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• A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for Coastal Jefferson Parish, Lower Lafourche, and Lower Terrebonne
• A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Assumption, East Baton Rouge, Eastern Ascension, Iberville, St. James, Upper Lafourche, Upper Terrebonne, West Baton Rouge, and Western Ascension
• A Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning are in effect for Eastern Orleans, Lower Plaquemines, Lower St. Bernard, Lower Tangipahoa, Southeast St. Tammany Parishes; Southern Hancock, Southern Harrison, Southern Jackson Counties; Southern Livingston, Southwestern St. Tammany, St. Charles, and St. John The Baptist Parishes
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Amite, Central Plaquemines, Central Tangipahoa, East Feliciana, Lower Jefferson Parishes; Northern Hancock, Northern Harrison, Northern Jackson Counties, Northern Livingston, Northern St. Tammany, Northern Tangipahoa Parishes, Pearl River, Pike Counties, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Upper Jefferson, Upper Plaquemines, Upper St. Bernard Parishes, Walthall County, Washington, West Feliciana, Western Orleans Parishes, and Wilkinson County STORM INFORMATION:
About 480 miles southwest of New Orleans LA or about 440 miles southwest of Houma LA 24.9N 95.6W - Storm Intensity 65 mph - Movement North-northeast or 20 degrees at 8 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
Tropical Storm Francine is forecast to move generally northward then northeast, paralleling the Texas Gulf Coast and eventually making landfall along the Louisiana coast late Wednesday as a hurricane. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings remain active across Southeast Louisiana, including the Baton Rouge metro area. In addition to the potential for damaging winds, Francine will also bring the threat of life-threatening storm surge along the coastline and lakeshores of Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi where Storm Surge Warnings are currently in place. Heavy rainfall along and to the east of the track will have the potential to cause flooding and flash flooding even in areas that don`t normally flood. Rainfall flooding could be worsened due to the heavy rainfall that saturated grounds just last week.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
WIND:
Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts across southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi west of the I-55 corridor. Potential impacts in this area include:
• Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage.
• Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed.
• Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks.
• Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over.
• Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable.
• Large areas with power and communications outages.
Also, prepare for dangerous wind having possible limited to significant impacts across areas along and east of the I-55 corridor in southeast Louisiana.

SURGE:
Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible devastating impacts across coastal areas of southeast Louisiana, and Mississippi including the tidal lakes and sounds. Potential impacts in this area include:
• Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly accentuated by powerful battering waves.
• Structural damage to buildings, with many washing away.
• Damage greatly compounded from considerable floating debris.
• Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period.
• Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.
• Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
• Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
• Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted onshore and stranded.
Elsewhere across Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi, little to no impact is anticipated.

FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi.
Potential impacts include:
• Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
• Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.
• Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
• Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
• Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.
TORNADOES:
Prepare for a dangerous tornado event having possible significant impacts across all of southeast Louisiana.
Potential impacts include:
• The occurrence of scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events.
• Several places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
• Locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. Dangerous projectiles can add to the toll.
Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across southern Mississippi.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.

OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your home or business.

When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm.

If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or on a boat, plan to move to safe shelter.

If you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as near the ocean or a large inland lake, in a low-lying or poor drainage area, in a valley, or near an already swollen river, plan to move to safe shelter on higher ground.

Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with orders that are issued. Do not needlessly jeopardize your life or the lives of others.

When securing your property, outside preparations should be concluded as soon as possible before conditions deteriorate. The onset of strong gusty winds or flooding can cause certain preparedness activities to become unsafe.

Be sure to let friends and family members know of your intentions for weathering the storm and your whereabouts. Have someone located away from the threatened area serve as your point of contact. Share vital contact information with others. Keep cell phones handy and charged.

Check on those who may not be fully aware of the situation or who are unable to make personal preparations.

If you are a visitor, know the name of the county or parish in which you are located and where it is relative to current watches and warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially pertaining to area visitors.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast.

There is a threat from tornadoes with this storm. Have multiple ways to receive Tornado Warnings. Be ready to shelter quickly.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
• For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
• For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
• For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in New Orleans LA around 11 AM CDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.

Safe Drinking Water Advisories
Terrebonne Parish: A BWA was issued Sunday for customers along Baptiste Circle from 490 Baptiste to Ethan St. See the Terrebonne Parish Drinking Water Facility profile, here.

See the latest Safe Drinking Water Act compliance stats here, including the US EPA list of serious violators.

Streamflow Situation from the network of USGS streamflow gauges in Louisiana
Ahead of the hurricane, wet conditions persist with streamflows still running normal to much above seasonal normal statewide following widespread rain. As of this report, no active flooding is observed in the network, no extreme high or low flows, more to follow as the storm moves closer to landfall.

WT HAB Tracker from the satellite monitoring program of National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
The latest satellite image of Lake Pontchartrain and the southeast water bodies is dated Sep 8, snapped in high wind conditions over 18 mph. The hurricane warning includes storm surge potential for the large inland lakes, including Lake Pontchartrain. As of our latest satellite image, Lake Pontchartrain has no HAB activity or too low to visualize. Lac des Allemands and Bayou Fortier lakewide HABs run 1 to 2 million cells per ml, the north half of Lake Verret shows a lakewide HAB 700 thousand cells per ml. This water should be presumed to carry cyanotoxin, exercise caution and remove yourself and pets from around these water bodies if at all possible. See the latest LA HAB Tracker report, here.