According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Francine is expected to grow into a hurricane today, Tuesday, Sept. 10, and land as a hurricane on Wednesday over Louisiana, where Gov. Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency. U.S. oil and gas companies have paused production due to the storm, and sources have released notices to remind fishermen and boaters alike to plan to protect their boats and other assets.
Francine began as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened further into a tropical storm on Monday. Forecasters expect the storm to move ashore as a possible Category 2 hurricane as it has been slightly gaining speed and shifting eastward, causing weather alerts as far as the Florida border. According to BBC, residents along the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines are being warned of life-threatening storm surges and have been urged to complete hurricane preparations by Tuesday evening.
The National Hurricane Center noted that Francine is marking the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. It will further bring considerable flash and urban flooding to parts of Louisiana. Schools and colleges in the state have closed through Wednesday in preparation for the hurricane. Francine follows a lull in the Atlantic hurricane season, which left researchers stunned.
U.S. oil and gas producers in the Gulf, including Exxon Mobil and Shell, have evacuated staff and, in some spots, paused drilling in anticipation of Hurricane Francine. The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) estimates that about 23.55% of the current oil production and 26.56% of the current natural gas production in the Gulf has been temporarily shut down due to the storm.
Data from the offshore operator reported by BSEE as of 11:30 a.m. (CDT) On Sept. 10, personnel were evacuated from 130 production platforms, 35% of the 371 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Shell wrote in a statement, “Because of downstream impacts, we have shut in production at our Perdido, Auger, and Enchilada/ Salsa assets. At our Whale asset, which is not scheduled to begin operations until later this year, we have safely paused drilling operations.”
According to Lafourche Parish officials, no unmanned vessels, including commercial fishing vessels, are to be left during the storm after a mandatory evacuation order for all residents was issued. All vessels in Port Fourchon are to be staffed. Gov. Landry said in his state of emergency declaration that the state “will allow parishes statewide to have resources to help protect the life, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Louisiana.”
