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. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s still some uncertainty, but forecasters are increasingly confident about the system’s track.

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Keim says the slow moving storm could still be in central Louisiana by late Saturday night.

10-20 inches of rainfall from Tropical Storm Barry is expected to close numerous roads, especially south of Interstate 10. State Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says during heavy rainfall, don’t drown, turn around…

Cut 10 (08) “…let’s just be safe.”

check 5-1-1-la-dot-org for road closures.

Caddo and Bossier Parish deputies are being deployed to south Louisiana as part of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Task Force.  Caddo Sheriff’s spokesperson Bobby Herring.

Cut 12 (11) “…high water trucks.”

Kevin Barnhart checked in with Baton Rouge residents hard at work defending their homes with sandbags…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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

Cut 11 (11) “…our pumps”

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.

Cut 4 (10) “…right now.”

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.

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. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s still some uncertainty, but forecasters are increasingly confident about the system’s track.

Cut 3, 11 seconds, Louisiana

There’s been debate as to whether or not the system will be a tropical storm or hurricane when it makes landfall, but Keim says either way the amount of rain will be nearly identical.

State officials are preparing to lose a number of roads south of I-10 to flooding from Barry. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the slogan he likes to use during heavy rainfall events, don’t drown, turn around…

Cut 10 (08) “…let’s just be safe.”

You can check 5-1-1-L-A-Dot-Org for road closures.

There’s been serious concerns that the Mississippi River, which is already at a high level, could be overtopped when storm surge from Barry hits the mouth of the river, but Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Chip Kline has some good news.

Cut 12 (10) “…overtopped.”

Kevin Barnhart spoke with south Louisiana residents who are armoring their homes with sandbags…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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.  Three to six feet of storm surge is expected along the coast along with category one hurricane force winds and heavy rains, but Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi says they’ve drained their drainage canals down to the mud, and all of the city’s pumps have recently been redone, but there may still be street flooding.

Cut 5  (10) “…catch up” 

Numerous road closures, especially south of Interstate 10, are expected. State Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says check 5-1-1-L-A-dot-org for the latest.

Cut 9 (08) “…across the state”

Rainfall is the biggest concern from Barry at his point.  National Weather Service Slidell meteorologist Phil Grigsby says the lion’s share of that rain starts today and could possibly continue through Sunday with rainfall totals of 18-24 inches in some places. Grigsby says there are many aspects of this flooding threat that shares parallels with 2016 flooding.

Cut 14 (09) “…east around Hammond.”

The threat of a major rainfall event similar to the 2016 floods has many grabbing sandbags for their homes and businesses. Sandbags are being dispersed in flood-prone areas of the state. Nicole from Baton Rouge says she was flooded in 2016, and is grateful for the opportunity to utilize the bags being distributed by the department of public works.

Cut 8 (13) “…never flooded before.”

Barry is projected to make landfall near Morgan City as a strong tropical storm or Category one hurricane, but Mayor Boo Grizzaffi says he believes they’ll be just fine. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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In the face of a rain event that could rival the 2016 floods, residents are armoring their homes and businesses with sandbags.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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State officials are keeping a close eye on Louisiana’s already swollen rivers as Barry threatens to dump up to two feet of water in some areas…

Cut 3 (30) “.Matt Doyle”

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Morgan City looks to be at the center of most tracks for Tropical Storm Barry and the coastal city preparing for a possible Saturday morning landfall.  Three to six feet of storm surge is expected along the coast along with category one hurricane force winds and heavy rains, but Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi says the city should remain safe.

Cut 4 (11) “…fine”

The largest city in St. Mary Parish, Morgan City is home to about 12,000 people.

Grizzaffi says they’ve drained their drainage canals down to the mud, and all of the cities pumps have recently been redone, but there may still be street flooding.

Cut 5  (10) “…catch up” 

Regardless of how much flash flooding from rain the city gets, Grizzaffi is confident that the city is not in any danger of taking on water from coastal storm surge.

Cut 6 (12) “…to go.

The mayor says the city’s backwater levees have been lifted and have never previously been overtopped or breached.

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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 in preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Barry.

Cut 7 (10) “…and not need.”

Sandbags are being dispersed in flood-prone areas of the state. Nicole from Baton Rouge says she was flooded in 2016, and is grateful for the opportunity to utilize the bags being distributed by the department of public works.

Cut 8 (13) “…never flooded before.”

St. George Fire Department on Airline is one of the locations where the bags and sand are constantly being replenished for distribution. Chief of Training Matt Ard says there are plenty of shovels, so there is no need to bring your own. Ard does have a few safety recommendations though.

Cut 9 (10) “…protect themselves.”

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Tropical Storm Barry is set to bring rain totals not seen in many places since the 2016 floods, with rainfall totals of 18-24 inches in some places threatening to swell south Louisiana rivers. Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s not a great time for a system like Barry to drop by, considering rivers are already swollen with upstream water and run-off.

Cut 10 (11) “…full.”

Edwards says this system has the potential to threaten areas that have just begun to recover from historic flooding three years ago by dumping nearly two feet of rainwater.

Cut 11 (07) “…Louisiana.”

There’s been serious concerns that the Mississippi River, which is already at a high level, could be overtopped when storm surge hits the mouth of the river, but Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Chip Kline has some good news.

Cut 12 (10) “…overtopped.”

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Rainfall is the biggest concern from Barry at his point.  National Weather Service Slidell meteorologist Phil Grigsby says the lion’s share of that rain starts today and could possibly continue through Sunday.

Cut 13 (10) “…in that area.”

Grigsby says there are many aspects of this flooding threat that shares parallels with 2016 flooding.

Cut 14 (09) “…east around Hammond.”

Grigsby says while the rain does take top billing on the list of concerns, storm surge is certainly a major concern as well.

Cut 15 (10) “…in those areas.”

Coastal parishes are advising residents in low-lying areas to seek higher ground as Tropical Storm Barry is expected to produce a dangerous storm surge and heavy rains. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut  2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the city’s water pumps are working at optimal capacity as Tropical Storm Barry approaches.

Governor Edwards says Tropical Storm Barry will be a major weather event for much of Louisiana. The storm is expected to make landfall Saturday morning as a Category One hurricane. But Edwards provided has some good news. He says the storm surge forecast at the mouth of Mississippi River has been lowered…

Cut 10 (12) “…Mississippi River.”

Edwards says flooding is the biggest concern. Power outages are also likely.

The United Cajun Navy has been activated in anticipation of Barry’s Saturday landfall along the Louisiana coast. Founder Todd Terrell says they’ve mobilized their volunteers to help make sandbags in the Baton Rouge area, which is set to potentially see over a foot of rainwater.

Cut 14 (09) “…half.”

The organization has built a nationwide volunteer base after operations in other disaster zones over the past three years.

Hurricane warnings are now in effect for much of the south-central Louisiana coast as Tropical Storm Barry puts the Bayou State in it’s bullseye. The storm is expected to make landfall Saturday morning as a Category One hurricane. Louisiana National Guard Major General Glenn Curtis says three-thousand of their soldiers have been deployed in response.

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State Climatologist Barry Keim says says tropical storm conditions will begin Friday night and take a noticeable turn for the worse Saturday morning along the coast, and that afternoon in the Baton Rouge area.

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Storm surge levels are estimated at between three to six feet at the mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Shell Beach in Cameron Parish, and 15 to 20 inches of rain could fall across some portions of the state.

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Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the low-lying areas of Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes. A voluntary evacuation has been called for areas south of Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow and Port Fourchon in Lafourche Parish. Lafourche Sheriff’s office spokesperson Brennan Matherne says they are anticipating strong winds and heavy rainfall in Lafourche and residents there are taking this storm seriously…

Cut 7 (10) “…aware”

The United Cajun Navy has been activated in anticipation of Barry’s Saturday landfall. Founder Todd Terrell says many of the Louisiana based members are scrambling to protect their own homes, so in a twist, it’s Cajun Navy members from outside of Louisiana coming here to help…

Cut 13 (08) “…volunteers.”

The organization has built a nationwide volunteer base after operations in other disaster zones over the past three years. They’ll be staging for water rescues at L’Auberge Casino.

Governor Edwards says Tropical Storm Barry will be a major weather event for much of Louisiana. The storm is expected to make landfall Saturday morning as a Category One hurricane. But Edwards provided has some good news. He says the storm surge forecast at the mouth of Mississippi River has been lowered…

Cut 10 (12) “…Mississippi River.”

Edwards says rainwater flooding is the biggest concern.

But Plaquemines Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Jade Duplessis says they’ll still be keeping a close eye on levee systems to the south of New Orleans…

Cut 8 (10) “…available.”

The eventual hurricane is projected to make landfall near Morgan City.

Barry has been one of the slower moving storm systems in recent memory, evocting shades of the 2016 system that brought devastating floods to the Baton Rouge and Livingston Parish regions. State Climatologist Barry Keim says get ready to hunker down for a bit as tropical storm conditions will begin Friday night and take a noticeable turn for the worse Saturday morning along the coast, and that afternoon in the Baton Rouge area.

Cut 5 (09) “…tricky”

The United Cajun Navy has been activated in anticipation of Barry. Founder Todd Terrell says they’ve mobilized their volunteers to help make sandbags Baton Rouge, which is set to potentially see over a foot of rainwater.

Cut 14 (09) “…half.”

Terrell says they’ll be staging their waterborne rescue missions for flood zones from L’Auberge Casino, on the river in south Baton Rouge.

Tropical Storm Barry has formed in the Gulf and is projected to make landfall along the Louisiana coast sometime Saturday morning. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the city’s water pumps are working at optimal capacity as Tropical Storm Barry approaches.  Governor Edwards recently wrapped a press event saying that the river’s forecasted crest has gone down, with no overtopping of levees expected in the New Orleans area.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the low-lying areas of Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes. A voluntary evacuation has been called for areas south of Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow and Port Fourchon in Lafourche Parish. Lafourche Sheriff’s office spokesperson Brennan Matherne says they are anticipating strong winds and heavy rainfall in Lafourche and residents there are taking this storm seriously…

Cut 7 (10) “…aware”

Plaquemines Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Jade Duplessis says their mandatory evacuation order affects eight to ten-thousand residents in low-lying areas of the parish….

Cut 9 (10) “…out there”

The 1PM advisory says the storm is about 90 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Slow-moving Tropical Storm Barry has officially formed in the Gulf and is projected to make landfall along the Louisiana coast sometime Saturday morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the system will only be at hurricane one strength winds when it makes landfall, but the biggest concern is storm surge, and rainfall.

Cut 4 (08) “…moving.”

Storm surge levels are estimated at between three to six feet along the coast, and up into Lake Ponchartrain.

The Untied Cajun Navy has been activated in anticipation of Hurricane Barry. Founder Todd Terrell says many of the Louisiana based organization’s members are scrambling to protect their own homes with tons of rain on the way, so in a twist, it’s Cajun Navy members from outside of Louisiana coming here to help…

Cut 13, 8 seconds, volunteers

The Navy will be staging for flood rescue at L’Auberge Casino.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the low-lying areas of Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes. A voluntary evacuation has been called for areas south of Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow and Port Fourchon in Lafourche Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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