LISTEN: State, local officials prepare for Francine, urge residents to prepare, too

State and local officials are making preparations for Hurricane Francine to hit some time Wednesday afternoon or evening.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry says he has declared a state of emergency and they are talking with leaders from parishes across the coast.

"We have already begun initiating conference calls with all of our parish partners and state agencies," Landry said.

The governor said the people of Louisiana know what it means to live on the coast during hurricane season, and he's confident they have their game plans ready.

The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is beginning 24 hour operation today, with the storm expected later Wednesday.

In New Orleans, city leaders are telling New Orleanians this will be a shelter-in-place event.

"People should really consider Wednesday and Thursday staying home, staying indoors, staying off the roads," said New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Collin Arnold. Joe Valiente, his counterpart in Jefferson Parish, said even with Francine making landfall well west of the region, we can expect bad weather.

"This is not going to be a major storm but it's going to be a heavy rain and a wind event," he said.

Jefferson residents who live outside the levee system have been told to evacuate.

New Orleans officials says around 90 percent of the city's drainage pumps are operational, and the generators that power them can make more than enough electricity to keep then running at maximum power.