Calcasieu Parish Issues Emergency Declaration

UPDATE: 4:00 PM

The entire Southwest Louisiana area is under a Tropical Storm Warning, however, this warning will be upgraded as Tropical Storm Francine is predicted to become a hurricane.

The following schools will now be closed due to the impending weather Diocese of Lake Charles, Lake Charles Charter Prep., Bishop Noland Episcopal and High School, Lake Charles Charter Academy, Beauregard, Cameron, and Jeff Davis Parishes will be closed.

Francine is expected to strengthen, and local weather is going to deteriorate going into Tuesday. A mandatory evacuation has been issued for parts of Cameron Parish, Hackberry-Johnson Bayou, Holly Beach, Grand Cheniere, Creole, and Big Lake. For more Hurricane Francine information go to getagameplan.org. Please watch the local news KPLC./KVHP for guidance on your area's weather forecast, city officials' recommendations, shelters, and more.

There will be another news briefing tomorrow morning September 10, 2024, among government, state, and local municipalities to inform the public how to proceed in preparations ahead of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Francine making landfall.

UPDATE: 1:05 PM

Out of an abundance of caution in anticipation of Tropical Storm Francine developing into a hurricane.McNeese State University Executive Leadership has made the following determination. Effective noon on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the campus will move to online course delivery.

All campus offices will close at 1 p.m. and all classes will be canceled on Wednesday, Sept.11. Campus residents are encouraged to leave campus during the closure, but residence halls will remain open. Dining operations will continue on a modified schedule in Rowdy's Cafeteria on Wednesday.

All other dining establishments and campus offices will be closed beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday through Wednesday. Given the current track of the storm, McNeese is anticipating a full reopening on Thursday, Sept. 12. The Executive Leadership Team will assess the status of the campus on Wednesday to determine reopening procedures.

Original School Closure Notice

Following this morning's Calcasieu Parish Police Jury weather briefing and after consulting with area emergency officials, all Calcasieu Parish Schools will be closed on September 10, and Wednesday, September 11. Acadia Parish Schools will close at Noon on Tuesday, September 10, and remain closed on Wednesday, September 11.

The decision was made out of an abundance of precautions so that Southwest Louisiana families could prepare for impending weather conditions and in anticipation of the landfall of Hurricane Francine.

The school board meeting planned for Tuesday evening has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, September 17. We will continue to monitor the weather closely and will provide updates to everyone in the coming days. An update is expected to advise families regarding the status of school on Thursday, September 12, as the weather system progresses and gets closer to landfall.