Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it heads toward the northeast Caribbean. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Chris Landsea says the models show the storm turning north once it reaches south Florida this weekend, and not impacting Louisiana. But adds nobody along the coast should let their guard down…:
Cut 10 (08) “premature”
Landsea says Irma is the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane on record with maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says they are taking another look at evacuation procedures in the state, after dealing with flooding last year and seeing what happened in Houston from Hurricane Harvey. They are meeting today to review what is currently in place that would prompt an evacuation, and talking about possibly including projected rainfall amounts in addition to the category of a storm.

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber’s daughter and babysitter were found safe this morning following an all-night search for the missing girls…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

The Department of Children and Family Services says many evacuees who had been taking refuge in Alexandria and Shreveport mega shelters are being transported back to the home state to shelter in Dallas.