Oct. 8 @ 4:30 p.m. – Hurricane Delta Phase 4 Mandatory, Update 8
GLPC STORM PHASE 4: MANDATORY EVACUATION
Hurricane Delta
UPDATE #8
Thursday, October 8, 2020
4:30 p.m.
Port Fourchon is in Storm Phase 4: Mandatory Evacuation, as ordered by the Lafourche Parish President, for 6:00 p.m. today, Thursday, October 8, for the area below the lock in Golden Meadow. This means that all remaining personnel should evacuate the port in accordance with the Lafourche Parish President’s order by 6:00 p.m. tonight.
Hurricane Delta is now a Category 3 storm and continues to track toward making landfall in southwest Louisiana tomorrow night. Although Port Fourchon is not in Hurricane Delta’s direct path, we remain on the more dangerous eastern side of the storm and will still likely see significant impacts from water and wind. The Port Fourchon area is under both Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Warning. Coastal flooding, heavy rain, and strong/damaging wind chances are all expected to increase overnight and into tomorrow.
Please secure hazards and clear non-essential equipment from facility grounds, prepare office areas to minimize water intrusion damage, secure buildings with storm shutters or plywood over windows and doors, secure fuel tanks and storage areas, shut off utilities (water, electricity, etc.) if possible, and remove all small craft that can be hauled or trailered from port facilities and waterways, well away from the effects of possible storm surge and high winds. Remember, all vessels remaining in port must be manned. No new mooring dolphin rentals will be accepted; any unleased dolphins will be considered first come, first served until the storm is over.
Roads are currently open to vehicular traffic, but this will transition to road closure due to anticipated overtopping of LA 1 below the floodgates between Golden Meadow and Leeville.
A checkpoint manned by Port Fourchon Harbor Police will be in place by 6:00 p.m. at GLPC’s Fourchon Operations Center on LA 3090 to monitor traffic in and out of the port and maintain safety during mandatory evacuation.
Port Fourchon Harbor Police will be monitoring the condition of the roadway, and the Port Commission will send out updates as they become available.
After the storm has passed and roadways are cleared for passage, the Port Commission will notify port businesses when limited or full access is given to tenants to return and assess any damage to facilities.
All GLPC offices are on office closure effective at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020, but GLPC Harbor Police and essential personnel will remain on duty during the storm to monitor conditions and take action as needed. NOTE: Emergency services may not be readily available in areas under mandatory evacuation during extreme weather events. As during any emergency, dial 911.
POSSIBLE IMPACTS IN THE PORT FOURCHON AREA:
- RAINFALL: Heavy rainfall possible today through Saturday where rain bands develop.
- TIDES/STORM SURGE: 3-5 feet of storm surge is currently forecast for the Port Fourchon area. Elevated tides expected to affect portions of the area this evening. Dangerous marine conditions.
- WINDS: Strong, gusty winds expected late tonight and into Friday morning. Isolated tornadoes possible from Friday morning to Saturday morning.
- ROADWAYS: Roads are open to vehicular traffic at this time, but be alert for closure notices as night falls and storm waters rise. Expect LA 1 to be closed to all vehicles south of the Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow once water levels overtop the roadway and impact safety.
WARNINGS, WATCHES, & ADVISORIES (Updated 10/08/2020 @ 4:00 PM):
- Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Lafourche Parish until further notice
- Storm Surge Warning in effect for Lafourche Parish until further notice
EMERGENCY STORM HARBOR MARINA:
GLPC has opened the Emergency Storm Harbor Marina to commercial fishing vessels seeking safe harbor within the South Lafourche Levee System. Utilization of this marina will be on a first come, first served basis. Harbor Police will be on scene to monitor marina activity.
Visit this link to view GLPC Ordinance No. 74 regarding Storm Harbor Marina use: https://portfourchon.com/wp-content/uploads/Ordinance74.pdf
NOTIFICATIONS AND WEATHER INFORMATION:
If you have signed up to any of our public information or emergency notification lists, e-mails, and/or social media, messages will be sent out regularly during a weather event with up-to-date information. If you would like to sign up for any notifications from the Port Commission, visit our NOTIFY ME page.
Visit the Port Commission’s WEATHER & STORM INFO webpage for links to current storm information, helpful storm prep information and resources, and contact updating forms.
We will continue to evaluate the threat this weather poses and keep you updated with any developing weather-related issues.