Live updates: TS Marco shifts toward Mississippi Coast. Hurricane watches issued.
Editor’s note: Find the latest Sunday updates here.
The Mississippi Coast could be subjected to two days of hurricane-force winds, storm-surge and heavy rain if Tropical Storms Marco and Laura continue on the paths projected Saturday evening and strengthen in the Gulf as forecast.
The National Weather Service on Saturday afternoon issued the following watches for Tropical Storm Marco, which signal deteriorating conditions in as little as 48 hours:
▪ A Hurricane Watch from intracoastal Louisiana east to the Mississippi Alabama line.
▪ A Storm Surge Watch from Sabine Pass, Texas, eastward to the Alabama/Florida border
▪ A Tropical Storm Watch from the Mississippi/Alabama border eastward to the Alabama/Florida border.
Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area by early Monday, with hurricane conditions more likely by midday Monday. Marco is expected to dump 1 to 3 inches of rain. The storm has a windfield extending 90 miles out from the center.
All storm preparations should be complete by early Monday, the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency said.
Saturday evening, Marco was off the western tip of Cuba, packing sustained winds of 65 mph and moving at 13 mph.
Tropical Storm Laura is following behind and is expected to move over Cuba on Monday and into the southeastern Gulf on Monday night or Tuesday. Laura could become a hurricane by Tuesday afternoon, the NWS says.
Laura’s maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph, with strengthening expected after the storm moves into the Gulf. The storm’s winds extend out 205 miles from the center.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency earlier Saturday, saying at a news briefing that residents need to evacuate early because of COVID-19. No mandatory evacuations had been issued for the Coast, but those in mobile homes and low-lying areas are advised to find safer shelter.
Rain is expected to begin as early as Sunday, Harrison County Emergency Manager Rupert Lacy said.
He said an astronomical high tide that will last through Thursday is already pushing water into the Bay of St. Louis and Back Bay in Biloxi, and the rivers running off those waterways. Residents need to be aware of rising waters as winds pick up.
COVID-19 makes shelters unsafe, Gov. Reeves says
Because of the twin storm threat and COVID-19, Reeves noted the Gulf states are in “unprecedented times.” He said space will be limited at evacuation shelters in Mississippi because of COVID-19.
Mississippi currently has the highest case and death rates in the nation, according to nationwide public health agency data compiled by The New York Times.
The number of shelters will be 50% to 60% lower, said Greg Michel, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
Reeves and Michel both said nobody would be turned away from shelters.
“We do want to put you on alert that should you need to evacuate we’re going to need to do so earlier than normal because we’re not going to have the sheltering space,” Reeves said.
Michel added: “I want to reiterate, avoid those shelters if at all possible.”
Reeves stressed that both storms are likely to impact the Mississippi Coast.
Reeves reminded listeners during the news conference, broadcast on Facebook Live, that the 15th anniversary of deadly and devastating Hurricane Katrina is one week away.
“Seven days out, we had no idea of the size and severity of the storm that would hit us,” he said. “We don’t panic but we do prepare.”
3 p.m. Saturday
The Hancock County Emergency Management Agency will have self-serve sand and sand bags available at 7 p.m. Saturday. Residents will need their own shovels. Those who need assistance can call the EMA at 228-255-0942 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191.
Self-serve sand bags are at these locations:
- Hancock County Horse Arena, 4184 Kiln/Delisle Rd.
- Old Hancock County Complex, 3068 Longfellow Dr.
- Lakeshore Community Center, 6440 Lower Bay Rd.
- Bayside Fire Department, 6212 West Hinds St.
- West Hancock Fire Department, 16006 Washington St.
- Diamondhead City Hall, 5000 Diamondhead Circle
Harrison County’s Board of Supervisors, Emergency Management Agency and Road Department have self-serve sand and bags (bring a shovel) available at these locations:
- Road Department, 10076 Lorraine Rd.
- D’Iberville Work Center, 10085 1st Ave.
- Lyman Work Center, 15001 County Farm Rd.
- Long Beach Work Center: 605 North Seal Ave.
- Orange Grove Work Center, 8300 34th Ave.
- Woolmarket Work Center, 16395 Old Woolmarket Rd.
2:30 p.m. Saturday
Gulf Islands National Seashore plans to close Mississippi’s barrier islands at 5 p.m. Saturday in anticipation of high winds, rough seas and heavy rain.
The mainland Davis Bayou area will close at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Current predictions are for the park to be affected by the eastern sides of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura, which typically include stronger winds.
The barrier islands to be closed are Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, Horn, Ship and Cat.
All areas will be closed until further notice. The areas will be assessed for damage and reopened when they are safe.
2 p.m. Saturday
Port authorities in Biloxi are advising owners of vessels docked in city harbors and marinas that they should move to safer locations ahead of Tropical Storms Laura and Marco.
Port Division Manager Larry Sablich notified tenants that vessels should be relocated to safe harbor by 5 p.m. Sunday. Sablich also advised tenants to clear finger piers near docking areas of all unnecessary items, and move extra vehicles and trailers from harbors and marinas by that same deadline.
The city has about 300 commercial and pleasure craft in its harbors and marinas, including the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor and adjoining Commercial Harbor, Point Cadet Marina and the Sherman Canaan Back Bay Fishing Dock at the north end of Lee Street.
11 a.m. Saturday
The city of Pascagoula and Jackson County have declared local emergencies ahead of Tropical Storm Laura.
10 a.m. Saturday
Mississippi Power has not yet activated its Storm Center but is prepared to respond to Tropical Storms Marco and Laura, a news release says. Company storm directors are monitoring both storms and putting plans and resources in place to respond.
Customers can sign up at the company’s online Storm and Outage Center to receive text, email or voicemail notifications about power outages, including estimated and actual power restoration times.
They can also report outages online, find generator safety tips and view an updated outage map at mississippipower.com.
Mississippi Power is following COVID-19 safety protocols during storm preparation and thereafter.
9 a.m. Saturday
The Sun Herald previously reported Tropical Storms Laura and Marco are likely to enter the Gulf of Mexico back-to-back, with Laura forecast to reach hurricane status before a landfall Wednesday in Louisiana that would also impact the Mississippi Coast.
Laura is expected to bring heavy rain, coastal flooding and strong winds Tuesday through Thursday, the National Weather Service in New Orleans says.
Marco is forecast to remain a tropical storm as it moves northwest into the northwest Gulf late Sunday through Tuesday. The NWS currently expects landfall Tuesday evening on the Texas coast.
But the NWS also advises that uncertainty is higher than normal over the impacts both storms will create. Harrison County Emergency Manager Rupert Lacy said forecasts will solidify after the storms enter the Gulf.
“Disorganized Laura,” as the National Hurricane Center currently calls the storm, is moving west at about 21 mph, with a west-northwestward motion anticipated over the next few days. Laura is expected to move near Puerto Rico this morning and then over or near eastern Cuba on Sunday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts and slow strengthening expected over the next few days. Tropical-storm force winds extend 205 miles, the NHC says, mainly to the north of center.
The chance of rain will increase Sunday, so the NWS advises that residents should make outdoor preparations for the storm Saturday. It is also a good idea to finalize a home inventory of personal property for insurance purposes in case of damage.
This story was originally published August 22, 2020 at 9:13 AM with the headline "Live updates: TS Marco shifts toward Mississippi Coast. Hurricane watches issued.."
