HLSLIX THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI

TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR A PORTION OF THE NORTHERN GULF COAST

NEW INFORMATION ---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - NONE

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND STORM SURGE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN ORLEANS, LOWER PLAQUEMINES, LOWER ST. BERNARD, SOUTHEAST ST. TAMMANY, SOUTHERN HANCOCK, SOUTHERN HARRISON, AND SOUTHERN JACKSON - A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL JEFFERSON, CENTRAL PLAQUEMINES, CENTRAL ST. CHARLES, COASTAL JEFFERSON, LOWER LAFOURCHE, LOWER ST. CHARLES, LOWER TERREBONNE, NORTHERN HANCOCK, NORTHERN HARRISON, NORTHERN JACKSON, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, UPPER JEFFERSON, UPPER LAFOURCHE, UPPER PLAQUEMINES, UPPER ST. BERNARD, UPPER ST. CHARLES, UPPER TERREBONNE, AND WESTERN ORLEANS

* STORM INFORMATION: - ABOUT 250 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS LA OR ABOUT 200 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GULFPORT MS - 28.7N 86.4W - STORM INTENSITY 50 MPH - MOVEMENT NORTHWEST OR 315 DEGREES AT 5 MPH

SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------

TROPICAL STORM BERTHA IS CURRENTLY SOUTH OF THE COAST OF THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND WILL GRADUALLY CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHWEST. SOME SLIGHT ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE BEFORE REACHING THE REGION SOMETIME MIDWEEK. BERTHA IS FORECAST TO BRING THE THREAT OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS, LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL GENERALLY SOUTH OF I-10, AND STORM SURGE. THE COASTAL AREAS OF MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA WILL HAVE THE GREATEST THREAT, ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-10.

TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FROM THE FLORIDA ALABAMA BORDER WEST TO THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. TROPICAL STORM WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FROM THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO MORGAN CITY, LOUISIANA. ADDITIONALLY, TROPICAL STORM WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS INCLUDING LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND MAUREPAS AS WELL AS INLAND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES OF JACKSON, HARRISON, AND HANCOCK.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS -----------------

* WIND: PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI COASTS. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE: - DAMAGE TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, SHEDS, AND UNANCHORED MOBILE HOMES. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS BLOWN ABOUT. - MANY LARGE TREE LIMBS BROKEN OFF. A FEW TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE SHALLOW ROOTED. SOME FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER. - A FEW ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY WITHIN URBAN OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS. - SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.

* SURGE: PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS THE LOUISIANA COAST EAST OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE: - AREAS OF INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING ACCENTUATED BY WAVES. DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS, MAINLY NEAR THE COAST. - SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS BECOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOW SPOTS. - MAJOR BEACH EROSION WITH HEAVY SURF BREACHING DUNES. STRONG AND NUMEROUS RIP CURRENTS. - MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS. SEVERAL SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN UNPROTECTED ANCHORAGES.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI, LITTLE TO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.

* FLOODING RAIN: PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 10 12 CORRIDOR. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE: - LOCALIZED RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT A FEW EVACUATIONS. - RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY RISE WITH SWIFTER CURRENTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND DITCHES MAY BECOME SWOLLEN AND OVERFLOW IN SPOTS. - FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER A FEW STRUCTURES, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. A FEW PLACES WHERE RAPID PONDING OF WATER OCCURS AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. SEVERAL STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS BECOME NEAR-FULL AND BEGIN TO OVERFLOW. SOME BRIEF ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.

* TORNADOES: LITTLE TO NO IMPACTS ARE ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI.

PRECAUTIONARY PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ----------------------------------

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: NOW IS THE TIME TO COMPLETE ALL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN. ENSURE YOU ARE IN A SAFE LOCATION BEFORE THE ONSET OF STRONG WINDS OR POSSIBLE FLOODING.

IF YOU ARE RELOCATING TO SAFE SHELTER, LEAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. MANY ROADS AND BRIDGES WILL BE CLOSED ONCE STRONG WINDS ARRIVE. CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTING AND DRIVE WITH CAUTION.

IF HEADING TO A COMMUNITY SHELTER, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SHELTER RULES BEFORE ARRIVAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS OR HAVE PETS. TAKE ESSENTIAL ITEMS WITH YOU FROM YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT.

FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SHELTER MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ANY ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED. REMEMBER, DURING THE STORM 9 1 1 EMERGENCY SERVICES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND IF CONDITIONS ARE UNSAFE. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION MAKING.

KEEP CELL PHONES WELL CHARGED. CELL PHONE CHARGERS FOR AUTOMOBILES CAN BE HELPFUL, BUT BE AWARE OF YOUR RISK FOR DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING IF YOUR CAR IS LEFT IDLING IN A GARAGE OR OTHER POORLY VENTILATED AREA.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN CALM, INFORMED, AND FOCUSED DURING AN EMERGENCY. BE PATIENT AND HELPFUL WITH THOSE YOU ENCOUNTER.

IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, BE SURE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE CITY OR TOWN IN WHICH YOU ARE STAYING AND THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICH IT RESIDES. LISTEN FOR THESE LOCATIONS IN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES. PAY ATTENTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

STORM SURGE IS THE LEADING KILLER ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES! MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN A SAFE AREA AWAY FROM THE SURGE ZONE. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT IN A SURGE-PRONE AREA, YOU COULD FIND YOURSELF CUTOFF BY FLOOD WATERS DURING AND AFTER THE STORM. HEED EVACUATION ORDERS ISSUED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

IF IN A PLACE THAT IS VULNERABLE TO HIGH WIND, SUCH AS NEAR LARGE TREES, A MANUFACTURED HOME, UPPER FLOORS OF A HIGH-RISE BUILDING, OR ON A BOAT, CONSIDER MOVING TO A SAFER SHELTER BEFORE THE ONSET OF STRONG WINDS OR FLOODING.

CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE FORECAST. ENSURE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE WEATHER WARNINGS.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV - FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG - FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG

NEXT UPDATE -----------

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS LA AROUND 11 AM CDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.