[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

Fri Oct 9 22:30:57 CDT 2020

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LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-101130-

Hurricane Delta Local Statement Advisory Number 22
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA  AL262020
1030 PM CDT Fri Oct 9 2020

This product covers Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas

...DELTA CONTINUES MOVING INLAND OVER SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA...
...HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND A LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE
STILL OCCURRING WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...

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

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

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

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 70 miles northeast of Cameron LA or about 100 miles
      northwest of Morgan City LA
    - 30.6N 92.6W
    - Storm Intensity 75 mph
    - Movement North-northeast or 25 degrees at 15 mph

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

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. 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, 8 to 17 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.

Impacts from the main surge event are also now unfolding across coastal
Louisiana. Remain well away from life-threatening surge having 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.

* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across
southwest and central Louisiana. Remain well sheltered from
life-threatening wind having 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. Remain well sheltered from life-threatening wind having
limited to extensive impacts.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
Central and Southern 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.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across Central Louisiana.
Remain well braced against a tornado event having additional 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 , or sooner if conditions warrant.

$$
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