[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-100815-

Hurricane Delta Local Statement Intermediate Advisory Number 21A
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA  AL262020
715 PM CDT Fri Oct 9 2020

This product covers Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas

**DELTA JUST INLAND ALONG THE SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA COAST**


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

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - The Storm Surge Warning has been cancelled for Jefferson

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for
      Acadia, East Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lower St.
      Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion, and West Cameron
    - A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Allen, Avoyelles,
      Beauregard, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Jefferson, Lafayette,
      Rapides, St. Landry, Upper St. Martin, and Vernon
    - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Hardin, Northern
      Jasper, Northern Newton, Orange, Southern Jasper, and Southern
      Newton

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 20 miles northeast of Cameron LA or about 110 miles
      west-northwest of Morgan City LA
    - 30.0N 93.0W
    - Storm Intensity 90 mph
    - Movement North-northeast or 15 degrees at 14 mph

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

As of 6 PM, Hurricane Delta has made landfall near Creole
Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 100 MPH, which is a
Category 2 on the Saffir Simpson scale. Delta is expected to gradually
weaken over the next several hours as it continues to move inland.
Despite weakening, hurricane force winds continue across much of
southern Louisiana. Considerable surge has inundated vulnerable
coastal locations and is spreading inland via coastal waterways and
rivers. A water level gauge at Freshwater Canal Locks, LA has measured
storm surge inundation of more than 8.3 feet above ground level at
600 PM CDT, and is currently still rising. Remember, storm surge is
the number one killer in hurricanes, and water will likely be slow to
recede once the storm passes. In addition to winds and surge, heavy
rainfall is expected to continue. So far, 5 to 10 inches of rain have
fallen across portions of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas,
with flooding occurring across portions of the area. Rainfall will
begin to taper off from south to north through the evening hours, with
the flash flood threat shifting into central Louisiana as the center
of Delta moves further inland.

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

* SURGE:
Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across
coastal southwest and south central Louisiana. Remain well away from
life-threatening surge having additional devastating impacts. If
realized, these impacts 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.
    - Escape routes and secondary roads washed out or severely
      flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed
      or overtopped.
    - Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
    - Massive damage to marinas, docks, and piers. Numerous small
      craft broken away from moorings with many lifted onshore and
      stranded.

Potential impacts from the main surge event are also now unfolding
across coastal southwest Louisiana west of Holly Beach. Remain well away
from life-threatening surge having additional significant
to extensive impacts.

Potential impacts from the main surge event are also now unfolding
across southeast Texas. Remain well away from locally
hazardous surge having additional limited impacts.

Elsewhere across Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas, little to
no impact is anticipated.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
southwest and central Louisiana. Remain well guarded against
life-threatening flood waters having additional
extensive impacts. If realized, these 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.

Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
southeast Texas. Remain well guarded against dangerous
flood waters having additional significant impacts.

* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across
southwest, south central, and central Louisiana, as well as portions
of southeast Texas. Remain well sheltered from
life-threatening wind having additional devastating
impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
    - Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof
      and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage
      greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations
      may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
    - Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
      roadway signs blown over.
    - Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
      or heavily wooded places. Many bridges and access routes
      impassable.
    - Widespread power and communications outages.

Potential impacts from the main wind event are also now unfolding
across portions of southeast Texas. Remain well sheltered from
life-threatening wind having additional limited to
extensive impacts.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across south
central and central Louisiana. Remain well braced against a tornado
event having additional limited impacts. If realized, these 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.

Elsewhere across Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas, little to
no impact is anticipated.

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

* EVACUATIONS:
Do not enter evacuated areas until officials have given the all clear
to return.


* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to stay inside and away from windows. Listen for
updates and be ready in case you lose electrical power. Keep a battery-
powered radio, charged cell phone and flashlight handy.

Keep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose
power, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and check-
ins.

Do not venture outside while in the eye of a hurricane as any
improvement in weather will only be temporary. Once the eye passes,
conditions will become life threatening as winds immediately return
to dangerous speeds, so remain safely sheltered from the storm.

Quickly move to the safest place within your shelter if it begins to
fail, preferably an interior room on the lowest floor as long as
flooding is not a concern.

If you are prone to flooding or in an area under a storm surge watch
or warning, be prepared for the possibility of a quick and dramatic
rise in water levels.

If a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the
safest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body.


* 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 Lake Charles LA around 10 PM CDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

$$
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