HURRICANE DELTA TAKES AIM ON THE GULF COAST, EVACUATIONS ORDERED IN LOUISIANA

Landfall may be by Cameron, Louisiana, which was hit hard by Hurricane Laura.

By Max Golembo,Emily Shapiro, and Melissa Griffin ABC News.

Hurricane Delta is turning north toward the Louisiana coast where it’s expected to slam the shoreline on Friday.

Landfall is expected Friday evening near Cameron, Louisiana, which is the same area hit hard by Hurricane Laura in August.

I can see straight through this Dollar Tree. pic.twitter.com/mKmBrVVp45
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) October 7, 2020

Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mayor Nic Hunter said Thursday, «This is not a bad dream, it’s not a test run. These are the cards that we have been dealt.»

Lake Charles is in Calcasieu Parish, where mandatory evacuations have been ordered.

«We realize that not everyone has the financial wherewithal to just simply put money into a gas tank and go rent a hotel right now. And I know there’s a lot of people out there that are feeling very fatigued. But there are options,» Hunter said. «And the window of opportunity really is only today to evacuate.»

Delta is expected to be a Category 2 hurricane when it approaches the coast.

PHOTO: A Tropical Storm Warning has also been issued for New Orleans and for Galveston, Texas with a Storm Surge Warning issued for Louisiana and Mississippi. — ABC NewsA Tropical Storm Warning has also been issued for New Orleans and for Galveston, Texas with a…Read MoreA Tropical Storm Warning has also been issued for New Orleans and for Galveston, Texas with a Storm Surge Warning issued for Louisiana and Mississippi.

PHOTO: As Delta makes landfall it should be close to Cameron, Louisiana, which was hit hard by Hurricane Laura just a few weeks ago. — ABC NewsAs Delta makes landfall it should be close to Cameron, Louisiana, which was hit hard by Hurrica…Read MoreAs Delta makes landfall it should be close to Cameron, Louisiana, which was hit hard by Hurricane Laura just a few weeks ago.

A hurricane warning has been issued for eastern Texas and western and central Louisiana, including as far inland as Alexandria, Louisiana. A tropical storm warning was issued for New Orleans and Galveston, Texas.

PHOTO: Charles Russ and Allan Bergeron pull their boat from the water after pulling their crab traps from Bayou Dularge in anticipation of Hurricane Delta, expected to arrive along the Gulf Coast later this week, in Theriot, La., Oct. 7, 2020. — Gerald Herbert/APCharles Russ and Allan Bergeron pull their boat from the water after pulling their crab traps from…Read MoreCharles Russ and Allan Bergeron pull their boat from the water after pulling their crab traps from Bayou Dularge in anticipation of Hurricane Delta, expected to arrive along the Gulf Coast later this week, in Theriot, La., Oct. 7, 2020.

PHOTO: Residents load up on sand bags at the Mid-City Library in preparation for approaching Hurricane Delta in New Orleans, Oct. 7, 2020 — Kathleen Flynn/ReutersResidents load up on sand bags at the Mid-City Library in preparation for approaching Hurricane…Read MoreResidents load up on sand bags at the Mid-City Library in preparation for approaching Hurricane Delta in New Orleans, Oct. 7, 2020.

The biggest threat besides hurricane-force winds will be the storm surge that could get as high as 11 feet in Morgan City, Louisiana.

Storm surge could be up to five feet in New Orleans and up to three feet in Galveston.

PHOTO: The biggest threat besides hurricane force winds will be the storm surge that could get as high as 11 feet. — ABC NewsThe biggest threat besides hurricane force winds will be the storm surge that could get as high as 11 feet.The biggest threat besides hurricane force winds will be the storm surge that could get as high as 11 feet.

States of emergency have been declared in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The president has approved Louisiana’s federal emergency declaration.

Once fast-moving Delta moves inland, heavy rain will move into central and northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and western Mississippi.

Rainfall totals could reach six to 15 inches in western Louisiana, from Lake Charles to Alexandria. Flash flooding is expected.

Heavy rain could also impact the Tennessee River Valley on Saturday. Up to three inches of rain is possible in Tennessee.

PHOTO: Heavy rain could spread into the Tennessee River Valley for Saturday with locally up to 3 inches of rain is possible in Tennessee. — ABC NewsHeavy rain could spread into the Tennessee River Valley for Saturday with locally up to 3 inches…Read MoreHeavy rain could spread into the Tennessee River Valley for Saturday with locally up to 3 inches of rain is possible in Tennessee.

When Hurricane Delta makes landfall, it will break the record for most storms to make landfall in one season in the continental U.S.

The other nine named storms that made landfall this season were: Tropical Storm Bertha (South Carolina); Tropical Storm Cristobal (Louisiana); Tropical Storm Fay (New Jersey); Hurricane Hanna (Texas); Hurricane Isaias (North Carolina); Hurricane Laura (Louisiana); Tropical Storm Marco (Louisiana), Hurricane Sally (Alabama); and Tropical Storm Beta (Texas).