[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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Hurricane Laura Local Statement Advisory Number 27
National Weather Service Shreveport LA  AL132020
1058 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020

This product covers ArkLaTex

**Major Hurricane Laura Continues to Strengthen across the Central
Gulf of Mexico and is Expected to Make Landfall Tonight**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bienville, Bossier,
      Bowie, Caddo, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Claiborne,
      Columbia, Grant, Gregg, Harrison, Hempstead, Howard, Jackson,
      La Salle, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller,
      Morris, Nevada, Ouachita, Panola, Rusk, Sevier, Smith, Union,
      Union, Upshur, Webster, and Winn
    - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Angelina, De Soto,
      Nacogdoches, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Sabine, San
      Augustine, and Shelby

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 330 miles south-southeast of Natchitoches LA
    - 27.0N 92.0W
    - Storm Intensity 125 mph
    - Movement Northwest or 310 degrees at 16 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Hurricane Laura continues strengthen and move northwest across the
warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Laura recently strengthened
into a major hurricane and is now expected to achieve Category Four
status with peak sustained winds of 145 mph early this evening,
before making landfall later tonight along the coast of extreme
Southwest Louisiana. Laura will remain a hurricane for some time
as it moves inland early tomorrow morning before weakening to a
tropical storm as it moves north across East Texas and Northwest
Louisiana from late morning through early afternoon on Thursday.
With the system moving inland, damaging wind gusts, inland
flooding, and isolated tornadoes are expected across the area.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive
impacts across Deep East Texas and West Central Louisiana.
Potential impacts in this area include:

    - Roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
      window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
      damage. Mobile homes severely damaged. Damage could be
      accentuated by airborne projectiles.
    - Many large trees uprooted along with fences and
      roadway signs blown over. Downed trees will become more
      common as the ground gets saturated with heavy rain.
    - Some roads impassable from debris, and more within urban
      or heavily wooded places. Several access routes could become
      impassable.
    - Large areas with power and communications outages.

Also, protect against dangerous wind having possible limited to
significant impacts across the remainder of locations in North
Louisiana, Southwest and South Central Arkansas, and in East
Texas south and east of a Quitman to Clarksville line. Potential
impacts in these areas include:

    - Limited roof and shingle damage possible.
    - Large branches downed and some trees uprooted. Downed trees
      will become more common as the ground gets saturated with
      heavy rain.
    - Some roads may become blocked by downed trees.
    - Scattered areas with power and communications outages.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across Southwest and South Central Arkansas,
Northern Louisiana west and north of a Colfax to Monroe line, East
Texas east of an Alto, to Tyler, to Clarksville line, and also
extreme Southeast Oklahoma. Potential impacts include:

    - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and
      rescues.
    - Small streams, creeks, bayous, and ditches may rapidly
      overflow their banks in multiples places.
    - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
      communities. Many places where flood waters may cover
      escape routes. Streets and parking lots become flooded with
      underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
    - Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed
      out.

Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible
significant impacts across the remainder of East Texas and North
Louisiana.

* TORNADOES:
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across ArkLaTex. Potential impacts include:

    - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
      of emergency plans during tropical events.
    - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
      and communications disruptions.
    - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
      toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
      large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
      knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
      pulled from moorings.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:

No evacuations at this time. Heed instructions from local emergency
management officials.

For those not under evacuation orders, assess the risk from wind,
falling trees, and flooding at your location. If you decide to move,
relocate to a safer location nearby.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and
property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in
a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible
flooding.

Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss
of life. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with
any orders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9 1 1
Emergency Services may not be able to immediately respond if
conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision
making.

Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles
can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide
poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly
ventilated area.

Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone
area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a
flooded roadway. Remember, turn around don't drown!

If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large
trees or in a manufactured home, consider moving to a safer shelter
before the onset of strong winds or flooding.

Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news
outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to
possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways
to receive weather warnings.

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 Shreveport LA around 5 PM CDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

$$

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