The state is ramping down its emergency response activities as most of Louisiana appears to have dodged a bullet from once Hurricane Barry. There were concerns that the levees in New Orleans would have difficulty handling the storm, but Governor John Bel Edwards says the upgraded levee system held up…
cut 10 (10) “…extremely well”
Some people are upset that Barry was talked up as a big storm, but didn’t live up to the predictions of massive flooding. State Climatologist Barry Keim says wind shearing and dry air attacked the storm. But Keim says federal forecasters did a good job of predicting a hurricane would make landfall along Louisiana’s coast several days before it happened…
cut 6 (12) “…this event”

LSU receives a grant worth nearly $400k from the Institute of Museum and Library Science in an effort to tell the stories of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and active duty military through the creation of virtual footlockers. Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science Ed Benoit says these virtual footlockers will not only be important family heirlooms but important documentation for historians.
Cut 13 (08) “…a time period.”
The virtual footlockers would include social media posts, digital photos, videos, emails, and stories from the troops.

Affiliates,

We are concluding our Barry coverage with the 9:55 newscast tonight. At this time, we are not planning on any special coverage tomorrow, but that would change if we start to see significant flooding. Stay safe and try to enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Jeff Palermo

Tropical Storm Barry continues to slowly make its way towards the Louisiana coast, eyeing a landfall near Vermilion Bay later this morning or early this afternoon, possibly as a Category One hurricane. So far we’ve seen water overtop a Myrtle Grove levee in Plaquemines Parish.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says it’s not a levee failure and state and local officials anticipate this type of issue.

The U-S Coast Guard was called to rescue 12 people and a cat from a flooded island in Terrebonne Parish. And strong winds are causing scattered power outages.

So far not much rain from Barry. Radar indicates strong storms on the Mississippi Gulf coast, the Florida Panhandle and south Alabama, while the significant rainfall for Louisiana remains offshore.

The Bayou State is still expecting 10 to 20 inches of rain for south central and southeast Louisiana. Northeast Louisiana is also under a flash flood watch until Monday morning.

Tropical Storm Barry’s maximum sustained winds are 70-miles an hour and dangerous storm surge and heavy rain are expected. Governor Edwards says the state has done a lot to prepare for this storm…
cut 10 (11) “…has served it

Storm shelters are available and calling 211 is the best way to stay up to date…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Tropical Storm Barry is gaining strength as it approaches Louisiana’s coastline.It’s maximum sustained winds are 70-miles per hour, just short of hurricane strength. A landfall is expected near Vermilion Parish. Phil Grigsby with the National Weather Service says the significant rainfall will come after landfall…
cut 15 (08) “…higher amounts”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has sent pictures to the media showing the overtopping of a levee in Plaquemines Parish near Myrtle Grove. Upstream in New Orleans, Governor John Bel Edwards is confident in the levee system…
cut 9 (12) “…out of 120 pumps worked”
The projected crest of the Mississippi River in New Orleans is down to 17 feet.

The U-S Coast Guard was called this morning to rescue a dozen people stranded by flooding on an island in Terrebonne Parish. The island was placed under a voluntary evacuation. Shelters are open across south Louisiana and Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says many of them are pet friendly, but call the shelter hotline number at 2-1-1…
cut 8 (08) “…set up”

Barry’s track shows the storm is not just a south Louisiana problem as forecasts show the system will likely be a tropical storm as it moves right over Alexandria Sunday morning. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says local officials worked hard to prepare, but he’s seen less urgency from some of his constituents…
Cut 12 (08) “…that.”
Barry is expected to be a tropical depression in north Louisiana on Sunday afternoon.

Tropical Storm Barry continues to get stronger as it approaches Louisiana’s coastline…
cut 14 (10) “…75 miles an hour”
That’s Phil Grigsby with the National Weather Service in Slidell. The 7 AM advisory from the National Hurricane Center has Barry’s maximum sustained winds at 70-miles per hour and it’s made a slight turn to the northwest at five miles per hour. The center of Barry is 50 miles west-southwest of Morgan City and about 60-miles south of Lafayette.

The official forecast track of Barry has the storm as a tropical storm just north of Lafayette early Sunday morning. And the center of the storm will be a tropical depression in north Louisiana tomorrow afternoon.

Barry is still expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches over south-central and southeast Louisiana. A lot of rain will not happen until after landfall.

Several shelters have opened to provide residents refuge from the effects of Barry. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says your parish leaders will provide shelter locations, but the best way to get that info is dialing 2-1-1.
Cut 6 (12) “…will be”.

Is opening of the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish an option to help alleviate pressure on Mississippi River levees downstream? Governor Edwards says it’s not because, an operation of that magnitude takes about ten days to stage, and it would redirect river water to places that do not need any more water.
Cut 11 (09) “…were gonna go.”
The predicted crest of the Mississippi River in New Orleans has been lowered to 17 feet and the levee system can handle a 20 to 25-foot crest.

The National Hurricane Center still believes Tropical Storm Barry will make landfall by midday as a Category One Hurricane in the Vermilion Bay-Morgan City area. The storm’s maximum sustained winds are 65 miles per hour and its moving west-northwest at five miles per hour. The official forecast track has shifted a little to the west.

Governor John Bel Edwards has expressed his confidence in the state’s readiness for Barry. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Numerous shelters have opened across south Louisiana as flooding and power outages will force people out of their homes. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says if you head to a shelter, bring personal hygiene items, medications and…
cut 7 (12) “…suitcases”
Food is also provided at these shelters.

The Coast Guard has been called to rescue a dozen people in Terrebonne Parish who are trapped as a result of rising waters. Other search and rescue operations are expected to take place. United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says if you are interested in volunteering, go to their Facebook page and leave a message or download an app called ZELLO…
cut 5 (10) “…hands”

The official track of Tropical Storm Barry has moved slightly to the west, with a landfall closer to Cameron Parish. Maximum sustained winds are at 65 miles per hour and the National Hurricane Center still projects Barry to strengthen to a hurricane before reaching the coastline. Phil Grigsby is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service…
cut 16 (07) “…be upgraded”
Barry is expected to dump 10 to 20 inches of rain over south-central and southeast Louisiana. The slow-moving storm has given the state time to prepare, but Governor Edwards says with every storm there is the great unknown…
cut 10 (11) “…has severed it”
Barry is moving a little faster in a west-northwest direction at five miles per hour.

The United Cajun Navy has mobilized at L’Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge ahead of what is expected to be a severe flooding event from Barry’s rainfall. Founder Todd Terrell says the riverboat casino is a good spot to gather, with its central location in the soon-to-be inundated region.
Cut 3 (09) “.there”
Terrell says if you are interested in volunteering with the Navy, go to their Facebook page and leave a message, or download an app called ZELLO.

Barry’s track shows the storm is not just a south Louisiana problem as forecasts show the system will likely be a tropical storm as it moves right over Alexandria early Sunday morning. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says local officials worked hard to prepare, but he’s seen less urgency from some of his constituents…
Cut 12 (08) “…that.”

The latest advisory on Tropical Storm Barry shows a more western track and a landfall likely closer to Cameron Parish. Its rainbands have begun to move onshore. Still anticipating a dangerous storm surge, heavy rain and wind conditions expected across the north-central Gulf Coast. As of four A-M, Barry is 55 miles southwest of Morgan City, with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour. It’s moving west north-west at five miles per hour. And there’s good news regarding the Mississippi River, the crest in New Orleans has been lowered to 17 feet.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he feels confident in the state’s ability to handle the wrath of Tropical Storm Barry. Edwards says on Wednesday, New Orleans pumping operations were given a test, and they did fairly well…
Cut 9 (12) “…out of 120 pumps worked.”

Storm shelters are opening across the state and calling 211 is the best way to stay up to date with shelter openings in your area…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state’s mega shelter located near LSU-Alexandria is ready to hold two-thousand evacuees. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau…
cut 13 (11) “…home”
People rescued during search and rescue operations will be taken to this shelter.

Hello Affiliates,

Look for a special Saturday morning newscall. It will come down at around 4 AM on Saturday and you can find the cuts in the Newscall folder, look for AM newscall.

Take care.

Jeff Palermo

Tropical storm conditions are spreading across portions of southeast Louisiana as Barry is now 100 miles south-southeast of Morgan City and moving five miles per hour. Barry is expected to reach hurricane strength before making landfall near St. Mary Parish. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says the main threat remains heavy rainfall..
cut 5 (09) “….storm”
10 to 20 inches of rain is expected to fall over south-central and southeast Louisiana with a maximum total of 25 inches. Governor Edwards is anticipating search and rescue missions…
cut 8 (14) “….staging areas”

President Trump has approved an emergency declaration for Louisiana which allows the state to receive supplementary federal resources. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says there are open lines of communication between the Bayou State and D-C and says the feds are keeping a finger on the pulse of the situation…
cut 16 (06) “….the President’s radar”
Law enforcement from north Louisiana is helping their counterparts in south Louisiana. Caddo and Bossier Parish deputies left from Shreveport this morning. Caddo Sheriff’s captain Bobby Herring says deputies that remain in their jurisdiction will likely also remain very busy with concerns from the storm…
cut 13 (09) “….could be dangerous”
Barry is not expected to move quickly once it makes landfall on Saturday morning.