Current:Home > InvestNew Orleans Saints staff will stay in team's facility during Hurricane Francine -ProfitLogic
New Orleans Saints staff will stay in team's facility during Hurricane Francine
View
Date:2025-04-12 15:19:03
The New Orleans Saints are bracing for Hurricane Francine.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said he released his players early on Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Francine's scheduled landfall as a Category 2 storm in southern Louisiana. However, Allen revealed that he and his staff will hunker down in the team's facilities in an attempt to weather the storm.
"We'll stay here this evening. We'll probably find a corner of the room to lay down in at some point in time and get a little bit of sleep," said Allen Wednesday. "I think the most significant weather is gonna be this evening into the early morning hours. That's kind of when we would be trying to wrap up. I don't see anyone trying to get out of here in that type of weather."
The Saints are scheduled to face the Dallas Cowboys in Texas on Sunday.
Allen said the Saints' staff made the decision not to evacuate after careful consideration: "We kind of knew early on ... this was going to be a situation that we could manage... We felt like, obviously in this situation, we felt like we were going to be able to do our work and make sure we keep everybody safe, make sure that everybody's family is safe. And be able to do that and stay here."
All things Saints: Latest New Orleans Saints news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
Allen said the team makes the decision whether to evacuate or not on a case-by-case basis. Ahead of Hurricane Ida's landfall in 2021, for example, Saints players, staff and family members safely evacuated to Texas before the Category 4 hurricane touched down. The team's home opener against the Green Bay Packers was relocated to the Jacksonville Jaguars' EverBank Stadium as a result of the storm.
"When it was (Hurricane) Ida a few years ago, it was one of those where we didn't feel like we were going to be able to get our stuff done. We felt like people might be at risk," explained Allen, who was the team's defensive coordinator at the time. "So we took basically the whole football operation, and families and everybody, and we went to Texas."
Quarterback Derek Carr said he prays "that everyone's safe."
"Our prayers are with the whole city, the whole state of Louisiana, wherever this is passing through, and you just pray that everyone's safe," said Carr, who is experiencing his first Hurricane in his second year in New Orleans. "We had our players, we were praying for the city today. ... Again, we are football players but there are some things that are really important right now.
Francine made landfall in the Parish of Terrebonne, about 30 miles south-southwest of Morgan City, the National Hurricane Center announced at 5 p.m. CDT. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be near 100 mph.
Francine's sustained winds dropped to 90 mph by 6 p.m. CDT, and the storm was expected to continue battering the central Louisiana coast on Wednesday evening. "Conditions are beginning to deteriorate in southern Louisiana," the center said Wednesday afternoon.
Contributing: John Bacon, Thao Nguyen, Dinah Voyles Pulver, Doyle Rice
veryGood! (69)
Related
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- House collapses in Syracuse, New York, injuring 11 people
- Georgia attorney general indicts county prosecutor accused of stealing nearly $4,200 in public funds
- Aaron Judge hit by pitch, exits New York Yankees' game vs. Baltimore Orioles
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Detroit Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season that ended with NBA’s worst record
- Is the stock market open or closed on Juneteenth 2024? See full holiday schedule
- Kevin Durant says there are 'better candidates' than Caitlin Clark for U.S. Olympic team
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Google to invest another $2.3 billion into Ohio data centers
Ranking
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Trump's appeal of gag order in hush money case dismissed by New York's highest court
- Parasite cleanses are growing in popularity. But are they safe?
- NFL offseason grades: Bears earn top team mark as Cowboys trail rest of class
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Olympic Hopeful J.J. Rice's Sister Speaks Out After His Fatal Diving Accident
- Authorities seeking Alabama man wanted in connection with multiple homicides
- $25,000 Utah treasure hunt clue unveiled as organizers warn of rattlesnakes
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
California governor wants to restrict smartphone usage in schools
Police credit New Yorkers for suspect’s arrest in the rape of a 13-year-old girl
As Philippines sailor hurt in South China Sea incident, U.S. cites risk of much more violent confrontation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
Early blast of heat and humidity leaves millions sweltering across the US
Chicago firefighters battle massive blaze at building supply warehouse
Jury deliberates in state case against man who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband with hammer