A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the entirety of Cameron Parish by the Cameron Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness Tuesday morning, ahead of Tropical Storm Francine’s landfall.

On Monday afternoon, an evacuation order was issued for the southern parts of Cameron Parish — including the Hackberry, Johnson Bayou, Holly Beach, Cameron, Creole, Grand Chenier, Little Chenier and Big Lake communities.

Cameron Parish OEP Director Danny Lavergne said in the release on Tuesday that “due to the recent changes in the forecasted track and intensity” of Tropical Storm Francine, the evacuation order was expanded to include the whole parish.

Cameron Parish OEP Assistant Director Ashley Buller told the American Press on Tuesday the evacuation order will not be lifted until Francine makes landfall.

While the storm is not expected to make landfall until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, tropical storm-force winds will begin Tuesday afternoon, she said. Expected conditions include high winds, localized heavy rains, high water, downed trees and power outages.

The storm surge is Cameron Parish OEP’s greatest concern. Evacuation recommendations are to move north and away from the coast.

“As long as they’re getting out of that forecasted surge area, that’s always a good sign.”

As the storm track has moved eastward, the storm surge values for the Cameron coast have dropped from five to 10 feet to three to five feet. Eastern areas could still see a five- to 10-foot storm surge, she said.

Every storm is different. This is a factor that residents should consider when making storm-related decisions, she said.

“Just because your house was OK for a category four hurricane — different scenarios may present themselves for a category two. It doesn’t always mean that just because the category is lower that it’s still safe.”

The National Weather Service anticipates that Francine will become a category one hurricane with sustained winds of 65 mph.

On the Road

Evacuation traffic in Cameron is heavy as people drive north.

“We still have people hauling stuff out of the southern portion of the parish,” Buller said.

She explained the traffic is a welcome site for emergency managers.

“It is something we like to see because it means the residents have taken the warning seriously.”

The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office is keeping an eye on traffic and any hazardous conditions to ensure motorist safety, she said.

Evacuation can be stressful, so motorists should remain patient and courteous on the road.

“Everybody gets nervous around these times,” she said. “Make sure you have a full tank of gas and if you see a hazard try to call it in. … Stay safe and try to get to your destination before the weather gets bad.”

Motorists who encounter a hazard on the road should contact 911 to inform emergency services.

Hunkering down

For those not evacuating, it is vital to have supplies at the ready.

“There’s always going to be residents that stay behind. We can’t force everyone to get out. We just hope that everybody has enough supplies on hand to get them through a few days without power or any other utilities”

No emergency services will be active while weather conditions are severe.

“If there is a health emergency, you’re kind of stuck and on your own. That’s why we encourage people to leave,” Buller said. “We can’t expect our emergency personnel to put themselves at risk and their lives at risk to get out there under evacuation mandates.”

Since Hurricane Laura in 2020, Cameron Parish has not had an operational hospital. During Francine, no medical facilities in Cameron will be open, she said. Ambulance services on the east side of the parish have already pulled out of the parish. Those on the west side in certain portions of the Grand Lake and Big Lake will stop services at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.