By Message Staff
While Tropical Storm Cindy is still in the Gulf of Mexico and moving slowly, Louisianans are already experiencing the effects of the storm and state officials are taking no chances with the approaching storm.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency Wednesday, June 21, for the entire state.
“All arms of the state’s emergency preparedness and response apparatus are taking Tropical Storm Cindy seriously, and we are calling on all Louisianans throughout the state to do so as well,” Edwards said. “State and local officials are working around the clock to monitor and respond to dangerous situations as they develop. In the meantime, please do all you can to prepare for the worst while praying for the best.”
Voluntary Evacuations
According to the Associated Press, workers on Grand Isle were trying to reinforce a rock levee protecting the island’s west side, which is vulnerable. They were advising anyone wanting to head for the mainland to do so, though an evacuation was not issued.
The Vermillion Parish Office of Homeland Security also was encouraging residents in low lying areas in the parish or special needs residents to voluntarily evacuate.
The AP also reported that the Louisiana National Guard was dispatching high water vehicles and helicopters to flood-prone areas. About 125,000 meals and 200,000 liters of water were being moved into Louisiana from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Floodwaters cover Louisiana Highway 1 in Grand Isle Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Chris Roberts Facebook photo
STORM HAS WEAKENED
Located 170 miles south-southwest of Morgan City, Tropical Storm Cindy has weakened but is still expected to produce rainfall of between 6 and 9 inches , with some isolated amounts of more than 12 inches over southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and western parts of the Florida Panhandle. The rainfall could dump 3 to 5 inches in southwest Louisiana, with isolated amounts of 7 inches.
A few tornadoes also are possible.
According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm warning has been discontinued north and east of the mouth of the Mississippi River, including metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain but continues from San Luis Pass, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana. Tropical storm conditions should spread westward and northward through the Tropical Storm Warning area through Thursday.
Even though more than 1,500 Entergy customers in Orleans and Jefferson parishes were without power as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary still had electricity. Seminary Director of Public Relations Gary Myers said administration is monitoring the situation and does not anticipate closing campus at this time.
A National Hurricane Center photo shows when tropical storm force winds should reach various areas of Louisiana and other state. National Hurricane Center Facebook photo
STORM CLOSURES
The Carey Baptist Association office was among those closing Thursday, June 22, because of the storm. A disaster relief team from the association also was placed on standby for after the storm’s passage. Other churches in the state called off Vacation Bible School and Wednesday evening services as well.
“Please use your best judgments about cancelling church services for this evening,” Carey Association director of communication Sara Drott said in an e-mail to the Baptist Message and other churches. “With heavy wind and rain coming through, we do not want anyone getting hurt!
Our office will be closed tomorrow and depending on the weather as to how long we will stay here today. We will still check our email! Let us know if you need anything.”
Information on road closures can be found at 511la.org. Additional storm-related resources are available at getagameplan.org and at emergency.la.gov.
