State of emergency in Miss., La. as Tropical Storm Sally approaches
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards puts his face mask back on at the conclusion of a press conference at Louisiana State Police Training Academy, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. Edwards says the state will ease various restrictions on public gatherings aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 — but he’s withholding details for a day. Edwards said Thursday that Louisiana will move to “Phase Three” of restrictions after current restrictions expire Friday. (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP)
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UPDATED 7:09 AM PT – Monday, September 14, 2020
Residents in both Mississippi and Louisiana are making last minute preparations as they brace for Tropical Storm Sally. On Sunday, the states’ governors urged their residents to prepare for the incoming storm, which meteorologists predict could hit as a category two hurricane.
Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said Mississippi is taking actions to prepare for possible evacuations such as setting up shelters and fueling up high water vehicles. He called on families to make disaster plans, stock emergency kits and prepare for power outages.
“It is going to affect certainly our coastal region with significant amounts of rainfall,” Reeves explained. “But as it currently is projected, the eye of the storm would actually enter into Mississippi somewhere around Columbia and so our southwest part of our state is going to be affected immensely as well.”
Meanwhile in Louisiana, forecasters said the storm track has shifted slightly west, which has brought more of the state into play. As a result, Gov. John Bel Edwards advised residents to take preparations seriously.
“Based on all the available information we have right now from the National Weather Service, from the Hurricane Center and our in-state meteorologist, we have every reason to believe that this storm represents a very significant threat to the people of Southeast Louisiana,” he stated.
#Sally will strengthen today as it slowly tracks NW and is forecasted to make landfall along the MS Gulf Coast tomorrow as a Cat 1 Hurricane. Conditions along the coast will deteriorate later today and into tomorrow, so please rush to finish final preparations this morning! #mswx pic.twitter.com/kU3kaPwwvc
— msema (@MSEMA) September 14, 2020
The storm comes as residents in Louisiana continue to reel from Hurricane Laura, which hit late last month.