Severe Thunderstorms and Flooding Threat in the Central U.S.; Rip Currents Along East Coast Beaches

Widespread thunderstorms will continue across the central and southern Plains today ahead of an approaching cold front. Heavy to excessive rainfall could lead to instances of flash flooding. Flood Watches have been issued. Swells from Hurricane Gabrielle are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the U.S. East Coast over the next couple of days. Read More >

Hurricane Preparedness

As we enter the most active portion of the Hurricane Season, residents of Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi should review their Hurricane Preparedness plans. Historical records have shown that the majority of tropical storms and hurricanes, especially damaging major hurricanes, that have affected Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi have occurred from mid August through early October. Even if the overall numbers of tropical storms and hurricanes are lower than the past several years, damaging hurricanes have affected the region in some of these years of below normal tropical cyclone activity. Examples include: Betsy in 1965 and Andrew in 1992. History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your areas vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the chance of being in harm's way if a hurricane threatens our area this year.

The official start of the hurricane season is June 1st, and it lasts through the end of November. Southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi are extremely vulnerable to the destructive winds and storm surge associated with hurricanes. In addition, many residents of southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi are still recovering from the damaging effects of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, and Ike. A few residents may still be living in structures vulnerable to tropical storm and hurricane force winds.

Area residents, especially those in coastal locations, weakened structures, or mobile homes and travel trailers vulnerable to wind, should review actions they would take if a tropical storm or hurricane threatened the region.

If you live in a vulnerable coastal location, you will likely be requested to evacuate if a hurricane threatens. Also, if you live in a travel trailer or mobile home, you will likely be requested to evacuate for tropical storms and hurricanes.

Now is the time to learn what evacuation routes you would use, the location you would go, and what you would bring with you if you evacuated. If you live in a safe location away from storm surge flooding and decide to stay, you should have provisions of food and water to last from several days to a week or more without normal service.

A variety of web sites are listed below that can assist you in your preparedness plans for the hurricane season.

NWS Bullet Hurricane Preparedness Week Information (Nat'l Hurricane Center)

NWS Bullet Hurricane Preparedness Information from the City of New Orleans

     NWS Bullet American Red Cross

     FEMA Hurricane Preparedness Page

     LA Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
     Mississippi Emergency Management Agency

     Louisiana "Get A Gameplan" Website for Hurricane Preparedness

     NWS Bullet Louisiana Emergency Web Site

     Evacuation Route Maps and Information from the LA State Police
     Evacuation Route Maps and Information from the MS DOT

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Severe Thunderstorms and Flooding Threat in the Central U.S.; Rip Currents Along East Coast Beaches

NWS LIX Hurricane Preparedness page