Laura strengthens to Category 4 hurricane, threatens catastrophic storm surge at US Gulf Coast

Laura has strengthened into an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane with a maximum wind speed of 140 miles each hour since it heads for a catastrophic landfall near to the Texas and Louisiana border, US authorities have said.

Destructive storm surge and damaging winds will affect areas near to the site of landfall. Hurricane Laura can be an inland flood risk as far north and east as Arkansas and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. Isolated tornadoes are also expected from Laura.

"As of right now, it appears like Houston will be spared from the major impacts and power outages. It might experience gusty, possibly tropical storm force, winds and stormy weather at times from the rainbands. Our eastern cities including Winnie, Liberty, and Livingston could still experience damaging winds as the hurricane moves north onto land late tonight into tomorrow morning”, based on the National Hurricane Center advisory.

In Texas, around 4,00,000 persons in coastal regions of Galveston, Beaumont and Port Arthur have already been located under mandatory evacuation orders. Texas Governor Greg Abbott told reporters Wednesday that those in Laura's path should leave if they haven't already done so.

"The energy of Hurricane Laura is unprecedented, and Texans must do something now to get out of harm's way and protect themselves," Abbott said. "The State of Texas is prepared to react to the storm, and we will work alongside federal and local officials to keep Texans safe."

The COVID-19 pandemic is complicating efforts to shelter evacuees safely. They are being directed to hotels instead of typically crowded shelters.

Despite warnings, some residents said they will stay behind and are taking measures to get ready their homes, using storm shutters and generators. Some were boarding their homes with plyboard all day long.

The mayor of Lake Charles said he suspects the coronavirus pandemic and economical hardship are leading many persons to take pause. People staying behind will probably need to wait hours for first responders to attain them.

"The moment winds get above 40 mph, it is just absolutely unsafe to have vehicles from the street," Hunter said. "So if people are staying, there is likely to be an extended time frame, at least 4-6 hours, where public safety, police will not be in a position to react to you."

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said in a news conference, "The storm surge flooding is starting now in Louisiana, well ahead of the storm. It'll just worsen over the very next day or so."

A lot more than 2,00,000 persons in the Calcasieu and Cameron parishes of southwestern Louisiana were placed under a mandatory evacuation order. "If you are in those low-lying areas, if your neighborhood officials have told you that there surely is an evacuation in place, be it mandatory or voluntary, we are looking for you evacuating now," Edwards said.

Laura's storm surge is expected to reach levels not observed in Louisiana since Hurricane Audrey in 1957, he said.

In line with the National Hurricane Center, “Laura is an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane, now with maximum sustained winds of near 150 mph - just 12 mph short of the Category 5 classification. Forecasters say the storm could strengthen before it reaches the coast.”

THE GUTS said storm surge - the rise in seawater the effect of a storm - and tropical storm-force winds will arrive well in advance of the storm's center, and that "all preparations to safeguard life and property should be rushed to completion in the next few hours."

"Remember that a hurricane isn't just a point. Impacts will extend definately not where the center eventually moves inland”, authorities added.

Lately Wednesday evening, water is rising along beaches and roads in elements of southern Louisiana and Texas, and winds over the region are picking right up speed. The National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday afternoon that if people delay evacuating, the roads could already be flooded.

Laura is likely to weaken rapidly after it creates landfall Wednesday night into Thursday morning, however the projected storm surge could still cause the most life-threatening damage, the hurricane center said.

If the peak surge occurs during high tide, the water along Johnson Bayou to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge on the Louisiana coast could rise between 15 and 20 feet. Other close by areas could see storm surge as high as 15 feet.