Storm Francine escalated into a hurricane on Tuesday evening as it headed towards south Louisiana, gaining strength over the exceptionally warm Gulf waters.
Residents potentially in its path hurried to finalize storm preparations , filling sandbags, purchasing gas, and stocking up on essentials for an anticipated landfall within the next day. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a midday warning to residents, particularly those in south Louisiana, giving them a 24-hour window to "batten down all the hatches," while Francine was still classified as a tropical storm.
The newly upgraded Category 1 hurricane carried top sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph), and forecasters warned that it was expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon or evening in Louisiana with a potentially life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds - possibly even as a Category 2 storm with winds ranging from 96 to 110 mph (155 to 175 kph).
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In anticipation of the storm's arrival, lifelong New Orleans resident Roxanne Riley, 42, collected water, snacks, and other food items from a Walmart. She planned to stay at a family member's house situated on higher ground to avoid potential flooding but was prepared to evacuate if conditions worsened.
"It's very frustrating every time a storm comes in," Riley expressed. "I'll just make sure my car is ready to roll in case I need to go by tomorrow. I'm going to keep on checking to see what it's looking like."
By 8pm EDT Tuesday, Francine was positioned roughly 350 miles southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, barreling northeast at a speed of 10mph, as stated in an alert from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. A hurricane warning had been issued for the stretch of Louisiana's coast ranging from Cameron to Grand Isle, which is approximately 50 miles from New Orleans.
A storm surge warning was also in effect from the Mississippi-Alabama border extending to the Alabama-Florida border, indicating a risk of potential life-threatening inundation. Local authorities, including Landry, are cautioning residents that once Francine hits land, they should remain indoors and avoid traveling to prevent obstructing emergency responders and utility workers as they strive to restore services.
The Gulf's exceptionally warm waters during the tail end of summer have contributed to Francine intensifying into a hurricane Tuesday night. Water temperatures where Francine is currently situated are around 87 degrees Fahrenheit, Brian McNoldy, senior research associate at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School, pointed out and went on to note, "The ocean heat content averaged over the entire Gulf is the highest it's been on record for the date," according to McNoldy's blog post.
In the heart of New Orleans, vehicles queued for blocks during the day to collect sandbags from a local YMCA parking lot. Erika Mann, the CEO, revealed on Tuesday that volunteers had already handed out 1,000 bags of sand to locals hoping to safeguard their homes from potential flooding.
"I love that these are community people that came out," Mann expressed. "It's a beautiful effort to do what we do in New Orleans, we're resilient and we come together to help in the times we need each other."
Among those collecting sandbags was Wayne Grant, 33, who relocated to New Orleans last year and was apprehensive about his first possible hurricane in the city. The low-lying rental apartment he shares with his partner had already been flooded in a storm the previous year, and he wasn't taking any risks this time.
"It was like a kick in the face, we've been trying to stay up on the weather ever since," Grant admitted. "We're super invested in the place, even though it's not ours."
Just over three years after Hurricane Ida devastated his home in the Dulac community of coastal Louisiana's Terrebonne Parish and roughly a month after he finished rebuilding, Coy Verdin was bracing for another hurricane. "We had to gut the whole house," he remembered, listing off an inventory of the work, including a new roof and new windows.
Verdin, 55, has contemplated moving away from his home near Bayou Grand Caillou, where he earns his livelihood. Despite the challenges, after rebuilding, he's determined to stay put. "As long as I can. It's getting rough, though," Verdin admitted. With Hurricane Francine approaching, he plans to seek shelter with his daughter in Thibodaux, a short drive away.
"I don't want to go too far so I can come back to check on my house." Landry announced that the Louisiana National Guard is being mobilized to assist areas threatened by Francine. They are ready with supplies, nearly 400 high-water vehicles, around 100 boats, and 50 helicopters for storm response, including potential search-and-rescue missions.
Francine marks the season's sixth named storm in the Atlantic, bringing the risk of deadly storm surge and destructive hurricane-force winds, according to Brad Reinhart, a senior hurricane specialist at the hurricane center.
Reinhart also warned of significant rainfall, forecasting 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) with local areas possibly receiving up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) across Louisiana and Mississippi by Friday morning. This intense downpour could lead to extensive flash and urban flooding.
The hurricane center has issued a warning that starting Wednesday, eastern Mississippi and particularly the coastal areas of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle are in danger of "considerable" flash and urban flooding. It noted that flooding is also "probable" further inland, targeting the lower Mississippi Valley and lower Tennessee Valley from Wednesday through Friday as Francine weakens and moves inland.
Louisiana's coastline, still struggling to bounce back after hurricanes Laura and Delta wreaked havoc on Lake Charles in 2020, followed by Hurricane Ida's fury in 2021, is now in the crosshairs of Francine. The persisting scars of storm devastation were highlighted over the weekend when a 22-story building in Lake Charles, a poignant reminder of the damage with its shattered windows shielded by torn tarps, was demolished after standing empty for almost four years.
Forecasters anticipate Francine's storm surge along the Louisiana coast could soar up to 10 feet (3 meters), stretching from Cameron to Port Fourchon and spilling into Vermilion Bay. "It's a potential for significantly dangerous, life-threatening inundation," Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said.
He also warned that such a surge could propel "dangerous, damaging winds quite far inland." Brennan predicted landfall would occur somewhere between Sabine Pass at the Texas-Louisiana borderline and Morgan City, Louisiana, roughly 220 miles (350 kilometers) farther east.
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