JACKSON, Miss. — Tropical Storm Karen has weakened this morning, but continues to make its way towards the Gulf Coast. It is projected to make landfall this weekend.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Chad Entromont says the storm will continue to move towards South-central, Southeast Louisiana today. “It’s gonna slow down as it feels the impact of the cold front that’s coming through the Plains,” he said. “And will probably get close to making it inland over Southeast Louisiana and make a turn. It could skirt the Mississippi coast as it goes northeast. So it’s a little tricky right now.”
And that’s why Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Latham is not taking any chances. “It’s important for everyone to understand that we are not overreacting to this. But hope is not a strategy,” he said. “We can hope that this storm moves further east, and certainly that’s a possibility, but we cannot develop a strategy based on that.”
Latham is urging you to have a preparedness kit ready. It should include a flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, water and food that won’t spoil.
He says evacuation shelters are in place. One of those could be the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. The State Fair is going on there now. But if it’s needed the fair will shut down and the coliseum would be used to house thousands.
Governor Phil Bryant has already declared a State of Emergency ahead of Karen. And President Obama has recalled those furloughed FEMA workers to help out with Karen.
