Texas Governor Activates Emergency Responders Ahead of Potential Hurricane Landfall

Tropical Storm Francine, which formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to hit Texas and Louisiana by late Wednesday prompting Texas to activate its emergency response system.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott put state emergency responders on increased readiness.
The governor added that residents “are urged to take the necessary precautions for potential tropical weather, including remaining weather aware, monitoring road conditions, and having an emergency plan to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones.”
It’s not clear if Louisiana’s governor will implement similar measures such as declaring a state of emergency. As of Monday morning, no emergency or disaster declaration has been issued.
A hurricane watch has been issued from Cameron eastward to Grand Isle in Louisiana, while a tropical storm watch was also issued from High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, and from Grand Isle, Louisiana, to the Mouth of the Pearl River including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, the NHC said.
“While it is too soon to pinpoint the exact location and magnitude of impacts, the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are increasing for portions of the Louisiana and upper Texas coastlines beginning Tuesday night,” the NHC has said.
The storm system is expected to produce four to eight inches of rain, with localized amounts of 12 inches, from northeastern Mexico northward along parts of the southern Texas coast, and across southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi into Thursday, according to the bulletin.
The heavy rainfall is likely to increase the risk of flash and urban flooding in those states, forecasters warn.
There have been no named tropical storms or hurricanes since mid-August when Hurricane Ernesto was named.
A second area of low pressure, to the east of the first, has a 60 percent of becoming a depression within the coming seven days, the NHC added.