Residents flee, oil firms shut offshore production as Storm Francine intensifies

10/9/2024 19:12

        Tropical Storm Francine began to rapidly intensify and was expected to produce a dangerous category 2 hurricane, forecasters said, prompting Louisiana residents to flee inland and oil and gas producers to shut-in Gulf of Mexico production.
        
        The storm could wallop the Louisiana coast on Wednesday with life-threatening 100 mile per hour (160 kph) winds, drenching rains and an up to 10-foot storm surge. It is expected to make landfall near Cameron, bringing a major storm test for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants recently built in the region.
        
        Authorities called for a mandatory evacuation of residents in three Louisiana coastal communities, schools were shut and officials distributed sandbags to help protect against flooding.