TEXAS AND LOUISIANA PREP FOR STORMS– Texas Governor Greg Abbott is asking the Trump Administration for an Emergency Declaration as severe weather threatens parts of East Texas and the Gulf Coast this week. Abbott also issued a state of disaster for nearly two dozen counties. He says state agencies, like the Texas Military Department, are prepared to respond for weather related disasters while also trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"They are rostering 860 personnel, helicopters, C-130s, high profile vehicles, sheltering teams, disinfection teams, as well as mobile testing squads," Abbott explained.
Tropical Storm Marco has been downgraded to a Tropical depression, but still has potential for dumping heavy rainfall across much of Louisiana and East Texas. Right now state officials and weather watchers are focusing on Hurricane Laura which was upgraded this morning to a Category 1 Hurricane. Laura is expected strengthen into a Category 3 Hurricane and should arrive late Wednesday evening or early Thursday along the Louisiana-Texas border. Speaking from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness late last night Governor Edwards urged everyone to not let their guard down and prepare for what is expected to be a major weather event.
"I want everyone to understand that this has the potential to be the strongest hurricane to hit since hurricane Rita," Edwards explained. "And it happens to be taking, at least for now, a very similar track to hurricane Rita. So we all should be very, very careful and to make sure to take advantage of this opportunity that we've been given."
Hurricane Rita Struck the coast in September of 2005 just days after Hurricane Katrina; the one-two punch brought severe flooding resulting in billions of dollars in damages and thousands of deaths along the Gulf Coast.
Tropical Storm Laura is expected to gain hurricane strength as it moves across the Gulf. To get better prepared Governor Edwards recommends people to check the website www.getagameplan.org.
