The Gulf Coast of the United States is preparing as Tropical Storm Gordon moves toward the region Tuesday.
According to Reuters.com, the National Hurricane Center said it expects the tropical storm to become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall late Tuesday night near the border between Louisiana and Mississippi.
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Forecasters believe Gordon could drop as much as eight inches of rain and bring high winds to areas that are still recovering from the 2017 storms. The tropical storm registered wind speeds of 65 miles per hour Tuesday morning as it was located about 230 miles east-southeast of the Mississippi River.
In preparation for the storm, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency and deployed 200 Louisiana National Guardsmen to the region. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency also warned of storm surges between three-to-five feet and informed residents in South Mississippi to be prepared to evacuate.
Airlines serving the region are also preparing for flight delays and cancellations, with several carriers such as United Airlines waiving change fees for impacted travelers.
As CruiseHive.com reported Monday, Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas ship departed Florida just before midnight in order to sail behind the storm. The ship will flip its itinerary, but the voyage is still expected to make all of its ports of call.