New Orleans residents prepare for tropical storms

Residents and visitors in New Orleans on Sunday were preparing to leave town or hunker down as Marco approaches Louisiana coast.

Ed Feys of Detroit, Michigan, who was in New Orleans visiting his son, loed back of his vehicle with jugs of bottled water and canned goods, saying he's t sure what to expect.

"Is it going to be a catastrophe or is it going to be just a lot of rain?" he said.

New Orleans resident Clay Smith said he's remaining optimistic, as he loed his car with rations.

"It seems to be moving pretty quickly, and it's t that strong," Smith said. "So, I'm hoping it's a rain event and power stays on. But, it could go off."

New Orleans resident Matw Meloy said he filled tank in his car and planned to check batteries and flashlights and clear gutters ahe of Marco's arrival. He also planned to move his car to " highest point possible" since streets are prone to flooding.

Sandy Port walked French Quarter, her visit to city from Bullhe City, Arizona, cut short due to Marco. She was supposed to stay through end of month but changed her flight to leave Monday morning.

"I kw all about when b wear comes," she said. "You eir want to get ahe of it and try t to ride it out because you just never kw what's going to happen."

Marco became a hurricane over Gulf of Mexico Sunday on a path toward Louisiana coast. Tropical Storm Laura battered Dominican Republic and Haiti and heed to same part of U.S. coast, also as a potential hurricane.

It would be first time two hurricanes form in Gulf of Mexico simultaneously, according to records dating to at least 1900, said Coloro State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

National Hurricane Center said Marco was about 300 miles (480 kilometers) south of mouth of Mississippi River and heing rth-rthwest at 14 miles per hour (22 kph), packing winds of 75 miles per hour (120 kph).

centre warned of life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force winds along Gulf Coast.

(Im Credit Pixabay)