Tony J. Skinner, 70, a resident of Patterson, passed away peacefully on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at 4:45 p.m. at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City.
Jones Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.
Clint Anthony Paul Sr.
Clint Anthony Paul Sr., 48, a resident and native of Centerville, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, at Franklin Foun-dation Hospital.
Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at Jones Funeral Home in Franklin. Masks and social distancing required. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery in Verdunville.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Paul of Houston; two children, Clint Paul Jr. and Keneshia Paul, both of Houston; parents, Catherine and Larry Paul Jr. of Centerville; siblings, Larry Paul III of Bayou Vista,
David Paul Sr. of Lake Charles, Jeremiah Paul of Centerville, Mary Segura of Jeanerette, Pamela Garrison of Patterson and Maude Phillips of New Iberia; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandpar-ents.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrange-ments.
December 31, 1969 — July 28, 2020
Margaret Linn Lopez, 50, a resident of Bayou Vista, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at her home.
Margaret was born December 31, 1969, in Alexandria, the daughter of Stoney Linn Sr. and Patricia Dotherow Linn.
Margaret was well known for her infectious smile and laugh; she was such a kind-hearted person, and would give her last dime to anyone in need. Margaret always put others’ needs before her own, and would do whatever necessary to make sure they were happy.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband, Luis “Eddy” Lopez of Bayou Vista; one brother, Stoney Linn Jr. and wife Naomi of New Iberia; one sister, Karen Rodgers of Patterson; nephew, Kade Linn; godson, Caleb Becker; goddaughters, Victoria Williams and Maddison Williams; best friends, Mary Michelle Williams and Heather Connolly; and her precious fur-babies, Lola, Molly, Mackie and Duchess.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Stoney and Patricia Linn; paternal grandparents, Henry and Rosalie Linn; maternal grandparents, John and Hazel Maxine Dotherow; brother-in-law, Tim Rodgers; her fur-baby, Rosie.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 29, 2020, at Bayou Vista Baptist Church. Memorial visitation will be held Saturday, August 29, 2020, from 9 a.m. until the time of services.
The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Friday, Aug. 21
6:22 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
7:16 a.m. Lawrence Park; Suspicious person.
8:11 a.m. 6500 block of La. 182; Crash.
9:09 a.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Complaint.
9:29 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Debris in road.
9:47 a.m. 600 block of Barrow Street; Harassment.
10:33 a.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Alarm.
10:55 a.m. 200 block of Third Street; Juvenile problem.
11:23 a.m. 300 block of Grizzaffi Street; Medical.
11:39 a.m. 200 block of Second Street; Assistance.
11:46 a.m. 1000 block of Chennault Street; Animal.
1:01 p.m. Fourth Street and Brashear Avenue; Medical.
2:42 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Debris in road.
2:44 p.m. 300 block of Lawrence Street; Stand by.
3:02 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Juvenile problem.
3:39 p.m. 1700 block of Elk Street; Harassment.
4:15 p.m. 6200 block of La. 182; Theft.
5:20 p.m. 800 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
5:37 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Com-plaint.
6:04 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
6:07 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Civil.
7:15 p.m. 1100 block of Levee Road; Complaint.
7:53 p.m. 900 block of Duke Street; Theft.
8:21 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
8:40 p.m. 200 block of Amelia Street; Disturb-ance.
8:44 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Com-plaint.
8:55 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Com-plaint.
9:15 p.m. 100 block of Eleventh Street; Disturbance.
Saturday, Aug. 22
12:05 a.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Com-plaint.
1:31 a.m. Shaw Drive; Suspicious subject.
2:21 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Alarm.
2:30 a.m. 400 block of Duke Street; Suspicious subject.
3:33 a.m. Front Street and Brashear Avenue; Suspicious vehicle.
3:58 a.m. La. 70/U.S. 90 Junction; Suspicious subject.
4:20 a.m. Onstead and Second streets; Suspicious subject.
6:46 a.m. Ochsner St. Mary; Disturbance.
7:52 a.m. Halsey and Chennault streets; Suspicious person.
8:01 a.m. 2200 block of Maple Street; Assistance.
9:03 a.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
9:09 a.m. Lawrence Park; Medical.
9:47 a.m. 1000 block of Hickory Street; Theft.
2:02 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
2:23 p.m. 500 block of Front Street; Alarm.
2:27 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Theft.
2:30 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Complaint.
3:03 p.m. Youngswood Road; Animal.
3:16 p.m. 300 block of Lawrence Street; Com-plaint.
3:22 p.m. Fig Street; Juvenile problem.
3:33 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Disturbance.
5:44 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
6:26 p.m. 200 block of Halsey Street; Loud music.
6:58 p.m. 2400 block of Elm Street; Animal complaint.
7:11 p.m. 1700 block of Dale Street; Animal complaint.
8:27 p.m. 200 block of Headland Street; Com-plaint.
8:40 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Com-plaint.
8:42 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Telephone harassment.
9:05 p.m. Federal Avenue and Egle Street; Loud music.
9:20 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Arrest.
9:50 p.m. Apple Street; Complaint.
10:22 p.m. 1200 block of Fig Street; Complaint.
10:45 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Alarm.
10:53 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Alarm.
11:32 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
Sunday, Aug. 23
1:21 a.m. La. 70/U.S. 90 Junction; Arrest.
2:57 a.m. La. 70/U.S. 90 Junction; Complaint.
9:05 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
10:29 a.m. 3200 block of Wytchwood Drive; Removal of subject.
11:04 a.m. 700 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
11:36 a.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
11:47 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Fire.
12:13 p.m. 300 block of Lawrence Street; Mentally ill person.
12:57 p.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Harassment.
1:15 p.m. 900 block of Spruce Street; Alarm.
1:42 p.m. 1200 block of Clothilde Street; Alarm.
2:35 p.m. 2100 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
2:42 p.m. 200 block of Belanger Street; Disturbance.
3:56 p.m. 700 block of General Hodges Street; Disturbance.
4:02 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
5:51 p.m. 500 block of General MacArthur Street; Disturbance.
6:32 p.m. 800 block of Hickory Street; Theft.
7:05 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Medical.
8:01 p.m. 300 block of Garber Street; Assistance.
8:27 p.m. 2100 block of Federal Avenue; 911 hang up.
9:31 p.m. 100 block of Youngswood Road; Alarm.
10:21 p.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious subject.
11:38 p.m. 2100 block of Federal Avenue; Stand by.
Monday, Aug. 24
12:45 a.m. 300 block of Chennault Street; Suspicious subject.
1:38 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
3:24 a.m. 400 block of Leona Street; Assistance.
Staff Report
A Morgan City man was arrested in Fourchon on a warrant related to shots fired Aug. 18 on 11th Street, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said.
—Geron N. Stewart, 21, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:37 p.m. Friday on warrants for illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities and obstruction of justice-tampering with evidence.
Stewart was located in Fourchon by Port Fourchon Harbor Police and placed under arrest on an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department. He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration. The warrant stems from an Aug. 18 investigation of a complaint of shots fired on Eleventh Street.
Blair also reported these arrests:
—Errol Johnson, 56, Ewell Street, Belle Rose, was arrested at 9:58 a.m. Friday on a warrant for exploitation of the infirm.
Johnson was located at the Terrebonne Parish Detention Center and placed under arrest on an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department. He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking.
—James Jones, 34, First Street, Patterson, was arrested at 9:37 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana (first offense), possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers were called to the area of Second Street and Everett Street about an intoxicated individual. They came into contact with Jones. He was found in possession of suspected marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Kristie Blanchard, 42, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Satur-day on a charge of theft under $1,000.
Officers were called to an La. 182 address for a theft. They learned Blanchard committed a theft at the address. She was placed under arrest and trans-ported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Bryce Terrio, 22, Holiday Drive, Houma, was arrested at 1:37 a.m. Sunday on charges of reckless operation and one-way road.
Officers observed a traffic violation in the area of the U.S. 90 and La. 70 intersection. The driver was identified as Bryce Terrio. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:
—Christopher John Colbert, 34, Bacher Street, Lafayette, was arrested at 10:23 a.m. Friday on a warrant for the charge of criminal trespass. Colbert was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Izaiah Davis, 20, Magnolia Drive, Westwego, was arrested at 9:01 p.m. Friday on charges of careless operation, no insurance, driving under suspension and switched license plate/stolen license plate. Davis was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Alexis Burden, 20, Treasure Street, New Orleans, was arrested at 9:01 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Burden was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Jeremy Paul Pillaro, 35, Kemper Road South, Franklin, was arrested at 4:05 a.m. Saturday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Pillaro was released on a $2,500 bond.
—Dustin Lovell, 23, Patton Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:07 p.m. Saturday on charges of possession of synthetic cannabinoids, careless operation and no driver’s license on person. Lovell was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Stacy Gerald Verdun, 50, Park Street, Patterson, was arrested at 8:46 p.m. Saturday on a charge of violation of protective orders. Verdun was released on a $2,500 bond.
—Derrick Dwayne Druilhet, 41, John Street, Baldwin, was arrested at 1:54 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of disturbing the peace-offensive words, resisting an officer, and entry on or remaining in places or on land after being forbidden. Druilhet was released on a $750 bond.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Victor Gonzales, 34, Francis Street, Berwick, was arrested at 5:48 a.m. Friday on a charge of aggravated battery.
At about 5 a.m. Friday, the Berwick Police Department received a call of a disturbance at a residence on Francis Street. Oficers met with Gonzales and learned that he struck a victim several times in the face with a pair of brass knuckles.
Gonzales was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked on the charge of aggravated battery.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
— Tommy James Trosclair Jr., 28, Enterprise Drive, Patterson, was arrested Sunday morning on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting an officer by false identification.
A K-9 officer on assignment observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation on La. 70 in Pierre Part and initiated a stop of the vehicle.
Deputies made contact with the driver as well as a passenger identified as Tro-sclair and interviewed both.
During the course of those interviews, deputies noted observations, which led to a K-9 open air sniff of the vehicle. During that process, the K-9 alerted to specific areas of the vehicle.
Deputies located a shotgun wrapped in a cloth item near where Trosclair was seated. That shotgun was attributed to Trosclair.
Deputies further learned that Trosclair is a prior convicted felon.
Trosclair remains incarcerated with bond set at $30,000.
—Ronald Simmons, 34, Osyka Progress Road, Osyka, Mississippi, was arrested on charges of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of domestic abuse battery.
On July 26, deputies pro-ceeded to a complaint of shots fired at a local business.
Deputies initiated an investigation and, in the process, interviewed numerous individuals and took possession of several articles of evidence indicating that an altercation had occurred.
As the investigation continued, detectives were able to identify Simmons as a suspect and obtained warrants for his arrest.
On Friday, Simmons turned himself into detec-tives. He was released after posting a $60,000 bond.
As a result of this incident, one person was injured.
For the Louisiana Legislature, and for those of us who advocate before it, 2020 was certainly a year that challenged any playbook on public policy. Not only was this one of the largest freshman classes our lawmaking body has seen, with 52 first-time legislators navigating new territory; not only did the House speaker and Senate president for the first time in modern times forge a strong relationship that bridged a traditionally deep divide; but numerous curve-balls in the way of a novel coronavirus changed the game dramatically.
For the Legislature itself, it meant suspending action for weeks while the state “flattened the curve.” It meant empty halls usually packed with busloads of students on field trips, tourists and other interested onlookers, temperature checks, masks, plexiglass between seats on the House and Senate floors, and sanitized everything from door handles to hands to microphones.
And it meant a shattered economy, bringing with it the budget challenges and uncertainty that creates.
But this new Legislature met the challenge in an encouraging way. And as LABI undertook our annual routine of scoring their actions on behalf of Louisiana’s business community, its job-creators and economic opportunity, we were encouraged by the innovative problem-solving, tenacious resolve and bipartisan temperament we saw.
In reconvening the regular session for the remainder of May and a special session during the month of June, the Legislature allowed itself the opportunity to address the adverse economic impacts arising from efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of Louisiana’s small businesses, some 2,000 of them members of LABI, took a significant financial hit from the closure or limited operation imposed by the Governor’s stay-at-home order. Add to this the reluctance of customers to shop or dine at their favorite local venues once the order was scaled back in mid-May, and the economic headwinds small employers faced became monumental.
Small business owners typically have little in reserves to cover a month-long cessation of their businesses, let alone the more extended period some are having to endure. Most in the Legislature understood that many of these weakened job providers were going to have trouble keeping their doors open and their workers employed. There would be cash-flow issues thwarting their ability to meet their operating expenses and payrolls. There would also be new costs of PPE, safety practices and in general, doing business associated with the COVID-19 threat and their efforts to keep their employees and customers safe from infection.
The Legislature also recognized that without a reinvigorated private sector, already diminished public sector revenues – state and local – would only decline further. Numerous businesses – restaurant, lodging and retail establishments in particular – have now closed their doors temporarily or permanently, adding their employees to the unemployment rolls with poor prospects for returning to work in the near term. The loss of the tax revenue generated from these businesses and their workers will only further threaten the budgetary picture forming for state and local governments.
The House and Senate leadership took steps to head off this outcome. They formed the Louisiana Economic Recovery Task Force comprised of private sector business leaders from across the state to formulate recommendations for economic relief and recovery. The task force released its first report on May 8 and followed up with a second report on June 4 with the intent that some of these recommendations become bills designed to help struggling businesses across Louisiana.
The measures ultimately passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor seek to keep small businesses solvent. On the legal front, bills were filed to provide limited liability protection for governments, businesses, and manufacturers of face masks and hand sanitizer, all of whom are keeping our economy and supply lines going. Legislation was filed to finally reform Louisiana’s broken legal system to lower costs on businesses and households, most notably through lower auto insurance rates.
On the financial front, bills were filed to lessen the franchise tax burden on small businesses and to provide immediate cash-flow assistance by allowing them to retain a fraction more in vendor’s compensation for sales taxes they collect for the state. Other bills will provide a rebate to small restaurants and retailers to encourage their expansion into low-income, economically distressed areas of the state known as Enterprise Zones in order to help those communities recover and grow. Unfortunately, the bills were watered down as they worked their way through the legislative process.
While the amount of relief the Legislature finally found acceptable wound up being less than what is needed, it will help to make a difference for some employers and their workers. As one restaurant owner explained during a committee hearing, it will help to pay a utility bill for the month or make possible a raise to entice an employee back to work. In the meantime, we must look ahead to the fiscal session of 2021 and prepare to enact true tax reform to help reinvigorate Louisiana’s ailing economy and make us more competitive with our neighboring states that have historically fared much better than us.
But back to the LABI Scorecard. Though these back-to-back sessions saw abbreviated agendas and a limited focus, they left us with many scorable actions directly affecting our members and Louisiana’s business community. As is the norm with this process, our scores are based on House and Senate floor votes and procedural moves all members of the relative body have opportunity to vote on. But absent in the scores are the poignant, hard-fought battles in committee – which this year in particular, were significant.
To our LABI members, to Louisiana’s business community and to the general public – please take the time to examine this document. As always, it’s a reckoning of which legislators support pro-business legislation, but it’s also a thorough guide to a very new, very different, and very inspiring body of lawmakers.
On behalf of our 2,200 member businesses around the state and the faithful support of our Board of Directors and Issue Councils members, we hope you enjoy this report and look forward to continuing the fight to help Louisiana reach its maximum potential.
Stephen Waguespack is president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
To accommodate printing schedules and because of the threat of storms, the Daily Review will not be published Tuesday.
The paper will be back Wednesday. There will be no Thursday paper, but we'll be back Friday.
Updates will continue to be posted at StMaryNow.com and on our Facebook page. The e-edition will emailed as usual Wednesday and Friday.
We apologize for the inconvenience and urge you to take precautions to stay safe during the severe weather.
St. Martin saw a big jump in reported COVID-19 cases Tuesday, apparently as a result of back-logged reporting making its way into the state database. Tuesday's Louisiana Office of Public Health update reported four new deaths in the region.
Thirteen new St. Mary cases were reported, raising the total since the pandemic began to 1,739. Another St. Mary fatality was reported, raising the toll to 66.
St. Martin's case count rose by 89 to 1,928. Another three deaths there raised the total to 54.
Assumption had 20 new cases for a total of 651. The death toll there remains at 21.
Statewide:
--550 cases raised the total to 144,116.
--33 deaths raised the toll to 4,656.
--11 fewer COVID-positive people were in hospitals for a total of 930.
--11 fewer people were on ventilators for a total of 141.
Hurricane Laura Advisory Number 25
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL132020
1000 PM CDT Tue Aug 25 2020
...LAURA CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN...
...EXPECTED TO BE A MAJOR HURRICANE AT LANDFALL ALONG THE
NORTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO COAST...
SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...25.2N 89.5W
ABOUT 405 MI...655 KM SE OF LAKE CHARLES LOUISIANA
ABOUT 430 MI...695 KM SE OF GALVESTON TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...90 MPH...150 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...978 MB...28.88 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* San Luis Pass Texas to the Mouth of the Mississippi River
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* San Luis Pass Texas to Intracoastal City Louisiana
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Sargent Texas to San Luis Pass
* East of Intracoastal City Louisiana to the Mouth of the
Mississippi River
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Freeport Texas to San Luis Pass
* Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* East of Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City Louisiana
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 Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.
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 1000 PM CDT (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Laura was located
near latitude 25.2 North, longitude 89.5 West. Laura is moving
toward the west-northwest near 17 mph (28 km/h), and this general
motion should continue overnight. A turn toward the northwest is
forecast on Wednesday, and a northwestward to north-northwestward
motion should continue through Wednesday night. On the forecast
track, the center of Laura will move across the northwestern Gulf of
Mexico on Wednesday. The hurricane should approach the Upper Texas
and southwest Louisiana coasts on Wednesday evening and move inland
near those areas Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph (150 km/h)
with higher gusts. Significant strengthening is forecast during
the next 24 hours, and Laura is expected to be a major hurricane at
landfall. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura makes landfall.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles
(280 km). NOAA buoy 42001 in the central Gulf of Mexico recently
reported a sustained wind of 45 mph (72 km/h) and a gust to 54 mph
(86 km/h).
The minimum central pressure estimated from Hurricane Hunter
observations is 978 mb (28.88 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Laura can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3 and WMO header WTNT43 KNHC.
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...
Sea Rim State Park TX to Intracoastal City LA including Sabine Lake
and Calcasieu Lake...9-14 ft
Intracoastal City to Morgan City including Vermilion Bay...7-11 ft
Port Bolivar TX to Sea Rim State Park...6-9 ft
Morgan City LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River...4-6 ft
San Luis Pass TX to Port Bolivar...3-5 ft
Galveston Bay...3-5 ft
Freeport TX to San Luis Pass...2-4 ft
Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs MS including Lake
Borgne...2-4 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...2-4 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to
the right of the landfall location, where the surge will be
accompanied by large and destructive waves. This storm surge could
penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline in
southwestern Louisiana and far southeastern Texas.
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.
RAINFALL: From Wednesday afternoon through Friday, Laura is expected
to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated maximum
amounts of 15 inches across portions of the northwestern Gulf Coast
from western Louisiana to far eastern Texas, and northward into much
of Arkansas. Over the lower to middle Mississippi Valley from
central Louisiana into western Tennessee and Kentucky, and
southeastern Missouri, 2 to 4 inches of rainfall with isolated
totals of 6 inches are expected. This rainfall will cause
widespread flash and urban flooding, small streams to overflow their
banks, and minor to isolated moderate river flooding.
By late Friday into Saturday, portions of the Tennessee and Ohio
Valley could see 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts as
tropical moisture from Laura moves through the region. This
rainfall could lead to localized flash and urban flooding along
small streams.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning
area Wednesday night and Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are
expected to reach the coast in the hurricane warning area late
Wednesday or Wednesday night, and are expected in the tropical
storm warning area Wednesday night and Thursday.
Hurricane-force winds and damaging wind gusts are also expected to
spread well inland into portions of eastern Texas and western
Louisiana early Thursday.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are expected Wednesday evening into
Wednesday night over Louisiana, far southeast Texas, and
southwestern Mississippi. The risk for a few tornadoes should
continue into Thursday across Louisiana, Arkansas, and western
Mississippi.
SURF: Swells produced by Laura are affecting the U.S. Gulf coast
from the west coast of Florida to Louisiana and are expected to
reach the coast of Texas and northeastern Mexico overnight and on
Wednesday. 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 100 AM CDT.
Next complete advisory at 400 AM CDT.
As Tropical Storm Marco continued to weaken, Gov. John Bel Edwards warned residents Monday evening to use the time that would have been lost to prepare for what seems likely to be a far more dangerous Hurricane Laura.
Once more, Edwards used the name of an infamous storm to describe what could be coming ashore in southwest Louisiana late Wednesday or early Thursday.
"This has the potential to be the strongest to hit since Hurricane Rita," Edwards said.
Marco, which was approaching the southeast Louisiana coach as the governor conducted Monday's press conference, is still expected to bring gusty winds and rainfall of 2-4 inches with up to 7 inches in isolated areas.
But the National Hurricane Center guidance says Marco is likely to weaken into a tropical depression shortly after coming onto land. That means the sustained winds would be less than 39 mph.
Unlike earlier track predictions, the current forecast is that Marco will be over land much of the time after it makes landfall.
Laura was still a tropical storm at 6 p.m., but it is expected to strengthen after it clears Cuba and gains energy from the warm water of the open Gulf.
Meteorologists say Laura could come ashore as a strong Category 2 hurricane or even a Category 3 hurricane. A strong Category 2 hurricane could have sustained winds of 100-110 mph. A Category 3 hurricane would have sustained winds of at least 110 mph.
The storm is also expected to bring up to 10 inches of rain across a wide area and up to 15 inches in isolated spots. The risk of flooding will be increased by the expected 7- to 11-foot storm surge near the southwest Louisiana coast.
The storm surge will prevent rivers such as the Mermentau and the Calcasieu from carrying away rainwater runoff, Edwards said.
Laura is also a big storm that, on its current forecast track, would bring 39-74 mph winds all the way from Houston to Baton Rouge. If the storm comes ashore 40 or 50 miles to the east, hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or greater could be felt in Baton Rouge, the governor said.
Edwards urged residents to continue their hurricane preparations. They should include face masks and hand sanitizer.
The preparations should not include hurricane parties, the governor said, which are a bad idea anytime and "an absolutely horrible idea" now because of the risk of COVID-19 spread.
Hurricane Rita came ashore about a month after the devastation of Katrina in 2005. Rita was a Category 5 storm with 180 mph winds for a while before hitting the Texas-Louisiana border as a Category 3 hurricane packing winds of 115 mph.
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