Sept. 13 @ 3:00 p.m. – Sally Phase 4 Mandatory Evacuation, Update 6
GLPC STORM PHASE 4: MANDATORY EVACUATION
Tropical Storm Sally
UPDATE #6
Sunday, September 13, 2020
3:00 p.m.
Port Fourchon is in Storm Phase 4, which is Mandatory Evacuation, as ordered by the Lafourche Parish President for 6:00 p.m. today, Sunday, September 13, 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.
Tropical Storm Sally continues to move west-northwest and is now forecast to make landfall somewhere between southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi coast on Tuesday as a Category 1 hurricane. Uncertainty remains in forecast track and intensity. Coastal flooding, heavy rain, and strong/damaging wind are all possible.
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, especially main water lines to port facilities, 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.
LA DOTD has suspended tolls on the elevated LA 1 Expressway in Leeville as of 11:00 a.m. today to aid in evacuation travels.
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 12:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2020 and will remain closed until the threat of the storm has passed, 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: Rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches are forecast through Tuesday, with locally higher amounts over 20 inches possible. Slow movement of this system could create significant rainfall and associated flooding threats.
- TIDES/STORM SURGE: Storm surge of 4-7 feet possible, depending on storm track and intensity. Storm surge could begin as early as Monday morning.
- WINDS: Strong, gusty winds with increased probability of sustained tropical force winds across coastal southeast Louisiana. Winds expected at the coast early Monday.
- ROADWAYS: Roads are currently open to vehicular traffic, but coastal flooding is a concern as always on Hwy 1 between Leon Theriot Flood Gates in Golden Meadow and Elevated Hwy 1 in Leeville.
WARNINGS, WATCHES, & ADVISORIES (Updated 9/13/2020 @ 2:00 PM):
- Hurricane Warning in effect for Lafourche Parish.
- Storm Surge Warning in effect for coastal LA, including the Port Fourchon area.
- Flash Flood Watch in effect for Lafourche Parish.
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.