Live updates: MS Coast leaders shift focus to Tropical Storm Laura as Marco weakens
Focus is shifting from weakened Tropical Storm Marco to Tropical Storm Laura, expected to become a Category 1 or 2 hurricane before pounding ashore Wednesday or early Thursday, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Greg Michel said Monday.
All watches and warnings were canceled Monday afternoon for Marco, but a storm surge watch has been issued for Laura.
“Laura still concerns me greatly,” Michel said in a news conference Monday morning,
Marco was expected to move ashore Monday night as a tropical depression, bringing sustained winds of 39 mph or less. The risk of flash-flooding expected earlier from Marco has been reduced to 10% or less for South Mississippi.
Laura’s landfall is currently expected late Wednesday or early Thursday near the Louisiana-Texas border or in Louisiana, but the paths of both storms have shifted.
“We’re going to be prepared if that storm does make a jog to the northeast,” Michel said.
Tropical storm warnings, watches in force
Warnings and watches issued include:
▪ The National Hurricane Center at 4 p.m. Monday issued a storm surge watch from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Ocean Springs, which includes Hancock and Harrison counties.
Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and Lake Borgne are also included in that watch.
A hurricane watch is in effect from Port Bolivar, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana and a tropical storm watch is in effect from Port Bolivar to to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
As of 4 p.m., Laura was passing near the Isle of Youth, an island located south of the Cuban mainland. It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
COVID-19 makes shelters last resort for Marco, Laura
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said during a morning news conference that shelters will be open for those who need them, but he urged people to seek alternate refuge because of COVID-19 if they must evacuate. No mandatory evacuation orders had been issued.
Laura’s path remains uncertain.
Schools have announced plans for shortened days or closings, and President Donald Trump has declared states of emergency in Mississippi counties expected to be impacted, clearing the way for assistance under the Federal Stafford Act.
Hancock County emergency manager Brian Adam said that in 18 years on the job, he has never seen the storm conditions the Coast now faces.
“You have to prepare for two storms,” Adam said. “It’s hard enough to prepare for one.”
Business, event closings and cancellations
▪ Coastal Mississippi board monthly meeting was changed to 3 p.m. Sept. 2.
▪ Coast Transit resumed fixed route service at 12:30 p.m. Monday. Updates will be provided for Tropical Storm Laura.
▪ Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula was closed Monday and will be open and operating Tuesday on normal work schedules. The company is tracking Tropical Storm Laura, and if necessary, announcements will be made on Tuesday about changes to work schedules. Ingalls’ UNO facility in Louisiana will continue to be closed through Wednesday.
▪ Mississippi Aquarium soft openings planned this week are canceled in Gulfport. The official opening is still scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29, the 15th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
▪ TRICARE emergency prescription procedures are in place for all counties in Mississippi through Aug. 31. Visit tricare.mil disaster alerts for information.
7 p.m. Monday
No changes to advisories for Tropical Storm Laura, and Marco officially made landfall around the mouth of the Mississippi River around 6 p.m.
Marco is barely a tropical storm, thanks to strong wind shear blowing up from the southwest all day, which kept rainfall to the northeast side of the storm.
Most of Marco’s rain spun north over Pensacola and the Florida panhandle, where the storm caused rough surf and prompted more than 30 rescues due to rip currents, WEAR-TV reports.
4 p.m. Monday
The National Hurricane Center issued a storm surge watch from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Ocean Springs in advance of Tropical Storm Laura.
Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and Lake Borgne are also included in that watch.
A hurricane watch is in effect from Port Bolivar, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana and a tropical storm watch is in effect from Port Bolivar to to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
As of 4 p.m., Laura was passing near the Isle of Youth, an island located south of the Cuban mainland. It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area along the Gulf Coast by late Wednesday.
12 p.m. Monday
Street flooding from Hurricane Marco is expected in low-lying areas, Hancock County emergency manager Brian Adam said.
Areas where water could cover the roads are South Beach Boulevard in Waveland, Cedar Point, Heron Bay and Shoreline Park.
11 a.m. Monday
With no flooding expected on U.S. 90 in Harrison County from Tropical Storm Marco, Coast Transit Authority has announced it will resume fixed-route schedules at 12:30 p.m.
8 a.m. Monday
President Donald Trump has approved emergency declarations ahead of Tropical storms Marco and Laura for Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
Mississippi counties under a federal state of emergency are Adams, Amite, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Wayne, and Wilkinson.
The emergency declaration, requested by Gov. Reeves, authorizes FEMA mobilize and provide equipment and resources necessary to alleviate emergency impacts. Under the Stafford Act, localities are eligible for 75% federal reimbursement covering evacuation and shelter support.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 7:52 AM.
