winds of 90 mph and continues its northeastward movement.

Tuesday Francine drifted more east but National Weather Service Meteorologist Hannah Lisney says she does not expect any additional significant shift in the path.

Cut 10 (12) “…at this point.”

In Terrebonne (TARE-ah-bone) Parish, President Jason Bergeron (BAA-zher-on) says if the storm passes to the east, that would be very good news.

Cut 14 (09) “…top of us.”

Lafourche Parish will be enforcing a curfew from noon today until sunrise Thursday.

Francine’s current track is expected take the center near St. Tammany Parish. President Mike Cooper is urging people to stay off the roads as not to interfere with rescue and recovery operations.

Cut 16 (12)   “…respond to emergencies.”

Tangipahoa Parish has opened shelters of last resort in Robert at Restoration Church, in Amite at Amite Community Center, and in the Village of Tangipahoa at Brown’s Chapel.

The attorney general of Louisiana has a stern warning for price gougers. Andrew Greenstein reports

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”