States of emergency declared from Florida to Louisiana in preparation for Tropical Storm Nate

As Tropical Storm Nate heads toward the Gulf Coast, communities have already started to prepare for the storm's potential impacts.

A state of emergency has been declared by local officials in Alabama and parts of Florida and Louisiana in anticipation of Nate.

New Orleans officials met Thursday morning with the Sewerage & Water Board (S&WB) to discuss preparations for Nate and the condition of the city's weakened drainage system, according to NOLA.com.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu declared a state of emergency for the city Thursday afternoon.

This morning @MayorLandrieu led a table top briefing on Tropical Storm Nate to ensure city preparedness. #NolaReady pic.twitter.com/DyhFtL6D1W
— Mitch Landrieu (@MayorLandrieu) October 5, 2017

#NOLAFireDept is getting ready to help you prepare for TS #Nate! Sandbags will be available for pickup 24/7 starting tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/EVVnNCKtAi
— Mitch Landrieu (@MayorLandrieu) October 5, 2017


Landrieu tweeted that the city had 14 trucks and crews out cleaning catch basins in preparation for the storm.

"The S&WB and contractors are working 24/7 to repair all power and pumps. Today, 108 of 120 pumps are working, and we’re at 92 percent capacity," Landrieu said.

"There is no need to panic. Be ready and prepare. Get a plan. Prepare to protect your personal property," he added.

Nate is forecast to reach the Gulf Coast this weekend as a hurricane. It has already been blamed for at least 22 deaths in Central America.

A mandatory evacuation was issued for residents of St. Bernard Parish who reside outside of the levee protection system.

Parish President Guy McInnis told NOLA.com that he is confident the drainage system can handle a typical flooding event.

Twenty-six of the parish's 28 drainage pumps were operational. Two pumps are being replaced and have been out of service all hurricane season.

On Thursday, parish emergency officials focused on bringing in St. Bernard's commercial fishing fleet through its locks in Violet and Caernarvon. Crews have begun to block roads in the eastern part of the parish, McInnis told NOLA.com.

St. Bernard's crisis action team and emergency responders met to discuss when to open the emergency operations center.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is working with Mayor Landrieu, as well as preparing the state for the storm.

This morning, Gov. Edwards is participating in a briefing w/ the SELA Hurricane Taskforce on #Nate. Visit https://t.co/qGfYFDGzQd. #lagov pic.twitter.com/p4adO2lDJz
— Gov John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) October 5, 2017


Officials of the town on Grand Isle, an inhabited barrier island south of New Orleans, called a voluntary evacuation, according to the Associated Press.

Voluntary evacuations were also issued in Baldwin County, Alabama. A state of emergency went into effect across Alabama on Friday morning.

"State and local leaders are ready to respond if needed, but our people need to stay weather-aware and heed any directions given by local officials," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott also led a meeting with emergency management officials to discuss Nate's potential impacts on the state.

Following the meeting, Scott declared a state of emergency for 29 counties within Florida.

“Tropical Storm Nate is headed north toward our state and Florida must be prepared. I have continued to be briefed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Tropical Storm Nate and while current forecast models have the storm’s center west of Florida, we must be vigilant and get prepared," Scott said in the news release.

The Florida National Guard has 7,000 guard members available for deployment if needed.

Scott said Floridians should always be ready with a plan and a disaster preparedness kit.

In Pensacola with Mayor @ashtonjhayward & emergency management officials to discuss Tropical Storm Nate’s potential impact on local families pic.twitter.com/PiOULQpf5n
— Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) October 5, 2017


Oil and gas companies have also started to prepare their facilities for Nate.

BP has begun securing offshore facilities and evacuating non-essential personnel from the Thunder Horse and Na Kika platforms and the West Vela drilling rig in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, according to a BP news update.

"BP is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Nate to ensure the safety of our personnel and operations in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico," the update read.

Exxon Mobil Corp said it is evacuating all staff from its Lena platform in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of Nate, Reuters reported.

Chevron said it is preparing to shut its Petronius and Blind Faith facilities ahead of the storm. It planned to evacuate all personnel from the two platforms on Thursday morning, according to Reuters.

Nate to threaten US Gulf Coast as a hurricane this weekend

Nate will threaten part of the central Gulf of Mexico coast of the United States as a hurricane with flooding, strong winds and isolated tornadoes on Sunday.

Anticipation of Nate's arrival has already prompted evacuations in low-lying coastal Louisiana parishes and Alabama counties.

Gasoline and natural gas prices may rise. As a precaution, operations on offshore rigs in the projected path of Nate will wind down, according to Reuters.

Crews on offshore rigs were being evacuated. Energy companies with refineries in the vicinity were monitoring the situation.

Where is Nate likely to come ashore?



"Nate will move northward over the central Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and make landfall along the central part of the U.S. upper Gulf coast on Sunday," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio.

Nate is likely to make landfall somewhere from the western part of the Florida Panhandle to southeastern Louisiana. The exact point of landfall will be determined once the storm begins to move north of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

"In all likelihood, this storm will impact areas not severely impacted by Harvey or Irma. The extent of the damage will depend, of course, on the precise path and whether the storm intensifies beyond a Category 1 storm," AccuWeather Founder, President and Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers said.

From a climatological standpoint, most hurricanes have not made landfall in Texas or western Louisiana, but have moved inland farther to the east during October.

Only if Nate tracks much farther west than currently forecast may heavy rain and damaging winds reach Harvey-ravaged Texas and southwestern Louisiana.

Similarly, only if Nate travels much farther east than currently forecast would flooding rain and high winds reach Imra-ravaged areas of Florida.

How much may Nate strengthen?

How serious the impacts are and exactly which areas are hardest hit by winds, waves and flooding will depend on the strength and track of the system.

"Since the system will be moving over very warm waters, we could quickly have a powerful hurricane on our hands," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

The most likely area for rapid strengthening will be the stretch of water north of Honduras and east of Belize. Another area where the storm may quickly ramp up in intensity is over the south-central Gulf of Mexico.

At this time, Nate is likely to make landfall in the U.S. as a Category 1 hurricane. However, a hurricane that reaches Category 1 status has the potential to reach Category 2 or 3 (major hurricane) status in a matter of hours.

Central Gulf coast threats from Nate include flooding and tornadoes

Vulnerable, low-lying coastal areas, such as New Orleans; Mobile, Alabama; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Pensacola, Florida, should treat Nate as a serious threat for flooding from heavy rain and storm surge.

"New Orleans levees that have been upgraded since Katrina and pumps that have been repaired in recent weeks may be tested this weekend," according to AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist and Chief Operating Officer Evan Myers.

"A hurricane that rolls ashore just east of New Orleans can push a great deal of water into Lake Pontchartrain."

Officials have emergency generators on standby for pumping operations in New Orleans, according to NOLA.com. Out of 120 main line pumps, 108 are operational at this time. Five of the city's 29 pumps at underpasses were out of commission as of Wednesday.

People in the potential path should have a plan in order and may want to gather necessities in case a strengthening hurricane takes aim at their community. People are encouraged to heed all evacuation orders when they are given.

People should not just focus on the point of landfall for significant impact.



The U.S. Gulf coast areas from northern Florida to Alabama, Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana may be at risk for damaging winds, coastal flooding, rough surf and beach erosion this weekend and into early next week.

Wind and wave action will produce rough seas and dangerous surf throughout the Gulf of Mexico this weekend.

The greatest coastal impacts will focus from part of the central Gulf coast to the upper west coast of the Florida Peninsula.

Rip current risk to extend along entire Gulf of Mexico coastline

Small craft throughout the Gulf of Mexico should remain in port this weekend. Bathers should avoid venturing beyond knee-deep water as the number and strength of rip currents will increase substantially even as far west as Texas.

The potential for coastal flooding will extend well east of the center of the storm.

"Above-normal tides and coastal flooding can occur in the Tampa, Florida, area, even if the storm heads toward the central Gulf coast," Kottlowski said.

In terms of rainfall and severe thunderstorms, the anticipated moisture versus dry air pattern will likely cause Nate to be lopsided.



"The heaviest rain is likely to fall near and just east of the center of the storm, until after it begins to move inland over the U.S.," Rossio said. "Once Nate moves inland, the heaviest rain will shift toward the north and northeast of the storm center."

Severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes can occur well east of the center of Nate on Sunday and Monday.

Nate impacts to extend well beyond US Gulf coast

People in southeastern Mexico, the Cayman Islands, western Cuba and the United States' northern and eastern Gulf coast should keep up to date on the situation.

Even a tropical storm could bring torrential rainfall and flash flooding.

"In lieu of a major hurricane and/or flooding, beneficial rain will extend across the interior eastern U.S. next week, which could ease abnormally dry and building drought conditions in some locations," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.

AccuWeather is projecting a total of 17 tropical storms, which includes 11 hurricanes, through December 2017 in the Atlantic basin. The Atlantic basin includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Hurricane season officially ends at the end of November.

Including Nate, there have been 14 tropical storms, eight hurricanes and five major hurricanes thus far.

"To stay safe, we urge people to keep checking AccuWeather.com and the AccuWeather apps for the latest developments," Myers said.

Tropical Storm Nate strengthens into a hurricane as Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi all declare states of emergency in anticipation of landfall on Sunday

Tropical Storm Nate gained strength late Friday when it was officially upgraded to a hurricane which is headed straight for US Gulf Coast.









States of emergency have been declared across parts of four states and New Orleans ordered some vulnerable residents to evacuate in anticipation of the hurricane's making landfall this weekend.

The US Gulf Coast braced Friday for a fast-moving blast of wind, heavy rain and rising water.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Friday ordered an evacuation of some areas and a mandatory curfew ahead of Nate.

The curfew will be in effect from Saturday evening to Sunday morning, the mayor said at a news conference.

Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi declared states of emergency as the storm twisted toward the US Gulf Coast on Friday after killing at least 22 people in Central America.

The National Hurricane Center issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi and Alabama coasts.

Nate is the latest in a succession of destructive storms this hurricane season.

The storm is forecast to dump 3 to 6 inches of rain on the region - with isolated totals of up to 12 inches. That much rain led authorities to warn of flash flooding and mudslides.

By midafternoon Friday, Nate was moving at a speed of 21 mph (33 kph). Its center was located about 125 miles (200 kilometers) east-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, and was expected to reach the U.S. late Saturday or early Sunday.

Evacuation orders were issued for some coastal communities, including the Louisiana towns of Jean Lafitte and Grand Isle.

Shelly Jambon, owner of Sureway Supermarket in Grand Isle, said she plans on riding out the storm at her store even though it's across the street from the beach.

She bought it two years before Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 and has weathered far more threatening storms than Nate.

'It's a mild one for us,' she said. 'Seventy to 80 mph winds? We get that in a winter storm.'

The state mobilized 1,300 National Guard troops. Some were headed to New Orleans, where summer storms already have exposed problems with the city's fragile pumping system.

'We don't anticipate that this is going to cause a devastating impact to New Orleans or exceed the ability for the pumps,' Gov. Jon Bel Edwards said Thursday.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency in six southernmost counties. State officials, at a briefing Friday in Gulfport, warned that Nate's main danger in that state will be from up to 10 feet 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.

The storm threatened to disrupt one of the Mississippi coast's biggest annual tourist events, the 'Cruisin' the Coast' auto show.

Biloxi firefighters warned more than 700 recreational vehicle campers that they may need to leave early.

The event continued as normal Friday, but Saturday's events were cancelled, replaced by a brief closing ceremony.

Dozens of offshore oil and gas platforms and drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico have been evacuated as Nate churns through warm waters.

Ingalls Shipbuilding, the Mississippi coast's largest industrial employer, announced Friday that only a skeleton crew of necessary employees would work Saturday and Sunday at the Pascagoula shipyard.

The northern Gulf Coast areas targeted by Nate largely have been spared the worst effects of a catastrophic hurricane season, but Louisiana's emergency declaration for Nate isn't its first since the start of the summer.

In August, a weakened Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Louisiana after dealing a devastating blow to Texas and then nudging back into the Gulf of Mexico.

Edwards also issued an emergency declaration in August for storm-related flooding in New Orleans.

The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning from Grand Isle, Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border.

Officials ordered the evacuation of part of coastal St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans ahead of the storm.

Earlier Thursday, a voluntary evacuation was called in the barrier island town of Grand Isle south of New Orleans.

New Orleans officials outlined steps to bolster the city's pump and drainage system. Weaknesses in that system were revealed during summer flash floods.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's New Orleans office said in a news release that as of midday Thursday, six production platforms, out of the 737 manned platforms in the Gulf, had been evacuated. No drilling rigs were evacuated, but one moveable rig was taken out of the storm's path.

The agency estimated less than 15 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in, which equates to 254,607 barrels of oil per day.

On Alabama's Dauphin Island, owners hauled boats out of the water ahead of the storm's approach.

Tourists canceled beach reservations for the weekend. The major concern was that Nate's storm surge was projected to coincide with high tide.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Lee Smithson expressed confidence that the federal government would be able to provide help to Mississippi even as the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to respond to previous hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Bryant authorized the use of the Mississippi National Guard to respond to any damage.

Officials said they would open 11 evacuation shelters in areas away from the immediate coast, and that the regional bus system could transport people who can't drive to shelters on their own.

'This is a fast-moving storm,' Smithson said.

This is like a remake of those old Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis movies. I didn't like them the first time around, and I'm not looking forward to the sequel.

Onward and upward,
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