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Gulf coast residents brace for Hurricane Nate, poised to reach category 2 Gulf coast residents brace for Hurricane Nate, poised to reach category 2
(about 2 hours later)
Hurricane Nate sent residents in the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida scrambling to prepare this weekend, after the storm killed at least 21 people in Central America.Hurricane Nate sent residents in the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida scrambling to prepare this weekend, after the storm killed at least 21 people in Central America.
Nate was expected to be a category 2 hurricane at landfall on the central Gulf Coast. Nate was expected to be a category 2 hurricane at landfall on the central Gulf Coast. States of emergency were declared in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
On Saturday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said Nate’s top sustained winds had risen to 90mph and the core of the storm was now about 180 miles south-south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi river. In addition to hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings in place from Grand Isle, Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border and also for metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, a tropical storm warning was issued in the Florida panhandle from east of the Okaloosa-Walton County line to Indian Pass. A tropical storm watch extended into north-east Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area.
As of 10am CDT, Nate was accelerating to 26mph and headed north-north-west on a course expected to take it on to the central Gulf coast on Saturday night. Forecasters said the hurricane-force winds extended out up to 35 miles, mainly to the east of the eye. In Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards said people in the south-eastern part of the state should hunker down by 3pm. The storm’s eye was expected to make landfall about four hours later, he said, likely bringing limited rain but powerful storm surges and strong winds.
In addition to hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings already in place along a wide stretch of Gulf Coast – from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to the Alabama-Florida border and also for metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain – a new tropical storm warning was issued in the Florida panhandle from east of the Okaloosa-Walton County line to Indian Pass, Florida. The Louisiana national guard had mobilized 1,300 troops and positioned high-water vehicles, boats and even school buses to help with rescues from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Edwards said he spoke to Donald Trump on Saturday morning.
Earlier on Saturday the NHC said a hurricane-hunter plane found the storm had gained new muscle, with top sustained winds rising to at 85mph with a threat of additional strengthening. The president, who was at his golf club in Virginia before attending a fundraiser in South Carolina on Saturday night, approved an emergency declaration for a large part of Louisiana and ordered federal assistance.
Donald Trump, who has faced sustained criticism over his response to the aftermath of hurricanes Jose and Maria in Puerto Rico – sizeable storms which followed Harvey in Texas and Irma in Miami in a busy and costly hurricane season – said on Twitter: “Our great team at Fema [Federal Emergency Management Administration] is prepared for Hurricane Nate. Everyone in LA, MS, AL and FL please listen to your local authorities and be safe.” Trump has faced sustained criticism over his response to the aftermath of hurricanes Jose and Maria in Puerto Rico – sizeable storms which followed Harvey in Texas and Irma in Miami in a costly hurricane season. He said on Twitter: “Our great team at Fema [Federal Emergency Management Administration] is prepared for Hurricane Nate. Everyone in LA, MS, AL and FL please listen to your local authorities and be safe.”
The president was at his golf club in Virginia, where he was expected to go out on the course. Florida governor Rick Scott said roughly 100,000 residents in evacuation zones should heed warnings, stick to their emergency plans and stay vigilant for updates from local officials. He said the hurricane could bring not just storm surges and strong winds but also tornadoes.
On Friday Louisiana’s governor urged his state’s residents to take Nate seriously, saying the storm “has the potential to do a lot of damage”. “No one should take this storm lightly,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “We do want people to be very, very cautious and to not take this storm for granted.” On Saturday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said Nate’s top sustained winds had risen to 90mph and the core of the storm was about 180 miles south-south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi river. As of 10am CDT, Nate was accelerating to 26mph and headed north-north-west. Forecasters said hurricane-force winds extended out up to 35 miles, mainly to the east of the eye.
States of emergency were declared in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Edwards, who mobilized 1,300 national guard troops, said forecasts indicated the greatest risks were from winds and storm surge, rather than intense amounts of rain. On Friday, Governor Edwards urged Louisiana residents to take Nate seriously, saying the storm “has the potential to do a lot of damage”. “No one should take this storm lightly,” he said. “We do want people to be very, very cautious and to not take this storm for granted.”
That was good news for New Orleans, where the pumping system remains fragile after two flash floods this summer led to revelations about personnel and equipment problems at the agency that runs the system. Mayor Mitch Landrieu said 109 of the 120 pumps were functioning, which is 92% capacity. Forecasts indicated limited amounts of rain. That was good news for New Orleans, where the pumping system remains fragile after flash floods this summer led to revelations about personnel and equipment problems. Mayor Mitch Landrieu said on Friday 109 of the 120 pumps were functioning, which is 92% capacity.
“We are ready for whatever Nate brings our way,” Landrieu said. “We are ready for whatever Nate brings our way,” Landrieu said. He enacted a 7pm Saturday curfew for the city.
In Mississippi, Environmental Protection Agency officials were releasing 40m gallons of partially treated wastewater in advance of Nate’s arrival, in an attempt to prevent a worse leak from the closed Mississippi Phosphates plant in Pascagoula, a site with a history of damaging spills. Nate was forecast to dump 3in to 6in of rain with isolated totals of up to 10in. In Mississippi, Environmental Protection Agency officials were releasing 40m gallons of partially treated wastewater in advance of Nate’s arrival, in an attempt to prevent a worse leak from the closed Mississippi Phosphates plant in Pascagoula, a site with a history of damaging spills.
Hurricanes have posed challenges for the EPA this summer. The Associated Press reported after Hurricane Harvey that at least seven environmentally dangerous sites in and around Houston went underwater during that record-shattering storm.Hurricanes have posed challenges for the EPA this summer. The Associated Press reported after Hurricane Harvey that at least seven environmentally dangerous sites in and around Houston went underwater during that record-shattering storm.
Nate was forecast to dump 3in to 6in of rain with isolated totals of up to 10in and to strengthen as it made landfall. A tropical storm watch extended into north-east Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area.
Governor Edwards encouraged people across south-east Louisiana to hunker down by 8pm while Mayor Landrieu enacted a 7pm Saturday curfew for New Orleans. Edwards said tropical-storm-force winds should reach coastal areas of Louisiana by Saturday afternoon, and coastal areas could see storm surge of as much as 7ft.
Mississippi’s governor, Phil Bryant, declared a state of emergency in six southernmost counties. State officials, at a briefing on Friday in Gulfport, warned that Nate’s main danger would be from up to 10ft of storm surge in low-lying coastal areas, as well as from winds that could damage mobile homes.Mississippi’s governor, Phil Bryant, declared a state of emergency in six southernmost counties. State officials, at a briefing on Friday in Gulfport, warned that Nate’s main danger would be from up to 10ft of storm surge in low-lying coastal areas, as well as from winds that could damage mobile homes.
“If you are in an area that has flooded, I would recommend you evacuate that area until the storm has ended and the water has receded for your own personal safety and for the safety of the first responders that will be responding in the event you are trapped,” Bryant said.“If you are in an area that has flooded, I would recommend you evacuate that area until the storm has ended and the water has receded for your own personal safety and for the safety of the first responders that will be responding in the event you are trapped,” Bryant said.
On Dauphin Island – a barrier island south of Mobile, Alabama – owners hauled boats out of the water. The major concern was a storm surge projected to coincide with high tide.On Dauphin Island – a barrier island south of Mobile, Alabama – owners hauled boats out of the water. The major concern was a storm surge projected to coincide with high tide.
Chad Palmer, owner of FinAtics Inshore Fishing Charters, said Nate did not seem to be causing much concern on an island that has been battered by monster storms such as Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Katrina.Chad Palmer, owner of FinAtics Inshore Fishing Charters, said Nate did not seem to be causing much concern on an island that has been battered by monster storms such as Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Katrina.
“Right now people are talking about hurricane parties,” Palmer said.“Right now people are talking about hurricane parties,” Palmer said.