Hurricane Laura Evacuation Map, Update As Thousands Forced to Flee Texas and Louisiana

Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate areas across Texas and Louisiana as Hurricane Laura approaches the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Laura is expected to rapidly strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane, and is forecast to produce a life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding over eastern Texas and Louisiana today.

Satellite data indicates Hurricane Laura's maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 110 mph with higher gusts, and the hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles.

The storm is expected to be a major hurricane at landfall, though rapid weakening is expected once Hurricane Laura makes contact with land.

Evacuation Orders in Texas

Thousands of Texans have been told to evacuate, with more than 385,000 ordered to leave the cities of Beaumont, Galveston, and Port Arthur.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to waive all tolls along the agency's portion of SH 99/Grand Parkway to help those who need to evacuate.

In a press release, Abbott said: "As Hurricane Laura approaches Texas, this waiver will ensure that Texans are able to evacuate efficiently ahead of the storm.

"I urge Texans in the area to continue to take all necessary precautions as Hurricane Laura nears the coast and heed the guidance of local officials."

Texas announced the following mandatory and evacuation orders at 9 p.m. CDT on August 25:

Mandatory Evacuation Orders in Texas

• Bolivar Peninsula
• City of Galveston
• Hardin County
• Jasper County
• Jefferson County
• Newton County
• Orange County
• City of Port Arthur

Voluntary Evacuation Orders in Texas

• City of Baytown (Zipcode specific: 77520 and 77523 for vulnerable populations in low-lying areas)
• Brazoria County
• Chambers County
• Harris County, Zones A and B
• City ofJamaica Beach,
• Liberty County
• City of Nassau Bay
• City of Seabrook
• City of Tiki Island

Evacuation Centers in Texas:

• San Antonio: 254 Gembler Road, San Antonio, TX 78219
• Austin: Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Boulevard, Austin, TX 78617
• Dallas-Fort Worth: Mesquite Reception Center, 15515 E. IH-20, Mesquite, TX 75181
• Ellis County: Knights of Columbus Hall, 850 S IH-45, Ennis, Texas 75119

Evacuation Orders in Louisiana

Thousands have been forced to leave their homes in Louisiana, including 200,000 residents who were ordered to vacate the low-lying Calcasieu Parish in the southwestern part of the state.

The map below from Louisiana GOHSEP indicates where there are mandatory and voluntary evacuations in Louisiana as Hurricane Laura approaches.

In a Twitter post, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said: "Louisiana must take Hurricane Laura seriously. Make sure your plans are in place, that you have what you need and that you evacuate if you need to before it's too late."

Mandatory Evacuations in Louisiana

• Calcasieu Parish (Low-Lying Areas)
• Cameron Parish
• Jefferson Parish (Barataria, Crown Point, Grand Isle, Jean Lafitte, Lower Lafitte)
• Lafourche Parish (South of Leon Theriot Flood Gate)
• Terrebonne Parish (South of Zone 1)

Voluntary Evacuations in Louisiana

• Acadia Parish (South of Hwy. 90)
• Allen Parish
• Beauregard Parish (Low-Lying Areas)
• Evangeline Parish (Low-Lying Areas)
• Iberia Parish (At-Risk Areas)
• Jefferson Davis Parish (Low-Lying Areas)
• Lafayette Parish (Low-Lying Areas)
• Orleans Parish (Irish Bayou, Lake Catherine, Venetian Isles)
• St. John the Baptist Parish (Areas north of I-10)
• St. Martin Parish (Stephensville & Belle River)
• St. Mary Parish (Cypremort Point, South of Intracoastal Waterway)
• Tangipahoa Parish (South of Hwy. 22)
• Terrebonne Parish (Pointe-Aux-Chene, South of Zone 2)
• Vermilion Parish (Below Hwy. 14 in Erath and Delcambre, South of Abbeville, South of Gueydan, South of Hwy. 335, west of Vermilion River)

Evacuation Centers in Louisiana

• Tourist Welcome Center: US 65 & 84, 1401 Carter St. (US 84), Vidalia, LA
• Tourist Welcome Center, 836 I-20 West, Tallulah, LA
• Paragon Casino, 711 Paragon Place, Marksville, LA
• Sammy's Truck Stop, I-49, Exit 53, 3601 LA 115 W, Bunkie, LA
• Med Express Office, 7525 US 71, Alexandria, LA
• P.E. Gym LSU-Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, LA
• Pickering High School,180 Lebleu Rd., Leesville, LA
• Mowad Civic Center, 5th Ave. and 10th St., 1 blk. Off US 165, Oakdale, LA

Louisiana has more details on evacuation centers and emergency numbers to call, plus information on emergency alert systems.