The state is making preparations for a possible slow-moving hurricane to batter the Louisiana coast this weekend. Kevin Barnhart has the story…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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A tropical system near the panhandle is projected to grow into Hurricane Barry and make landfall along the southwest Louisiana coast Saturday…
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The state is bracing for a slow moving tropical system that’s expected to drop a ton of rain. Ten-to-15 inches of rain is possible. National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Erickson says much of that rainfall will come between Friday and Sunday.
Cut 3 (09) “…of that obviously.”
Erickson says the Mississippi River is expected to hit 19 feet on Friday and a flood warning has been issued for the New Orleans area…
Cut 4 (10) “…at actually developing.”
Levees in New Orleans are built to handle 20 to 21 feet river levels. Erickson says another concern that comes with this storm is the possibility of tornados.
Cut 5 (06) “…some tornadic areas.”
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Governor John Bel Edwards says be prepared for a significant rain and storm surge event from a storm system that’s expected to strengthen into a Category One Hurricane and make landfall in southwest Lousiana on Saturday. Edwards says the yet to be named storm will move slowly towards the Louisiana coast
Edwards has declared a statewide emergency. He says this is just not a south Louisiana event…
Edwards says they anticipate a storm surge near the mouth of the Mississippi River between three and four feet, which is a concern since the River is already at a very high level. He says there will likely be overtopping of levees in Plaquemines Parish
A storm surge watch is in effect from the mouth of the Pearl River to Morgan City. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the mouth of the Mississippi River to Morgan City.
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Based on current projections, Terrebonne Parish could get the brunt of what may be Hurricane Barry. Director of the Terrebonne Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Earl Eues says workers are already alleviating issues with the parish’s drainage system.
Cut 9 (09) “…that we’re expecting.”
10 to 15 inches of rain is forecasted to fall in Houma through Monday. Eues says they have several sandbagging areas for residents and business owners. Some may also be impacted by storm surge.
Cut 10 (09) “…storm surge flooding.”
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A tropical system creeping towards the state is expected to develop into Hurricane Barry and make landfall on the southwestern Louisiana coast on Saturday.
State Climatologist Barry Keim says gulf surface temps are in the mid to upper 80s, and wind shear is expected to decrease, giving the system plenty of fuel to develop.
Keim says with it’s current tracking, the most severe area of the hurricane will slam right through the south-central portion of the state.
South-central Louisiana is bracing for 10 to 15 inches of rain.
Keim says even if the storm does make landfall in the southwestern portion of The Boot, the system’s current track will have it slowly creep past the southeastern coast, bringing storm surge.
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Many streets in New Orleans turned into rivers as an estimated eight inches of rain fell during a three-hour period over parts of the city this morning. Many businesses, homes and vehicles were damaged by rising rain water….
The strong cluster of storms that moved over the city also made life difficult for visitors and residents of the French Quarter
There was also a tornado reported near the UNO campus and several waterspouts over Lake Ponchartrain.