Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana residents need to be ready for a major rain event as Tropical Storm Barry approaches Louisiana’s coastline. Edwards says the National Hurricane Center predicts 10 to 20 inches over south-central and southeast Louisiana, with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches.
“And as you know these rain bands, we don’t exactly how far out they are going to spread, we don’t know the intervals between periods of heavy rain, we don’t know if there will be time for some of the rain to drain,” said Edwards.
Edwards expects Barry will produce numerous power outages mainly caused by trees falling on power lines.
“It doesn’t take much wind to cause a tree to fall or a utility pole to fall,” said Edwards.
Edwards says they also expect to conduct search and rescue missions.
“Therefore we have 3,000 national guardsmen in place with various pieces of equipment to include numerous high water vehicles, as well as over 300 buses staged in three-vehicle staging areas,” said Edwards.
Individuals who are rescued by first responders could be taken to the state’s mega-shelter in Alexandria.
