Sept. 14 @ 12:00 p.m. – Sally Phase 4 Mandatory Evacuation, Update 9
GLPC STORM PHASE 4: MANDATORY EVACUATION
Hurricane Sally
UPDATE #9
Monday, September 14, 2020
12:00 p.m.
Port Fourchon is in Storm Phase 4, which is Mandatory Evacuation, as ordered by the Lafourche Parish President effective 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2020, 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.
Hurricane Sally has now formed in the Gulf of Mexico as it approaches the northern Gulf coast, and water levels are beginning to rise. Coastal flooding, Heavy rainfall, storm surge, and strong winds are all expected to impact the northern Gulf Coast region today through Wednesday.
Sally’s forecast track has again shifted slightly eastward and is now expected to make landfall between easternmost Louisiana and coastal Mississippi on Tuesday. Some uncertainty still remains in forecast track and intensity.
Roads are currently open to vehicular traffic, but this will transition to road closure if storm waters overtop the roadway on low-lying areas of LA 1 below the Golden Meadow Lock. LA DOTD has suspended tolls on the elevated LA 1 Expressway in Leeville.
Port Fourchon Harbor Police will be monitoring the condition of the roadway, and the Port Commission will send out updates as they become available.
A checkpoint manned by Port Fourchon Harbor Police has been put in place at GLPC’s Fourchon Operations Center on LA 3090 to monitor traffic in and out of the port and maintain safety during mandatory evacuation.
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 at 12:00 noon today, Monday, September 14, 2020 until the storm weather passes, 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: Slight to high risk of excessive rainfall expected. Rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts over 20 inches possible. Slow movement of this system could create significant rainfall and associated flooding threats.
- TIDES/STORM SURGE: Elevated tides are moving in. Storm surge of 1-5 feet possible, depending on storm track and intensity.
- WINDS: Strong, gusty winds with 30-50% chance of sustained tropical force winds.
- 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 9/14/2020 @ 10:00 AM):
- 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.