It’s official. Tropical Storm Cindy has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, about 430 km south of Morgan City, La., and driving heavy rainfall across much of the central Gulf of Mexico. In fact, the National Weather Service forecasts a 100 percent of rain for Biloxi this afternoon and tonight, and a 90 percent chance Wednesday and Wednesday night.
The storm has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and has prompted a Tropical Storm Warning – meaning tropical storm conditions are in effect within the next 24 to 36 hours – for the area from the mouth of the Pearl River to High Island, Texas.
The National Weather Service is advising marine interests along the Gulf Coast from the central Texas coast to the western Florida Panhandle should monitor the progress of this system.
“We are continuing to do the things that we need to do to prepare for inclement weather,” Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich said this afternoon, “and we encourage residents to do the same. There is nothing to be alarmed about, just have a plan and work your plan.”
The City Council this afternoon declared a state of emergency, a measure that gives the mayor authority to make any necessary emergency purchases and take other steps to help protect city property and public safety.
Gilich said more than two dozen Public Works laborers were cleaning storm drains throughout the city, making sure they will be able to accommodate the possible rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated areas of greater than 10 inches possible through Thursday.
“We’re asking residents to take steps this afternoon to pick up any lawn clippings or trash that may be blocking their curbs and storm drains,” Gilich said. “Please place those items in your trash can, and secure any items in your yards.”
See local conditions, advisories
See real-time weather radar
Meanwhile, in east Biloxi
Oscar Renda Contracting, the firm overseeing the 55 miles of infrastructure work on streets in east Biloxi, said that its entire workforce of 130-plus workers were in the work zones today maintaining traffic control, ensuring stormwater pollution and prevention plan is in place and without deficiencies, and picking up any loose materials and trash.
Said Jennifer Matranga of Oscar Renda: “We have additional road maintenance equipment being delivered to the site so that once the rain subsides, we can double our road maintenance efforts.
“We have two additional pumps on site on standby, and we have secured access to more should we need them.”
To reach Oscar Renda, call 228-207-3353 or email jmatranga@oscarrenda.com.
See the video of progress
Half-dozen locations offer self-serve sand bags
The City of Biloxi has set up a half-dozen locations were residents can make their own sand bags.
Shovels, sand and sand bags are now available for the public at these locations:
Cavalier Park, 2059 Lawrence St.; Popp’s Ferry Recreational Soccer Fields, 2150 Popp’s Ferry Road; Biloxi Fire Station 8, 8479 Woolmarket Road, Biloxi Fire Station 9, 9370 Oaklawn Road; and Todd Migues Park, 425 Parker St. and John Henry Beck Park, Division Street.
‘R U Ready?’ We’re on for tonight
The City of Biloxi launches its first of three storm preparedness education events tonight, against a backdrop of forecasts with flood advisories and 80 percent chances of rain over the next three days.
“R U Ready?” kicks off this evening from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dr. Frank Gruich Sr. Community Center on Howard Avenue, with a wealth of useful information from emergency managers, county and state agencies and local businesses. The second event will be Wednesday, June 21 at the Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center, followed by the third event on Thursday, June 22 at the Joppa Shrine Center.
See the flyer
See the latest weather advisories
News and notes: Photos and video
City Council: To see photos from the City Council meeting this afternoon, click here. To see photos from the downtown restoration meeting held this morning, click here.
You are there: You can get the gist of Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich’s vision for downtown Biloxi and the ideas being discussed by the planners in 27-minutes of unedited video from the meeting this morning. To see the video, now on the city’s YouTube channel, click here.
