THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI
**STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS LASHING YUCATAN**
NEW INFORMATION
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* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- NONE
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A STORM SURGE WATCH AND HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR
HANCOCK, HARRISON, JACKSON, LOWER JEFFERSON, LOWER LAFOURCHE,
LOWER PLAQUEMINES, LOWER ST. BERNARD, LOWER TERREBONNE,
ORLEANS, SOUTHERN TANGIPAHOA, ST. CHARLES, ST. JOHN THE
BAPTIST, ST. TAMMANY, AND UPPER ST. BERNARD
- A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION,
LIVINGSTON, ST. JAMES, UPPER JEFFERSON, UPPER LAFOURCHE, UPPER
PLAQUEMINES, AND UPPER TERREBONNE
- A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN TANGIPAHOA,
PEARL RIVER, PIKE, ST. HELENA, WALTHALL, AND WASHINGTON
* STORM INFORMATION:
- ABOUT 700 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS LA OR ABOUT 650
MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF GRAND ISLE LA
- 20.2N 87.1W
- STORM INTENSITY 80 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 305 DEGREES AT 13 MPH
SITUATION OVERVIEW
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HURRICANE ZETA IS MOVING INTO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA THIS EVENING
AND IS EXPECTED TO EMERGE IN THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO TUESDAY. ZETA
WILL THEN EVENTUALLY TURN NORTHWARD, HEADING TOWARDS THE CENTRAL GULF
COAST REGION WEDNESDAY. LANDFALL IS LIKELY TO OCCUR WEDNESDAY EVENING
AS ZETA ACCELERATES WHILE MOVING NORTHWARD AS A STRONG TROPICAL STORM
OR MINIMAL HURRICANE. IMPACTS FROM ZETA WILL BE FELT ALONG AND NEAR
THE COAST AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY LATE MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
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* WIND:
PREPARE FOR LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE IMPACTS
ACROSS COASTAL SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
- CONSIDERABLE ROOF DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, WITH SOME HAVING
WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES LEADING TO STRUCTURAL
DAMAGE. MOBILE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED, WITH SOME DESTROYED.
DAMAGE ACCENTUATED BY AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS MAY BE
UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS.
- MANY LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND
ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
- SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. SEVERAL BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND
ACCESS ROUTES IMPASSABLE.
- LARGE AREAS WITH POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.
ALSO, PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED TO
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS EAST-CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHWEST
MISSISSIPPI.
* SURGE:
PREPARE FOR LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL EASTERN LOUISIANA AND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:
- AREAS OF INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING ACCENTUATED BY
WAVES. DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS, MAINLY NEAR THE COAST.
- SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS BECOME
WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOW
SPOTS.
- MAJOR BEACH EROSION WITH HEAVY SURF BREACHING DUNES. STRONG AND
NUMEROUS RIP CURRENTS.
- MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS.
SEVERAL SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN
UNPROTECTED ANCHORAGES.
ALSO, PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED
IMPACTS ACROSS THE TIDAL LAKES AND ALONG THE CENTRAL LOUISIANA COAST.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI, LITTLE TO
NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.
* FLOODING RAIN:
PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS ACROSS EASTERNMOST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND
RESCUES.
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFTER
CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND
DITCHES OVERFLOW.
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS.
SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID
INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS
STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS
BECOME HAZARDOUS. SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.
PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE
LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS EAST-CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI.
* TORNADOES:
PREPARE FOR A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS
EASTERMOST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. 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.
ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI, LITTLE TO
NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
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* EVACUATIONS:
LISTEN TO LOCAL OFFICIAL FOR RECOMMENDED PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS,
INCLUDING POSSIBLE EVACUATION. IF ORDERED TO EVACUATE, DO SO IMMEDIATELY.
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. IF YOU DO NOT RELOCATE, HELP
KEEP ROADWAYS OPEN FOR THOSE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
NOW IS THE TIME TO CHECK YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
KIT AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND SECURE YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS.
WHEN MAKING SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS, DO NOT FOCUS ON THE
EXACT FORECAST TRACK SINCE HAZARDS SUCH AS FLOODING RAIN, DAMAGING
WIND GUSTS, STORM SURGE, AND TORNADOES EXTEND WELL AWAY FROM THE
CENTER OF THE STORM.
IF IN A PLACE THAT IS VULNERABLE TO HIGH WIND, SUCH AS NEAR LARGE
TREES, A MANUFACTURED HOME, UPPER FLOORS OF A HIGH-RISE BUILDING, OR
ON A BOAT, PLAN TO MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER.
IF YOU LIVE IN A PLACE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, SUCH AS
NEAR THE OCEAN OR A LARGE INLAND LAKE, IN A LOW-LYING OR POOR
DRAINAGE AREA, IN A VALLEY, OR NEAR AN ALREADY SWOLLEN RIVER, PLAN TO
MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER ON HIGHER GROUND.
ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ORDERS THAT
ARE ISSUED. DO NOT NEEDLESSLY JEOPARDIZE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF
OTHERS.
WHEN SECURING YOUR PROPERTY, OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE CONCLUDED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE CONDITIONS DETERIORATE. THE ONSET OF
STRONG GUSTY WINDS OR FLOODING CAN CAUSE CERTAIN PREPAREDNESS
ACTIVITIES TO BECOME UNSAFE.
BE SURE TO LET FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW OF YOUR INTENTIONS FOR
WEATHERING THE STORM AND YOUR WHEREABOUTS. HAVE SOMEONE LOCATED AWAY
FROM THE THREATENED AREA SERVE AS YOUR POINT OF CONTACT. SHARE VITAL
CONTACT INFORMATION WITH OTHERS. KEEP CELL PHONES HANDY AND CHARGED.
CHECK ON THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FULLY AWARE OF THE SITUATION OR WHO ARE
UNABLE TO MAKE PERSONAL PREPARATIONS.
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, KNOW THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH
YOU ARE LOCATED AND WHERE IT IS RELATIVE TO CURRENT WATCHES AND
WARNINGS. IF STAYING AT A HOTEL, ASK THE MANAGEMENT STAFF ABOUT THEIR
ONSITE DISASTER PLAN. LISTEN FOR EVACUATION ORDERS, ESPECIALLY
PERTAINING TO AREA VISITORS.
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL NEWS
OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES
TO THE FORECAST.
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
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THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS LA AROUND 430 AM CDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.
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