Gazebo Gazette

A new update from the advisory of the Harrison County Emergency Management states:

At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Gordon was located by NOAA Doppler weather radars near latitude 29.4 North, longitude 87.8 West. Gordon is moving toward the northwest near 15mph (24 km/h) and this general motion is expected to continue until landfall occurs tonight along the north-central Gulf coast. A northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected after landfall, with a gradual turn toward the north-northwest and north forecast to occur on Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Gordon will make landfall along the north-central Gulf Coast within the hurricane warning area this evening or tonight, and then move inland over the lower Mississippi Valley through Wednesday.

Data from NOAA Doppler weather radars indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is still possible, and Gordon could become a hurricane before landfall occurs along the north-central Gulf Coast this evening. Rapid weakening is forecast after Gordon moves inland.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from the center.  The estimated minimum central pressure is 1000 mb (29.53 inches).

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant issued a state of emergency for the 6 coastal counties of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone beginning on September 3 and continuing to provide local county governments plus municipalities with state assistance until the safety of the public.

Additionally, Harrison county will inact a curfew starting at 7 pm Tuesday night lasting until 7 am Wednesday morning as tropical storm gordon approaches harrison county.  Sheriff Troy Peterson and the poilice chiefs in Harrison County are concerned for the safety of motorist traveling in a tropical storm passing over the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Responders, public works and road department at the city, county and state level will be evaluating as the storm passes and insuring that it is safe to get the coast moving again.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

STORM SURGE:

The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicatedareas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…
Mouth of the Pearl River to Dauphin Island…3 to 5 ft.
Navarre Florida to Dauphin Island, including Mobile Bay…2 to 4 ft.
Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mouth of Mississippi River…2 to 4ft.

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

RAINFALL:

Gordon is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over the western Florida Panhandle, southwest Alabama, southern and central Mississippi, northeastern Louisiana, and southern Arkansas, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches through late Thursday. This rainfall will cause flash flooding across portions of these areas.

WIND:

Tropical storm conditions will spread onshore within portions of the warning area during the next few hours, with hurricane conditions expected by this evening in the hurricane warning area.

TORNADOES:

A couple of tornadoes are possible through tonight near the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.

Closures of Schools:

Harrison County School District – closed Wednesday

Pass Christian School District – closed Wednesday

Long Beach School District – closed Wednesday

St. Stanislaus College Prep – N/A

Our Lady Academy – closed Wednesday

St. Vincent de Paul Elementary – closed Wednesday

Coast Episcopal School – closed Wednesday

The Harrison County Shelters are:

County Farm Road 361 Shelter
15038 County Farm Rd Gulfport, MS 39503

D’Iberville Civic Center – Multi Purpose Building
10395 Auto Mall Parkway D’Iberville, MS 39540

D’Iberville High School
15625 Lamey Bridge Road Biloxi, MS 39532

Gulfport Central Elementary
1043 Pass Road Gulfport, MS 39501

Harrison Central High School
15600 School Road Gulfport, MS 39503

Lobouy Road 361 Shelter
9509 Lobouy Rd Pass Christian, MS 39571

North Bay Elementary School
1825 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS 39532

Salvation Army Building
2019 22nd Street Gulfport, MS 39501

Saucier Lizana Road 361 Shelter
23771 Saucier Lizana Rd Saucier, MS 39574

West Harrison High School
10399 County Farm Road Gulfport, MS 39503

Harrison County Self-Serve Sand Bag Locations:

In Long Beach-Harbor @ Pavilion- Hwy 90
In Gulfport -Courthouse Road Pier Parking Lot-Hwy 90
Harrison County Road Department -10076 Lorraine Road (Hwy 605) Gulfport
In Diberville Harrison County District One Work Center-10085 Doris Deno/Rodriquez
In Biloxi- Biloxi Fire Station # 9, 9370 Oaklawn Road
In Biloxi- Popp Ferry Soccer Fields- 2150 Popp Ferry Road
In Gulfport-Orange Grove Community Center- Dedeaux Road
In Gulfport-Fire Station on 42nd Avenue
In Gulfport- Intersection of Hewes Avenue and Glover Street
In Diberville at under I110 at Boat Launch *NEW

A flood warning has been issued for the Wolf River. The river is forecast to crest at 8.5 feet on Wednesday morning due to rainfall from Tropical Storm Gordon. Please take action to protect life and property, and check local weather for updates.