Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish 12 years ago today. Emelie Gunn has more from former Governor Kathleen Blanco as she remembers….
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The Cajun Navy is sending rescue teams to Texas to help with the Tropical Storm Harvey response. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Twelve years ago today Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and many Texans are facing a similar catastrophe today. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Today marks the 12 year anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Over 15-hundred people died in Louisiana from the powerful storm and former Governor Kathleen Blanco says it could’ve been a lot more if they did not evacuate one million people from New Orleans in a short period of time but some people decided not to leave…
Blanco says on top of the physical damage, there was so much mental stress after families were separated. She says so many Louisiana residents worked feverously to help each other during this difficult time.
Blanco says shelters starting popping up all over the state for flood victims who lost everything they owned during Katrina. She says from Lafayette to Monroe, Louisianans came together and then help starting coming from around the country.
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Louisianans are heading to Texas in droves to assist with the ongoing rescue efforts. The Cajun Navy is assisting in the massive search and rescue efforts to help those stranded in homes and on rooftops. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the generosity of the community is unbelievable.
Graves says the people flocking to Texas have been through this before, as many of the rescuers were disaster victims themselves just one year ago. He says they know what supplies are needed, and they’ll be able to hit the ground running once they reach the affected areas.
Graves encourages those who wish to help to check the Cajun Navy 2016 Facebook page for an updated list of needs. He says they are accepting donations of bottled water and other emergency supplies.
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Today marks 12 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and Texans are facing a similar situation now with Harvey. State climatologist Barry Keim says both made landfall as a major hurricane, but Katrina reached Category 5 strength in the Gulf and weakened, while Harvey continued to strengthen until landfall. He says that worsened Katrina’s storm surge.
Keim says the biggest surge from Harvey so far is 6.8 feet, while Katrina caused the biggest surge ever measured in the western hemisphere at 28 feet. He says it’s the opposite for rainfall as Katrina only dumped upwards of 15 inches.
Keim says Harvey has been meandering around at about 2 miles per hour. He notes the storm has only moved about 100 miles since last Friday. He says these are two highly contrasting storms with similar major impacts in two of the country’s biggest cities.
Cut 12 (11) “these two events”
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Harvey has strengthened as it moves over the Gulf along the Texas coast. John Cangialosi with the National Hurricane Center says the biggest concern is the continued rainfall over eastern Texas and western Louisiana with isolated totals reaching 50 inches in some areas. He says Louisiana is in for a lot more wet weather.
Cangialosi says tropical storm force winds are likely, especially along the western and central Louisiana coast. Up to three feet of storm surge is also expected in the area. He encourages everyone to stay up to date on advisories issued in their areas.
Cut 14 (09) “over to Louisiana”
Cangialosi says the Bayou State could see between 10 and 20 inches of rain in some areas. He says Harvey is still churning very slowly, which means the rain isn’t moving out anytime soon.
Cut 15 (12) “half of the state”
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There are seven players on the LSU football team from the Houston area and it’s difficult time for them. Starting offensive tackle Toby Weathersby says parents are okay living in a second floor apartment, but flood waters are threatening his grandparents home….
Weathersby says his grandparents are set in their ways and do want to evacuate their home as flood waters continue to rise. He says if he was in Houston, he would carry his grandparents out of harms way…
Weathersby says he’s trying to not let the troubles at home, affect his preparation for the game….