ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — Officials in St. Tammany Parish said Wednesday afternoon that they are ready for Hurricane Francine's arrival along the Louisiana coast.
“We are prepared for this,” said Parish President Mike Cooper.
Cooper said they are expecting wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour, a possibly four- to six-foot storm surge, and flash flooding with several inches of rain.
The eye of the storm is projected to be just west of the parish. Local leaders are asking everyone to stay where they are or get to a safe location. They said people should prepare to stay at that location until Thursday morning.
“Strong winds can turn our beautiful tall pine trees into hazards,” said Cooper.
Cooper reminded people that staying inside helps to keep the first responders safe as the storm hits. Those crews won’t be able to respond during the highest winds.
Officials said the Emergency Operations Center has been activated, and all essential crews are ready to assist.
Over 270 firefighters are on duty, and the sheriff’s office added 50 additional personnel for storm response. Officials said public works and ambulance services have also called in additional staff.
If anyone needs assistance during or after the storm, call 985-898-2700. Find more storm information for the parish HERE.
Sandbag pickup locations have officially closed.
Cooper said crews are stationed across the parish and will be deployed once it’s safe and the storm passes. He asks everyone to stay off the roads while they work.
Engineers are also monitoring river levels, and Cooper said none expected to rise to concerning levels, but that could change as Francine passes.
Remember to bring pets indoors and make sure they are wearing a collar.
And as officials across Louisiana have reiterated, they want everyone to practice generator safety, saying during Ida, more deaths were attributed to generator issues than the storm itself.