Important Takeaways:

• Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a hurricane Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico and will threaten the U.S. Gulf Coast with flooding rain, a life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds.
• The current National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast calls for a dangerous Category 2 hurricane landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday evening. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for people in multiple parishes as state and local leaders have urged people to prepare for the storm’s fury.
• “Now is the time for Louisianans to prepare for impacts from Tropical Storm Francine, which is expected to become a hurricane … so get your game plan in place, monitor the news, and take advice from local officials,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issuing a state of emergency allowing parishes statewide to have the resources needed to help protect the lives of residents.
• In Baton Rouge, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said she has been in constant contact with the National Weather Service, along with local and state officials, as preparations are made for Francine’s landfall.
• “This storm is expected to bring threats of heavy rain, gusty to damaging winds and possibly a few tornadoes,” she said. “I want to encourage everyone to make preparations now.”

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