Hurricane Watch: Hurricane Laura Makes Landfall in Louisiana

Hurricane Laura made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds above 100 miles per hour and historic storm surges. NATSO continues to monitor for updated declarations of importance to NATSO members. Allthough the storm is weakening to a Category 1, Laura is expected to remain a hurricane all the way to the Arkansas border, where it is expected to hit mid-day today. More than 600,000 customers are without power in Louisiana and Texas. 

Below is an updated listed of emergency declarations, waivers and other emergency documents issued by Federal and State agencies. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on August 24 granted a regional emergency declaration in response to Hurricane Laura and Tropical Storm Marco for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The waiver is in effect through September 23, 2020. UPDATE: On Aug. 27, FMCSA amended its declaration of emergency to include Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee. 

The regional declaration of emergency includes an Hours-of-Service waiver that applies to all commercial drivers nationwide who deliver designated emergency supplies, including fuel, to the areas covered by the declaration.

Governors in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas also declared states of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Laura.

In many states, the declaration of a state of emergency automatically triggers price gouging laws and waives Federal Hours of Service (HOS) requirements for commercial vehicles transporting emergency equipment, supplies, or personnel and enables state agencies to mobilize resources in advance of a storm.

NATSO will continue to monitor Hurricane Laura and provide updates to its members as they become available.

• Florida
  • Florida State of Emergency Press Release
  • Notice of Public Meeting Request for Proposal RFP-DEM-19-20-014 Emergency Fuels
• FMCSA Regional Declaration
  • Emergency Declaration No. 2020-04
  • Amended Emergency Declaration No. 2020-004
• Louisiana
  • Louisiana August 21, 2020, State of Emergency Declaration
  • DOTD Emergency Order
  • DOTD Toll Suspension
• Mississippi
  • Mississippi August 21, 2020, State of Emergency Declaration
  • President Trump’s Approval of Mississippi Request
• Texas
  • ​Texas, August 23, State of Emergency Declaration
  • Texas also renewed its disaster declaration following Hanna
  • President Trump’s Approval For Federal Emergency Declaration
  • Tropical Storms Marco and Laura Federal Disaster Relief Permit for the Transport of Relief Supplies

FEMA issued an advisory with the following information: 

• FEMA continues to work with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners to prepare for, and respond any possible impacts from these tropical systems. 
• The agency said it will continue to work with state, tribal and local partners as they plan for  sheltering operations in a COVID-19 environment. 
• FEMA, other federal agencies and the American Red Cross have modified policies and planning and have taken actions to ensure the federal government can respond to any disaster during our continued coronavirus response efforts.
• FEMA’s Pandemic Operational Guidance now includes virtual damage assessments and inspections for FEMA Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs, as well as National Flood Insurance Program claims.

NATSO has prepared a list of Hurricane resources to help members prepare for and recover from the storm. Those resources can be found here.