A day after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwardsdeclared a state of emergency ahead of a pair of hurricanes lining up in the Gulf of Mexico, the Trump administration followed suit in approving the state's emergency declaration.
The move allows Louisiana to obtain aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to supplement local efforts in response to Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura, which is projected to make landfall as a hurricane this week.
The approval signed by President Donald Trump on Sunday authorizes FEMA to coordinate disaster-relief efforts related to the storms' impact. That includes the deployment of resources for mass care and, evacuation and shelter support, according to a release from the White House.
FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor expressed thanks to the president for approving the emergency declaration as the situation continues to develop.
"I’ve connected with [Gov. Edwards] to offer our support and will continue to closely coordinate with the state on storm preparation & response," Gaynor posted to Twitter just after 3 p.m. on Sunday.
President@realDonaldTrump has approved an emergency declaration for Louisiana ahead of Hurricane#Marco & Tropical Storm#Laura. I’ve connected with@LouisianaGov to offer our support and will continue to closely coordinate with the state on storm preparation & response.
— Pete Gaynor (@FEMA_Pete)August 23, 2020
Thirty-six Louisiana parishes were covered in the declaration, including East Baton Rouge, Orleans, Jefferson Lafayette and surrounding areas.
Direct federal assistance could also be provided to the state's remaining 30 parishes as necessary, the release said.
Impacts from Marco, currently a Category 1 Hurricane, will be felt first along the Gulf Coast. The storm is projected to make landfall Monday afternoon along the south Louisiana coast, where it will weaken back into a tropical storm by 7 p.m.
Mandatory evacuations have already been ordered for areas of Plaquemines Parish, Grand Isle and Jefferson Parish and Port Fourchon outside of established levee systems.
"Louisiana is in a unique situation in that it is in the cone of two storms, which could impact different areas of the state in the coming days," Gov. Edwards said Saturday in declaring a state of emergency for Louisiana.
Hurricane warnings are in effect from Morgan City to the mouth of the Pearl River and a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch are in effect for Metro New Orleans and the north shore.
As Marco moves inland, Hurricane Laura is projected to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border early Thursday morning as a Category 2 hurricane, with a projected northerly curve that would have the system moving over Shreveport by Thursday night.
“These are unprecedented times,” Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet said on Saturday in reference to this week potentially marking the first time in history two hurricanes churned in the Gulf simultaneously. “We’re not trying to panic you. We’re trying to prepare you.”
