For the first time in recorded history, two hurricanes will be in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time. Hurricane Marco is projected to make landfall in Louisiana with Mississippi possibly receiving a life-threatening storm surge of up to 4-6 feet. Tropical storm Laura, which is expected to become a hurricane Tuesday, is also projected to make landfall over Louisiana. Greg Michel, Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, says it's possible for the two storms to interact with one another, which makes them very unpredictable. "Anticipate the effects of these storms starting sometime on Monday, and landfall is projected right now to be sometime Wednesday, Wednesday afternoon," said Michel at a Saturday press conference. "So stay focused, and pay attention, as we get ready and watch these storms on a daily basis."
For those seeking shelter, the CDC has limited shelter capacity by half because of coronavirus concerns. Emergency officials in the three coastal counties anticipate opening more shelters than normal to accommodate the needs of residents. However, Greg Michel says people should attempt to evacuate if possible. "We have done everything that we possibly can to ensure that Mississippians have what they need when they need it in regards to shelter space," says Michel. "The state of Florida is going to be working with us and helping us through setting up a non-congregate opportunity for those who might need to go to a non-congregate shelter."
A statewide mask mandate is still in effect, and people should pack masks when seeking shelter or evacuating.
