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Hurricane Laura Local Statement Advisory Number 28
National Weather Service Shreveport LA AL132020
459 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
This product covers ArkLaTex and Four State Region
**Category Four Hurricane Laura Approaching the Louisiana Coast with
Significant Inland Impacts Expected**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- None
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bienville, Bossier,
Bowie, Caddo, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Claiborne,
Columbia, Grant, Gregg, Harrison, Hempstead, Howard, Jackson,
La Salle, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller,
Morris, Nevada, Ouachita, Panola, Rusk, Sevier, Smith, Union,
Union, Upshur, Webster, and Winn
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Angelina, De Soto,
Nacogdoches, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Sabine, San
Augustine, and Shelby
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 320 miles south of Shreveport LA or about 270 miles south
of Natchitoches LA
- 27.9N 92.8W
- Storm Intensity 145 mph
- Movement Northwest or 320 degrees at 15 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Hurricane Laura is a major Category 4 hurricane and will make
landfall as a major hurricane on the Louisiana coast tonight. Laura
will remain a hurricane for some time as it moves inland early
tomorrow morning before weakening to a tropical storm as it moves
north across East Texas and Northwest Louisiana from late morning
through early afternoon on Thursday. With the system moving inland,
damaging wind gusts, inland flooding, and isolated tornadoes are
expected across the area.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
Protect against life-threatening wind having possible extensive
impacts across Deep East Texas and West Central Louisiana. Potential
impacts in this area include:
- Roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having
window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural
damage. Mobile homes severely damaged. Damage could be
accentuated by airborne projectiles.
- Many large trees uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over. Downed trees will become more
common as the ground gets saturated with heavy rain.
- Some roads impassable from debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Several access routes could become
impassable.
- Large areas with power and communications outages.
Also, protect against dangerous wind having possible limited to
significant impacts across the remainder of locations in North
Louisiana, Southwest and South Central Arkansas, and in East
Texas south and east of a Quitman to Clarksville line. Potential
impacts in these areas include:
- Limited roof and shingle damage possible.
- Large branches downed and some trees uprooted. Downed trees
will become more common as the ground gets saturated with
heavy rain.
- Some roads may become blocked by downed trees.
- Scattered areas with power and communications outages.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across Southwest and South Central Arkansas,
Northern Louisiana west and north of a Colfax to Monroe line, East
Texas east of an Alto, to Tyler, to Clarksville line, and also
extreme Southeast Oklahoma. Potential impacts include:
- Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and
rescues.
- Small streams, creeks, bayous, and ditches may rapidly
overflow their banks in multiples places.
- Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
communities. Many places where flood waters may cover
escape routes. Streets and parking lots become flooded with
underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
- Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed
out.
Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible
significant impacts across the remainder of East Texas and North
Louisiana.
* TORNADOES:
Protect against a tornado event having possible limited impacts
across ArkLaTex. Potential impacts include:
- The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
and communications disruptions.
- Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
pulled from moorings.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
No evacuations at this time. Heed instructions from local emergency
management officials. Assess the risk from wind, falling trees, and
flooding at your location. If you decide to move, relocate to a safer
location nearby.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Preparation needs to conclude by this evening. Ensure you are in
a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible
flooding.
Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury or loss
of life. Always heed the advice of local officials and comply with
any orders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9 1 1
Emergency Services may not be able to immediately respond if
conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision
making.
Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles
can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide
poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly
ventilated area.
It is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an
emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter.
If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in
which you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which
it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay
attention for instructions from local authorities.
Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone
area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded
roadway. Remember, turn around don't drown!
If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter
quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not
prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter
options.
If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large
trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or
on a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of
strong winds or flooding.
Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets
for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes
to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather
warnings.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org
NEXT UPDATE
-----------
The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Shreveport LA around 11 PM CDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.
