TLP:GREEN

• Rain Impact: 
  • Areas from western and central Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Alabama, and Mississippi should expect rainfall of 1-3 inches, with isolated 5-inch maximums.  
  • Southern parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama may see 1-2 inches of rain, with isolated 4-inch maximums. 
  • Through Saturday, 1-3 inches of rain may impact the central and southern Appalachian and the mid-Atlantic states. 
• Storm Surge: Coastal storm surge was expected to have subsided overnight, and inland effects of storm surge are expected to remain to the weekend. 
• Tornadoes: There remains the possibility for tornadoes in parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, and southern Kentucky. Further risk is likely to develop in parts of the mid-Atlantic between Virginia and North Carolina on Saturday.
• Power Outages: Power outages are spread throughout Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and eastern Texas with the most severe level of impacts occurring throughout central Louisiana following the path of the storm. 
• Road Closures: I10 remains closed in both directions from Mile Marker 34 (I-210/Lake Charles) to Mile Marker 25 (I-210/Sulphur) and continues to be closed at the Louisiana-Texas state line. There continue to be a number of road closures in south and central portions of Louisiana, especially in St. Bernard, Jefferson Davis, Allan, Orleans, and Calcasieu Parishes. Several roads have been closed in Texas between Milam and Orange along the Louisiana border due to debris or water in the road. 
• Fires: BioLab, member of KIK Corp., caught fire on August 27 causing chlorine gas to fill the air. A stay at home order was issued in addition to the evacuation order already in place for this area. The fire was extinguished on the evening of August 27, but a second fire broke out shortly after. At this time, the fire is contained and chlorine gas levels in the air are minimal. 

• Louisiana: Disaster Declaration EM-3538-LA was issued for Louisiana by FEMA on August 23, and covers an incident period that began August 22 and continues. The Declaration was amended on August 25 to also cover emergency protective actions from officials.  
• Texas: Disaster Declaration EM-3540-TX was issued by FEMA on August 24, and covers an incident period that began August 23 and continues. The Declaration was amended on August 25 to also cover emergency protective actions by officials. 
  • The declaration covers the following counties: Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Willacy. 
  • Texas Governor Abbott issued a state-level disaster declaration relating to Laura for three additional counties , which include Camp, Ellis, and Tarrant. 
• Arkansas: Disaster Declaration (EM-3541-AR) was issued for Arkansas by FEMA on August 27, and covers an incident period that began on August 26 and continues.  

• Arkansas: 96.0% (573/597) of pharmacies are reporting Open
• Louisiana: 81.3% (812/999) of pharmacies are reporting Open
• Mississippi:  96.4% (556/577) of pharmacies are reporting Open 
• Texas: 94.3% (3,703/3,925) of pharmacies are reporting Open

• Prescription Refill Guidance: 
  • Texas: In the event of a natural or manmade disaster, the Texas Pharmacy Act allows a pharmacist to dispense up to a 30-day supply of a prescription drug, other than a Schedule II controlled substance. 
  • Louisiana: When the Governor of Louisiana issues, or renews, a “State of Emergency”, a pharmacist may dispense a one-time emergency prescription of up to a 30-day supply of a prescribed medication. 
  • Arkansas: Under the 2017 Arkansas Code, if unable to obtain authorization from a provider, a pharmacist may dispense a one-time refill for a non-schedule II drug if the medication is essential to the maintenance of life or continuation of therapy, and if subsequent conditions apply.
• Access and Re-entry:
  • Louisiana: Statewide Credentialing and Access Program
  • Arkansas: There is no formal re-entry program. Visit the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management for more information.
  • Mississippi: Mississippi Emergency Access Program
  • Texas: Texas Responder Re-entry Program
• Healthcare Facility Status: Many hospitals are reporting that they are operating at reduced capacity, running on generators, or have no water. Facilities are prioritizing the transfer of patients at this time. 
  • Louisiana: 
    • CHRISTUS Ochsner Health Southwestern Louisiana is reporting that Laura caused damage to several of their facilities:
      • Lake Area Hospital in Lake Charles was closed to new patients and is discharging or transferring its current patients.
    • St. Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles has sustained exterior damage and as of August 27 was operating under backup power using a secondary water supply system. Its emergency care centers remain open. 
  • Texas: 
    • CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System is reporting that services and locations are resuming normal operations starting Friday, August 28.  
      • Both St. Elizabeth ER in Beaumont, and Jasper Memorial ER in Jasper remain open. 
• Shelters:  
  • General Updates: American Red Cross shelters remain open across Louisiana and Texas. . 
    • There are a reported total of 15,000 evacuees. 
    • Capacity in traditional large-scale hurricane shelters is limited to allow for social distancing measures. 
    • Evacuees cannot be sheltered in typical emergency shelter environments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon arrival at a shelter or hotel, evacuees are being screened for possible COVID-19 symptoms, and testing is available onsite. 
  • Texas: Evacuees who test positive will be sheltered in the city’s isolation facility, along with those who are experiencing symptoms, regardless of their testing status. 
    • At this time, Austin Public Health (APH) reports no evacuees have been sent to the isolation facility.
  • Louisiana: Most evacuees remain diverted to hotels or to stay with family/friends  
• COVID-19 Testing:
  • Texas: Testing remains steady even with the influx of evacuees. On-site testing is available at hotels where evacuees are staying and testing teams are being sent to shelters. 
  • Louisiana: Surge and community-based testing is paused until Saturday, Aug 29. The limited access to testing may result in higher numbers of positive cases in the following days.