Update 7/13/19 2 PM ET:
Barry has officially been categorized as a Category 1 Hurricane. It has reached 70 mph winds with as many as 30,000 people already losing power. Hurricane Barry has made landfall as of early this afternoon. Delta and Spirit Airlines have canceled flights out of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Trump declared a state of emergency for Louisiana yesterday.
From the National Hurricane Center: “Life threatening, potentially significant flash flooding and river flooding increasingly likely later today and tonight as Barry moves inland, especially across south-central and southeast Louisiana into Mississippi.”
Watches, warnings, and advisories can be found by clicking here, including but not limited to Lafayette, LA and Intracoastal City, LA.
Original story July 11, 5:12 PM ET:
The National Hurricane Center predicts Tropical Storm Barry will strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall in Louisiana on Saturday.
What We Know:
- The US Coast Guard Air Station in New Orleans has been making preparations since Wednesday for the storm. According to a FEMA spokesperson, they are also sending more personnel to Louisiana and Texas and doing supply preparations including “moving meals, water and other shelter items.”
- A statement from FEMA says the following: “Gulf Coast residents should prepare now for heavy rains, flooding and high wind impacts regardless of this storm’s category. The potential response on top of recovery means that even smaller and less severe storms could have significant impacts on potentially affected areas.”
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Two parishes in Louisiana are under mandatory evacuations: Plaquemines and Jefferson Parish. Two other parishes have voluntary evacuations: Lafourche and Vermillion Parish. Five Parishes have made emergency declarations including:
- St. Bernard
- Plaquemines
- Jefferson
- St. Charles
- Terrebonne
- The Mississippi River is currently expected to reach 19 feet, just one foot short of the 20 feet crest that would endanger some of New Orleans’ levies.
- New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board Executive Director Ghassan Korban explained Thursday that 21 of the city’s 120 pumps are for use during dry weather and of the remaining pumps used for water drainage only a percentage of them are used at once for “optimal operation.”
- Half of the offshore oil and gas production has been shut down in the Gulf of Mexico and ICE has suspended immigration enforcement in Louisiana and Mississippi. Meanwhile, stores are already said to be running out of basic supplies such as bread and water.
- Several airline companies are issuing travel waivers, travel alerts, and detailing weather plans including Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines.
If you are in any of these areas or surrounding areas, please follow all evacuation and safety procedures. We will keep the site updated with any new and pertinent information made available.
