Louisiana residents await Hurricane Francine’s landfall within hours

( NewsNation ) — Hurricane Francine could make landfall as a Category 2 storm within hours Wednesday as it nears the Louisiana coastline, picking up strength from warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

The danger of life-threatening storm surges looms over southern Louisiana and parts of Mississippi, with possible winds up to 110 mph and rainfall up to 12 inches.

NewsNation’s Ali Bradley spoke with residents in New Orleans, a city that is no stranger to hurricanes , as they prepare for what’s to come.

“In comparison to some other cities where they have tornadoes or earthquakes … you can’t prepare for those kind of things,” Phillip Baxter, a first responder, said Wednesday on “ Morning in America .”

Baxter said his girlfriend recently experienced an earthquake in Los Angeles and had no time to prepare.

“Here (in Louisiana), you have some time to prepare (for hurricanes) … we get that opportunity.”

Hurricane Francine’s path is headed toward a part of Louisiana where damage from 2020 storms still lingers. People who live in the area are packing sandbags, trying to make sure they don’t encounter the same issues they did during back-to-back storms back then, including Category 4 Hurricane Laura.

Despite the opportunities to prepare, some residents told Bradley they are not worried.

President Joe Biden approved Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s request for an emergency declaration , so federal assistance and funding will follow.

With only hours left until possible landfall, Louisianans have a narrow window to take precautions and should heed any applicable evacuation orders.

Lafayette, Lousiana, through the Houma area are under a hurricane warning, according to NewsNation meteorologist Max Tsaparis, while the city of New Orleans is under a hurricane watch. Southern Louisiana and lower Mississippi can expect up to 12 inches of rain.

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