Louisiana told to brace for ‘sad reality’ of Delta
MORGAN CITY, LA. » Louisiana braced for a newhurricane less than two months after one devastated a southern swath of the state, with the governor warning residents that Hurricane Delta could turn debris from the earlier storm into missiles and that Thursdaywas their last chance to prepare for the next potential hit.
Forecasters warned that Hurricane Delta could blow ashore today with winds of up to 105 mph and a storm surge of up to 11 feet. They placed most of Louisiana within Delta’s path, including the southwest area of the state around Lake Charles, where Category 4 Hurricane Laura ripped houses from their foundations, peeled off roofs and tore trailers in half.
Lake Charles has been under a mandatory evacuation order since Wednesday night, and city officials worked to get people without transportation out of harm’s way. Mayor Nic Hunter warily watched Delta’s projected path as it moved steadily nearer to the spot where Hurricane Laura made landfall.
“When it first developed in mymind, I said, ‘ No way, noway. There’s noway that this is going to hit us,’” Hunter said in an interview Thursday. “And then as it got closer, it just became a sad reality that this was going to happen.”
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards reached out to residents ahead of Delta’s expected arrival, saying in textmessages and a 30-second robocall they should “prepare now and have your emergency plans in place.” Edwards said President Donald Trump approved his request to declare a federal emergency, which frees up federal resources.
This is the sixth time in the Atlantic hurricane season that people in Louisiana have been forced to get ready for an approaching hurricane. Nearly six weeks after Hurricane Laura, an estimated 6,100 people remain in New Orleans hotels because their homes are too damaged to occupy. Trees, roofs and other debris left in Laura’s wake still sit by roadsides waiting for pickup.
“All that debris could become missiles in really strong wind,” Edwards said Wednesday.