The 10AM advisory from the National Hurricane center shows Barry has seen an increase in the maximum sustained winds to 65 miles per hour. Morgan City looks to be at the center of most tracks for the likely Saturday morning landfall. Heavy rainfall is expected to result in numerous road closures, especially south of Interstate 10, are expected. State Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says in preparation for this flash flooding event, D-O-T-D crews have been cleaning out ditches
President Trump makes a federal declaration of emergency for Louisiana as Tropical Storm Barry approaches. Congressman Garret Graves says the declaration allows for Homeland Security and FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.
Cut 14 (09) “…for this storm.”
Tropical Storm Barry has picked up strength, and is now projected to be a category one hurricane when it makes landfall near Morgan City around seven in the morning on Saturday. Several feet of storm surge is predicted along the coast, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says the biggest concern is the 10-20 inches of rain that will fall across south Louisiana, particularly on the east side of the track.
The threat of a major rainfall event similar to the 2016 floods has many grabbing sandbags for their homes and businesses. Jacob from Baton Rouge says he’s seen many neighbors helping neighbors.
Cut 7 (10) “…and not need.”
The U-S Army Corps of Engineers is not expecting the overtopping of levees in the New Orleans area. Storm surge is expected to add another three feet to the historically high Mississippi River.