RSS Feed

4 P.M. FRIDAY: Hurricane Delta approaches La. coast

BULLETIN
Hurricane Delta Advisory Number 21
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL262020
400 PM CDT Fri Oct 09 2020

...DELTA TO MAKE LANDFALL ON THE SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA COAST
DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS...
...HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND A LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE EXPECTED
IN THE LANDFALL AREA...

SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...29.3N 93.2W
ABOUT 35 MI...55 KM S OF CAMERON LOUISIANA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 15 DEGREES AT 14 MPH...22 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...966 MB...28.53 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* High Island Texas to the Mouth of the Pearl River including
Calcasieu Lake, Vermilion Bay, and Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* High Island Texas to Morgan City Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* West of High Island to Sargent Texas
* East of Morgan City Louisiana to the mouth of the Pearl River,
including New Orleans
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction
of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm
Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a
life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas
should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from
rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.
Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local
officials.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36
hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-
force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be
rushed to completion.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Delta was located
near latitude 29.3 North, longitude 93.2 West. Delta is moving
toward the north-northeast near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this motion is
expected to continue through Saturday morning. A motion toward the
northeast is then expected through Sunday night. On the forecast
track, the center of Delta should make landfall along the coast of
southwestern Louisiana during the next few hours, and then move
across central and northeastern Louisiana tonight and Saturday
morning. After that time, the system is forecast to moves across
northern Mississippi into the Tennessee Valley.

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher
gusts. Some weakening is possible before landfall, with rapid
weakening expected after landfall. Delta is forecast to weaken to
a tropical storm tonight and to a tropical depression on Saturday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles (65 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles
(260 km). The Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network station at
Texas Point recently reported sustained winds of 62 mph (100 km/h)
and a wind gust of 78 mph (126 km/h). The National Ocean Service
station at Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana, recently reported sustained
winds of 53 mph (85 km/h) and a wind gust of 64 mph (104 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 966 mb (28.53 inches).
The National Ocean Service station at Calcasieu Pass recently
reported a pressure of 983.8 mb (29.05 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Delta can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT1, WMO header WTNT41
KNHC, and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT1.shtml.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA to Morgan City, LA including
Vermilion Bay...7-11 ft
Holly Beach, LA to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, LA...5-8 ft
Morgan City, LA to Port Fourchon, LA...4-6 ft
Sabine Pass to Holly Beach, LA...3-5 ft
Calcasieu Lake...2-4 ft
High Island, TX to Sabine Pass...2-4 ft
Port Fourchon, LA to the Mouth of the Pearl River...2-4 ft
Lake Borgne...2-4 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...1-3 ft
Mouth of the Pearl River, LA to the AL/FL border including Mobile
Bay...1-3 ft
Sabine Lake...1-3 ft
Port O'Connor, TX to High Island, TX including Galveston Bay...
1-3 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to
the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be
accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding
depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle,
and can vary greatly over short distances. For information
specific to your area, please see products issued by your local
National Weather Service forecast office.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane
warning area during the next few hours, with tropical storm
conditions already occuring. Tropical storm conditions will
continue to spread onshore within portions of the tropical storm
warning areas during the next several hours.

RAINFALL: Today through Saturday, Delta is expected to produce 5 to
10 inches of rain, with isolated maximum totals of 15 inches, from
southwest into central Louisiana. These rainfall amounts will lead
to significant flash, urban, small stream flooding, along with minor
to major river flooding.

For extreme east Texas into northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas,
and western Mississippi, Delta is expected to produce 3 to 6 inches
of rain, with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches. These rainfall
amounts will lead to flash, urban, small stream, and isolated minor
river flooding.

As the remnants of Delta move farther inland, 1 to 3 inches of rain,
with locally higher amounts, are expected in the Tennessee Valley
and Mid Atlantic this weekend. There is a potential for 3 to 6
inches in the Southern Appalachians, which could lead to isolated
flash, urban, and small stream flooding.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible this afternoon through
tonight over southern portions of Louisiana and Mississippi.

SURF: Swells from Delta are affecting portions of the northern and
western Gulf coast. These swells are likely to cause life-
threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult
products from your local weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 700 PM CDT.

Assumption homicide suspect arrested in Houston

The suspect in an Assumption Parish shooting that killed one man and wounded an 11-year-old has been arrested in Houston, Sheriff Leland Falcon reported Wednesday.

Shontun Joseph,21, Freetown Lane, Belle Rose, was arrested as the result of a combined effort of the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshal's Office.

Joseph was wanted in connection with a shooting near Belle Rose on Sept. 24 that resulted in the death of Cameron R. Brooks, 21, Sumrall Drive, Baton Rouge.

As a result of this incident, the 11-year-old child and a man, 51, also received non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The Sheriff's Office will be engaged with local prosecutors and the state of Texas to return Joseph to this jurisdiction.

On his return to return to Assumption Parish, Joseph will be charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated second-degree battery, aggravated criminal damage to property, aggravated assault with a firearm and illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities, Falcon said.

Falcon thanked the Marshal's Office for its assistance in apprehending Joseph.

Virtual learning only at Central Catholic on Thursday and Friday

Due to the current projected westward track of Hurricane Delta, Central Catholic School in Morgan City (PK3-12) will conduct classes via virtual learning Thursday and Friday.

Parents and students are to refer to the school’s communication system for specific information on adapted learning assignments, as well as for any other changes to scheduling, should changes be necessary, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux said in a press release.

In alignment with civil authorities in Lafourche and Terrebonne, Catholic schools in those parishes will conduct regular classroom instruction on Thursday, with a decision regarding Friday to be determined on Thursday.

School families should also monitor the diocesan website, social media and local news for additional information while monitoring the approaching storm.

JAMES LAWRENCE VINING

December 12, 1937 – October 3, 2020
James Lawrence Vining, a longtime resident of Garden City in St. Mary Parish, passed away at the age of 82 in the afternoon hours of Saturday, October 3, 2020.
James was born on December 12, 1937 in Grove, TX, and was the third of four children born to Rev. Lawrence and Leanore Vining. He was a man of faith with a resolve for compassion, loyalty and commitment to all. He loved and respected his parents very much and their positive influence was apparent in his 82 years which showed at every level with everyone whether you were family, friend or a new acquaintance. He retired from Southern Natural Gas with 37 years of service, held positions on the St. Mary Parish Waterworks District No. 5, and chaired several positions with the American Power Board Association (APBA).
Those he leaves to cherish his memory include his wife of 43 years, Roberta Robicheaux Vining; three children, David Vining and his wife Diane, Jimmy Vining and his wife Melanie, and Dawn V. Rentrop and her husband John; step-son, Randy Hollier and his wife Barbara; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Brenda and Junior Young; nine grandchildren, Heath Jones, Kayla Krell, Jonathan Vining, Haley Masterson, Emily Vining, Jimmy Vining II, Maxwell Vining, John Eric Rentrop, and Erin R. Albert; three step-grandchildren, Allen Hollier, Katie Hollier, and Christine Zaner; as well as numerous great grandchildren, step-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
He was preceded in death by one son, Lyn Michael Vining; his children’s mother, Audree Lynn Fonteneau; his parents, Rev. Lawrence A. Vining and Leanore Hohensee Vining; and three siblings, Laverne V. Pennison, Betty V. Olivier, and Gary Vining.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 14, 2020, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Centerville during an 11:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Following the Mass, he will be laid to rest in the Franklin Cemetery. Father Joel Faulk will be the Celebrant for the Mass and conduct the services. A gathering of family and friends will be held in the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Serving as pallbearers will be Heath Jones, John Eric Rentrop, Allen Hollier, Jonathan Vining, Jimmy Vining II, and Maxwell Vining.
For those wishing to make memorial contributions the family asks that you please consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, online at https:—www.stjude.org, by mail at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or by phone at (800) 805-5856.
Family and friends may view the obituary online by visiting www.iberts.com and are encouraged to share their condolences, cherished memories, love, and support for the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.

Gov. Mike Foster laid to rest in Franklin

Gov. Murphy J. "Mike" Foster was laid to rest Wednesday at Franklin Cemetery after private services at Oaklawn Manor, the family home, with the Rev. Stephen Crawford officiating. Foster, who represented St. Mary in the state Senate before serving as governor 1996-2004, died Sunday. Top Photo: A Louisiana Army National Guardsman salutes Foster at the graveside. Bottom Photo: Guardsmen carry the casket to the tent where the graveside service was conducted.

The Banner-Tribune/Roger Emile Stouff

Ochsner St. Mary will stay open during Delta

Ochsner St. Mary will remain open during Hurricane Delta, providing all services, including emergency care if needed.

Patients will continue to be admitted, surgeries will be done as scheduled, and appropriate personnel will be in place to care for patients, the hospital administration said in a press release.

"Patient safety is our highest priority. Our emergency plan and protocols are in place and leadership is closely monitoring the storm in cooperation with authorities," the release said.

As a reminder, Ochsner St. Mary is not an evacuation site. Please check with the Office of Emergency Preparedness for the site listing available in our area. However, in the unlikely event that you are injured and in need of health care, Ochsner St. Mary will be here and ready to provide care during the storm.

Patients are encouraged to use Ochsner Anywhere Care, which connects patients to Ochsner physicians via virtual visits. Ochsner Anywhere Care users can instantly connect with providers through a secure, interactive video via their smartphone, tablet or personal computer from home, work, or on the go. It’s an integrated and streamlined experience delivered through a free Ochsner Anywhere Care mobile app on iOS or Android or online through a computer www.ochsner.org/anywherecare.

You can follow the hospital on social media: Facebook (Ochsner Health), Twitter (@OchsnerHealth) and Newsroom (news.ochsner.org) for updates as additional information becomes available.

Mandatory evacuation called for south of the Intracoastal Thursday

A mandatory evacuation, effective noon Friday for areas south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in St. Mary Parish, including Cypremort and Burns points, was announced by Parish President David Hanagriff after Wednesday afternoon’s conference call with the National Weather Service for an update on Hurricane Delta.
Hanagriff said he was calling the mandatory evacuation out of caution due to projected storm surge.
While not a lot has changed in the forecast from this morning, with Delta now in the Gulf of Mexico and headed for landfall Friday afternoon around the Cameron and Vermilion Parish lines, it appears the affects in St. Mary will be on the western end, parish Office of Emergency Preparedness Director David Naquin said.
Roger Erickson of the National Weather Service said that it appears the flood protection structures in eastern St. Mary Parish should do well with the storm surge.
“But the levee that’s further up the road towards the Franklin area may not be able to stop this water, so that’s a big question mark for Franklin,” Erickson said during the update.
He also said that water is expected along and near U.S. 90 in areas from New Iberia and Franklin.
St. Mary Levee District Operations Manager Mike Brocato Jr. said from the models they have utilized, he is anticipating water levels to be at least as high as Hurricane Laura. The levee district is currently completing projects in western St. Mary Parish to shore up areas to provide protection.
One positive is the Wednesday afternoon forecast did not include a potential of Category 3 at landfall, only a Category 2.
Also, the storm is fast moving as it was headed Northwest at 17 mph as of 4 p.m. where it is slowly gaining strength.
“Because the system’s moving so fast, I don’t think we’re going to see hurricane force winds for more than three or four hours, I would imagine, in at a given time for any location, and tropical storm force winds I don’t think will last more than 12 hours at the very most,” Erickson said.
At landfall, hurricane force winds are expected to be from 25-35 miles from the circulation’s center, while tropical storm force winds are anticipated from 100 to 140 miles per hour by landfall from the circulation’s center.
The parish is projected to receive 80-90 mph winds with sustained gusts of 45-50 mph and 6-8 inches of rain.
“This is still not good, but it’s a lot better than it could have been at least for today,” Naquin said.
Tropical force winds are expected to begin by mid-morning Friday and then increase until about sunset when hurricane force winds will begin. The storm is expected to be gone from the area by Saturday.
Erickson said until the storm’s turn to the right is expected to occur during the day Thursday and the “big swing to the right” will occur later Thursday.
Naquin noted while earlier in the forecast the track was projected to make that right turn and pass between New Iberia and Jeanerette after making landfall, now it is projected to be west of Lafayette and doesn’t make the right turn until it nearly reaches Opelousas.
“There’s a lot that’s changing, and it’s changing every day,” he said.
Also Wednesday:
—Legacy Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Franklin is evacuating Thursday morning, while Legacy’s Morgan City facility is holding off at least for now because the area isn’t expected to be threatened, Naquin said.
—St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said Sheriff’s Department prisoners will be evacuated by Thursday morning.

CCHS football game canceled; MCHS to play Monday

Central Catholic High School’s football game at Beekman Charter Thursday has been cancelled, while Morgan City’s game has been postponed until Monday afternoon.
The Eagles were scheduled to travel to Bastrop for a Thursday evening contest but Central Catholic coach Tommy Minton said the trip was cancelled because of weather concerns associated with the long trip.
Meanwhile, Morgan City’s game will be played Monday at 2 p.m. at Tiger Stadium in Morgan City against Hanson Memorial. The teams originally were scheduled to meet Thursday at 7 p.m. in Morgan City.
Morgan City is out of school for Fall Break Friday and Monday.

Still recovering from Laura, La. braces for another blow

Louisiana, still struggling from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Laura in August, is hunkered down again as Delta, another potentially devastating hurricane, winds toward the Gulf Coast.

At a Wednesday press conference, Gov. John Bel Edwards warned that Delta could be a hurricane throughout what is predicted to be a southwest-to-northeast sojourn across Louisiana beginning Friday afternoon.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the center of the five-day prediction cone looked like landfall could be west of Vermilion Bay, possibly in the Cameron Parish area already hammered by Laura.

But a hurricane watch extends from High Island, Texas, through the Tri-City area to Grand Isle. A storm surge watch extends from High Island to the Alabama-Florida border as some areas are expected to see a surge of 7-11 feet.

And, as National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Schott said again at Wednesday’s press conference, hurricanes land outside the forecast cone about a third of the time. If you’re in an area where a watch or warning is in place, be prepared, he said.

“The next 24 hours are critical for preparation,” Schott said.

The key factors are how much Delta will intensify over the Gulf and when it will begin its expected turn to the northeast, the turn that is predicted to bring the storm to Louisiana’s coast. Wind shear is expected to weaken Delta to some degree as it nears the coast and moves over slightly cooler water.

Schott noted that Hurricane Sally, which had Louisiana in its sights at one point according to the National Hurricane Center forecast, departed far enough from the forecast in 24-36 hours to hit east of Mobile, Alabama.

But “nobody should look at the forecast and say, ‘I don’t have to do anything …,’” Edwards said. “Everyone needs to pay attention.”

The latest forecast is for Delta to come ashore as something less than a major hurricane, but a Category 2 storm could still bring wind of 100 mph.

Delta is moving fast and may come to Louisiana at a speed of 15 mph. That reduces the risk that rain bands will park over a given area and dump catastrophic rainfall. But Delta is still expected to bring 4-8 inches of rain over a large area and up to 10 inches in some spots, enough to cause river flooding and flash flooding.

The 7- to 11-foot storm surge is expected in the area between Vermilion Bay and Port Fourchon.

“There’s definitely going to be coastal flooding well away from the center,” Schott said.

Delta follows Hurricane Laura, which Edwards said is responsible for keeping thousands of Louisiana people out of their homes more than a month after the storm.

“I’m concerned that the five hardest-hit parishes are in the [Delta] cone,” Edwards said.

Laura caused moderate damage to 38,000 buildings and major damage to 35,000. Another 10,000 buildings were destroyed, Edwards said.

Power has been restored nearly everywhere outside low-lying Cameron, but the grid lacks the redundancy that it normally has, Edwards said.

The governor pointed to one positive development: Public health statistics show no sign of a third surge in COVID-19 cases despite the scattering of evacuees from southwest Louisiana, Labor Day activities, and the opening of K-12 schools and colleges.

“A surge didn’t happen because of the degree to which people are following the mitigation measures,” Edwards said.

Pages

ST. MARY NOW

Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255