The Corps of Engineers says heavy rains and storm surge from a tropical system will push the Mississippi River to 20 feet in New Orleans, which could result in some levees being overtopped. Spokesperson Ricky Boyett says the levee system runs 20-25 feet high, and during the high water period, water will nearly reach the tops as the storm gets closer.
Parts of Plaquemines Parish are under a mandatory evacuation that began 6 a.m this morning. The east bank of the parish south of the Oakville Floodgate to Venice
The slow moving system is predicted to make landfall in south-central/southwest Louisiana, but National Weather Service Lake Charles forecaster Donovan Landreneau says the system is set to drop a ton of rain in certain areas of the state, somewhat similar to the tropical system that created the 2016 August floods.
In Lafayette, parish officials are prepping and putting equipment into place and lining up first responders. Director of Lafayette Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Craig Stansbury says even when officials are proactive and close roads due to flooding, first responders still have to put themselves at risk
There is a voluntary evacuation order for low-laying areas of Vermillion Parish and residents in Acadia Parish south of highway 92.