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Sen. Robert Allain of Franklin spent part of his Monday on calls with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and most of it communicating with local officials in his St. Mary-based district, which will soon have a hurricane headed it’s way.

“Vermilion Bay looks like it could be in the middle of the eye,” said Allain. “Everybody’s preparing for a Cat 2.”

Francine is expected to make landfall tomorrow afternoon with 100 mile-per-hour winds, forcing storm surge and rain and havoc into areas still recovering from previous hurricanes.

“We’re just telling people: Remember Ida,” Allain said. “It was not supposed to be as bad [as it was], and it did not go where it was supposed to go. Anything above a tropical storm, you’ve got to take it really seriously.” 

Jacques Thibodeaux, who leads the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said up to 9 inches of rain is expected over 12 hours with water, obviously, posing the greatest threat. 

Gov. Jeff Landry activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center on Monday and declared a state of emergency. He said 23 parishes had declared local emergencies as of Monday afternoon.

“We don’t want people to panic,” Landry said, urging residents to visit GetaGamePlan.org for information about how to prepare. “We have some time.” 

Landry said the administration was in the process of drafting an executive order regarding nursing homes. State officials also requested a pre-landfall declaration from the federal government. 

“Unfortunately, the current projected path of Hurricane Francine shows a landfall in areas of Louisiana still recovering from Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Ida,” U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy wrote in a letter urging President Joe Biden to issue a federal emergency declaration for Louisiana. “Due to the expected magnitude of Hurricane Francine, I fear that the state and local governments will be unable to fully respond without federal assistance.” 

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple urged insured property owners to review their policies and prepare for the storm.

“Prepare your property by trimming your trees, buying supplies and creating a home inventory,” Temple said. “Have an evacuation plan in the event your area becomes too dangerous.

House Transportation Chair Ryan Bourriaque’s district includes Vermilion and Cameron parishes, so his folks were “on high alert” Monday. Discussions with local officials began Sunday, he said. 

“It is important for me to be able to understand their needs and concerns before trying to communicate those to unified command in Baton Rouge,” Bourriaque said. “Some parishes may even consider relocating their OEP command center to avoid more significant weather impacts.” 

Five legislative meetings planned for today were canceled, as was Thursday’s meeting of the Louisiana Integrated Criminal Justice Information System. Friday’s Appropriations Committee review of several state agency budgets was still on as of Monday, Chair Jack McFarland said. 

A televised debate for the East Baton Rouge Parish mayor-president race that was scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed. A new date has not been announced. 

Sen. Jean-Paul Coussan, who is running for the Public Service Commission, has postponed a fundraiser that was scheduled for Wednesday. 

Rep. Brach Myers, who may run for Coussan’s seat if the latter moves to the PSC, has rescheduled a fundraiser planned for Wednesday to Sept. 18, the following Wednesday, at the same home in Lafayette. 

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