Hurricane Laura Lifelines

Louisiana evacuated 1,900 prisoners and 12 nursing homes, while Texas evacuated 23 nursing homes. Voluntary evacuation orders are in place for 19 parishes in Louisiana and five counties in Texas are under evacuation orders. Search and rescue teams have been deployed in both states.

Louisiana activated non-congregate sheltering contracts with hotels in Baton Rouge and Shreveport. Additional shelters remain open across Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Meals and water areas are being prepared and pre-stages in all three states. States are working with food distribution companies to prepare.

Emergency health and medical teams are providing response and recovery support. In Louisiana, the Calcasieu Parish and the New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) are activated to provide ongoing shelter support as needed. Texas has identified one COVID Alternate Care Site that can be converted to medical shelters if needed.

Oill and gas refineries along the Gulf Coast have implemented standard shut-in procedures, pausing production. Stocks of fuel in the area are robust. Suppliers are working to keep fuel stations full, however, Louisiana is reporting shortages at certain gas stations. Planning and response teams are mobilizing today.

Cell networks remain available in all three states. Emergency response teams are ready to dispatch calls as communication systems are operation normally. Tactical assets and personnel are staged in Baton Rouge, Pensacola, Florida; Gulfport, Mississippi; and Austin.

U.S. Coast Guard has pre-staged assets in Alabama and Louisiana, including rotary and fixed wing aircrafts, shallow watercrafts, and units are standing by ready to respond. Debris cleaners are deployed to both Louisiana and Texas. All ports in Louisiana have opened to allow vessels to evacuate the potentially affected areas, but have anticipated closure of all ports prior to arrival of tropical storm force winds. Six ports in Texas are closed. Multiple parish transit authorities in Louisiana, as well as all rail service, closed. Jack Brooks Regional Airport in Texas is closed.

FEMA is identifying superfund sites that may be impacted and providing information for facilities about release prevention and preparedness requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency has personnel available to respond if needed. FEMA coordinated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture State Emergency Board for Louisiana to obtain contacts for potential animal carcass management on private property post-storm.