Resident Update: Hurricane Laura
Here in Texas we are in the height of hurricane season, and the memory of Hurricanes Harvey and Imelda still ring in the minds of Houstonians. With TS Marco bouncing west along the Louisiana coastline towards Texas, and Hurricane Laura strengthening as it approaches the Texas/Louisiana border, Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 142 (FBMUD 142) wanted to update all residents that they are monitoring the situation in conjunction with the District operator, Environmental Development Partners (EDP).
UPDATE: The following information is current as of 6:00 p.m., CST, August 26, 2020.
Laura is centered about 140 miles south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is tracking to the northwest at 15 mph. The hurricane is now a Category 4 with 145 mph winds, and may experience some slight additional strengthening this evening. Laura's maximum sustained winds jumped from 75 mph to 140 mph in the 24 hours ending 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast shows Laura will curl more to the north Wednesday night into Thursday. Laura is predicted to be a Category 4 hurricane when it approaches landfall near the Texas and Louisiana border Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. Conditions have already begun to deteriorate in these areas.
Rainfall will continue even after Laura leaves the Gulf Coast area, expecting 1-2” to fall in the Houston area through Saturday.
UPDATE: The following information is current as of 9:30 a.m., CST, August 26, 2020.
Hurricane Laura is now a Category 3 with 115 mph winds and is expected to continue strengthening. Laura could briefly become a Category 4 hurricane later today. Laura's maximum sustained winds jumped from 70 mph to 115 mph in the 24 hours ending 7 a.m. CDT Wednesday.
A hurricane warning is now in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. This includes Galveston, parts of the east Houston metro area, Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and several additional inland counties and parishes of east Texas and western Louisiana extending north of Interstate 10. Hurricane conditions (winds 74 mph or greater) will affect these areas Wednesday night and Thursday.
Tropical storm warnings extend into the rest of the Houston metro area, parts of northeast Texas, northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas.
The following information is current as of 11:30 a.m., CST, August 25, 2020.
Hurricane Laura
Hurricane Laura is expected to intensify over the Gulf of Mexico and become a major hurricane prior to striking the upper Texas or southwest Louisiana coasts late Wednesday or early Thursday. Storm surge and destructive winds will batter the coast and a threat of flooding rain and strong winds will extend well inland. Residents along the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts should prepare now for a hurricane strike. Follow any evacuation orders issued by local or state officials.
Laura is predicted to become a major hurricane - Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale - prior to making landfall somewhere along the southwest Louisiana or upper Texas coasts Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Conditions are expected to deteriorate in these areas by Wednesday.
A hurricane warning is now in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. This includes Galveston, parts of the east Houston metro area, Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and several additional inland counties and parishes of east Texas and southwestern Louisiana extending north of Interstate 10.
The bottom line is that Laura is likely to bring storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts to parts of Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts beginning Wednesday. Keep in mind that a hurricane isn't just a point. Impacts will extend far from where the center eventually moves inland.
In Summary
- Laura strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday morning in the southern Gulf of Mexico.
- Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico should allow Laura to strengthen significantly.
- Laura is predicted to become a major hurricane prior to landfall on the upper Texas or southwest Louisiana coasts.
- Life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds will affect areas near where Laura makes landfall.
- Laura is also an inland flood risk as far north as Arkansas or southern Missouri.
- Isolated tornadoes are also expected from Laura.
- FBMUD 142 and EDP are continuously monitoring Hurricane Laura as it is expected to make landfall Wednesday night/Thursday morning.
Suggestions from County Alert Systems:
We are in a very active tropical period with the possibility of multiple storm threats in a short period of time. It is important to prepare your family for potential tropical weather.
MAKE A PLAN
- Review your family’s emergency plan, including what you will do if you stay or if you evacuate.
- Remember to take into account that social distancing is still needed for COVID-19.
- Make sure you have prepared by making an emergency kit. You can follow one of the following guidelines:
- https://www.national-hurricane-center.org/hurricane-awareness/hurricane-checklist
- https://www.fema.gov/news-release/20200220/proper-emergency-kit-essential-hurricane-preparedness
- Do not forget about special items for babies, elderly and medically fragile family members
- If you have irrigation or sprinkler systems, pool auto-fills, or other systems that are water-use heavy, make sure you turn them off prior to the storms so they are not operating and potentially wasting water.
- Fuel vehicles and generators now.
- Know where important documents are and take pictures of your property for insurance purposes.
- If you live in an evacuation zone (Zip Zone) and will need assistance evacuating for a storm that threatens our region, now is the time to call 2-1-1 or go online to register for assistance.
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