WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Some states or services in the U.S. southwest region are moving to take measures to fend off life-threatening hazards carried by Hurricane Laura, which has intensified on its way towards the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast.
Hurricane Laura rapidly strengthened overnight and was expected to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border as an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane late Wednesday into early Thursday, U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Wednesday.
"Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage" in some areas in Texas and Louisiana, the NHC said, adding that the surge could penetrate up to 48 km inland from the immediate coastline.
Laura is expected to bring multiple life-threatening hazards to the Gulf Coast beginning later Wednesday, said the NHC.
"Efforts to protect life and property within the Storm Surge and Hurricane Warning areas should be rushed to completion before storm surge and tropical storm force winds arrive," it added.
Some meteorologists believed that Laura might further strengthen to Category 5 before if it makes landfall.
It is "becoming increasing likely" that Laura could reach Category 5 strength before landfall, said Donald Jones, a meteorologist of the National Weather Service.
Arkansas State has declared an emergency ahead of Hurricane Laura, and prepared funds and rescue teams for the hurricane.
As of Tuesday morning, hurricane warnings were issued for parts of the northwestern Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana. Texas' Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a voluntary evacuation effective immediately.
Some refineries and liquefied natural gas terminals in Texas and Louisiana have shut down.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards suggested people in those warning areas should evacuate as the storm prepared to make landfall.
More than 60 percent of flights to and from Houston's largest airport were canceled on Wednesday as Hurricane Laura neared.
Heavy rainfall might arrive by Friday in some places of Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Following the passage of Laura, Cuba on Tuesday started recovery efforts. Average Cubans joined in the task, clearing debris and cleaning neighborhoods, as brigades of technicians worked to restore electricity and fixed telephone service after the storm knocked down trees and electrical poles.
Laura moved on from Cuba on Monday night near Puerto Esperanza in the northern town of Vinales in western Pinar del Rio province, where some areas still saw heavy rain early Tuesday. Enditem
