LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish is under a State of Emergency in addition to a Coastal Flood Advisory, a Hurricane Warning and Storm Surge Warning in advance of Tropical Storm Nate.

Nate is expected to intensify before making landfall near Southeast Louisiana late Saturday night into early Sunday morning as a Category 1 Hurricane.

A storm surge warning of three to six feet is in effect for Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, which could mean significant flooding in low-lying areas and areas prone to flooding.

Lac Des Allemands is also being monitored with lake levels running a 1/2 foot above normal.

Tropical storm force winds are possible as early as noon Saturday, and residents should be prepared for potential wind impacts and power outages.

On Friday, Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Pre-Disaster Emergency Declaration request for 17 Louisiana Parishes was approved by President Donald Trump. The declaration allows the state to more easily access federal response resources in the event that they become necessary.

“I appreciate the speed and decisiveness with which President Trump granted our Pre-Disaster Emergency Declaration request in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nate making landfall along our coast,” Edwards said. “This declaration will help us continue the process of preparing for potential severe weather with the support of federal resources at our disposal.”

This assistance is for the parishes of Assumption, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Vermillion.