Looming over the coast of Texas and Louisiana, Laura is already a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson five-point scale. Meteorologists will warn of the dangers and fear that the element will have disastrous consequences.
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Local authorities in the US are preparing for the worst. The National Guard was put on standby
/DAN ANDERSON /PAP / EPA
Laura, which hits the South Coast of the US on the night Wednesday through Thursday, will bring wind to rip off trees and rain causing local flooding. As meteorologists predict – rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico will reverse their course, flowing from their shores. Warnings against tornadoes have also been issued along the hurricane route.
In the last few hours, Laura has grown stronger in the Gulf of Mexico. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a hurricane hit land as a category five,” warned CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray.
The area around the Texas-Louisiana border will suffer the most, according to forecasts. Houston – the largest city in the region – will avoid the worst-case scenario, the hurricane center – according to the latest data – will bypass it. However, power cuts may occur in the agglomeration.
“This is a catastrophic, life-threatening hurricane,” said NHC director Ken Graham.
Local authorities do not ignore the appeals of meteorologists and are preparing for the worst. Recommendations or the obligation to evacuate were issued to nearly 1.5 million people. The National Guard was put on standby.
Road tolls were lifted on highways in Harris County, Texas, to facilitate escape from the elements. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, special shelters were equipped with personal protective equipment, including masks and disinfectants. In order to avoid excessive crowds, some of the evacuees were directed to hotels, not to shelters.
Laura will hit the US coast two days before Saturday’s 15th anniversary of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Many inhabitants of the region remember the devastating effects of this element. Katrina caused a catastrophic flood in the city, killing more than 1,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of people moved out, many never returned to New Orleans.
From Washington, Mateusz Obremski
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