Southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas are bracing for the impact of a Category 3 hurricane with the landfall of Laura around 1 AM Thursday morning. Governor John Bel Edwards says while the forecast has remained pretty consistent, the forecasted track has taken a slight shift to the east.
Cut 14 (07) “…Louisiana even further.”
Edwards says the storm continues to show parallels to Hurricane Rita in 2005. Edwards encourages residents to be where they will ride out the storm by noon today. Edwards says for the first time, the state is focusing on pre-landfall non-congregant shelter and has booked hundreds of rooms at hotels and motels for sheltering needs.
Cut 16 (08) “…appreciative of that.”
Governor Edwards will be extending Phase 2 restrictions but for how long is uncertain at this time. The order keeps most businesses at 50% capacity, bars closed, and masks mandatory. Edwards says several factors contribute to the decision, including the return to campus for K-12 schools and colleges.
Cut 9 (11) “…in the hospital.”
The current order is set to expire on Friday and Edwards says he expects to make the new proclamation tomorrow.
Over 400,000 Louisianans will receive federally boosted unemployment benefits tomorrow, a 900 dollar payment retroactive to August 1st. But Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says about 87,000 unemployed will not qualify, most of them because they don’t earn enough in-state benefits.