LIVE UPDATE | Galveston County briefing amid mandatory evacuations due to Hurricane Laura

HOUSTON — The KHOU 11 weather team and National Hurricane Center are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Laura, which is currently a Category 1. 

It’s expected to be a Category 3 hurricane that will pose a significant threat to either the upper Texas Coast or Louisiana. The most recent spaghetti models don’t agree on where Laura will make landfall, so everyone should be prepared and have a plan.

RELATED: Laura edges closer to Gulf of Mexico; Marco continues to fizzle

RELATED: Laura Spaghetti models and track

11:37 a.m. — Galveston County has issued a mandatory evacuation for the Bolivar Peninsula as well as Bacliff and San Leon. Officials said 50 buses are prepared for evacuation. They’re also preparing to suspend ferry services.

11:30 a.m. — Galveston County officials are discussing their latest emergency management plan after a hurricane warning was issued for the Galveston coastline. So far, the county has issued a voluntary evacuation order the Bolivar Peninsula.

10:48 a.m. — Cleveland ISD will be closed Wednesday through Friday district families prepare for arrival of Hurricane Laura. The district plans to resume classes Monday, Aug. 31.

10:33 a.m. — Dickinson ISD is releasing students at 11 a.m. and faculty members at noon Tuesday in preparation for Hurricane Laura. District officials said schools will be closed through Thursday, and they’re waiting to make a decision about returning Friday. Virtual learning is also postponed.

10:29 a.m. — La Porte ISD is ending classes, including virtual instruction and extracurricular activities, at noon Tuesday in preparation for Hurricane Laura. The district plans to reopen Friday, officials said.

9:49 a.m. —  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Judge Lina Hidalgo has granted free passage to motorists on the Harris County tollway system to support evacuations along the Gulf coast. For now, no evacuation orders have been issued for Harris County. Full list of local evacuation orders.

9:09 a.m. — Brazoria County has closed all county beaches to vehicular traffic due to Hurricane Laura.

8:47 a.m. —  Brazoria County has issued a voluntary evacuation for low-lying coastal communities outside the protection levee. All residents need to continue to watch Hurricane Laura closely, as the track for this storm continues to change.

7:47 a.m. — Galveston ISD will be closed Tuesday and through the remainder of the week. All on-site and remote classes have been canceled. School is expected to resume Monday, Aug. 31.

7:42 a.m. — The Bolivar Peninsula is under a voluntary evacuation order, according to Galveston County officials. The evacuation also includes the unincorporated areas of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, High Island and Gilchrist.

7:24 a.m. — The National Hurricane Center confirms Laura has become a Category 1 hurricane. Read more.

6:32 a.m. — The city of Galveston has issued a mandatory evacuation instructing all residents to leave the city. It is urgent that residents heed this mandatory evacuation and leave with all family members and pets. Read more.

4:19 a.m. — Nassau Bay has issued a voluntary evacuation for all disabled residents and those with medical needs. List of evacuation areas.

4:18 a.m. — Seabrook has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents and businesses in the low-lying areas of the city, specifically lower Todville from Red Bluff south to SH 146 and Baywood Drive. Elderly residents and those with medical conditions are strongly encouraged to evacuate.

The National Weather Services has issued a Hurricane and Storm Surge Watch for these areas with an anticipated two to four feet of storm surge in Seabrook based on the current track of Tropical Storm Laura. List of evacuation areas. 

8:41 p.m. —  A mandatory evacuation has been issued for Jefferson County, Orange County and Port Arthur ahead of Tropical Storms Laura and Marco. 

8:23 p.m. — The City of Mont Belvieu issued a local state of disaster. The local state of disaster activates the Mont Belvieu emergency plan ahead of Tropical Storm Laura.

6:50 p.m. — Texas A&M University at Galveston is issuing a mandatory evacuation effective Tuesday, August 25. The timeline and access to campus is subject to change over the coming days based on weather conditions.

SCHOOL CLOSURES: A list of districts, campuses closing due to Tropical Storm Laura

6:20 p.m. —  Mayor Thom Kolupski has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents and businesses in low-lying areas in Seabrook, specifically lower Todville from Red Bluff south to SH 146 and Baywood Drive. These portions of Seabrook are most prone to storm surge and flooding. The National Weather Services has issued a Hurricane and Storm Surge Watch for these areas with an anticipated two to four feet of storm surge in Seabrook based on the current track of Tropical Storm Laura.

LIST: Houston-area cities, counties that have issued voluntary evacuations ahead of Tropical Storm Laura

6 p.m. — Tropical Storm Marco made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Heavy rain is expected through the night for the north-central Gulf Coast but Marco’s winds will continue to weaken.

6 p.m. — Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta signed a disaster declaration for the potential tropical weather threat. They’re often signed in advance to speed up the process if support is needed.

5:55 p.m.  — Brazosport College will close Tuesday, August 25 at 5 p.m. through Thursday, August 27. With this closure, all evening college classes scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, including online, face-to-face or in a hybrid/blended format are cancelled. Check here for more school closings.

5:40 p.m.  — Natural disasters such as hurricanes and tropical storms can be overwhelming and can seriously affect emotional health. Before, during and after such storms, the Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 can provide immediate counseling to anyone who is seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects caused by tropical storm-related incidents. The Helpline is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week and free resource that responds to people who need crisis counseling and support in dealing with the traumatic effects of a natural or human-caused disaster.

5:05 p.m.  —  More school closings or changes: Anahuac ISD will be closed Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 25-28. This includes all school activities; East Chambers ISD will transition to totally virtual learning beginning Tuesday, August 25;  Crenshaw School on Bolivar Peninsula will be closed for the remainder of the week. All other Galveston ISD campuses will remain open for remote learning Tuesday; Galveston College says all academic and campus operations will take place remotely, beginning Tuesday, Aug. 25, until further notice. 

4:50 p.m. — BARC Houston has cancelled all non-emergency intake services as we prepare for a possible influx of animals affected by the storms in the Gulf of Mexico. At this time, other services have not been not affected, however this is subject to change. The staff is working to insure that all animals on-site at BARC will be cared for and for essential crew members to stay overnight if necessary. 

4:20 p.m.  — The City of Galveston announces Island Transit services will be suspended beginning Tuesday and until further notice due to concerns regarding Tropical Storm Laura. Routes will run through the end of the day Monday. We will update once services resume.

4 p.m.  —  With the 4 p.m. Monday update, the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for Montgomery, Liberty, Harris and Galveston counties.

A hurricane watch was issued for from Port Bolivar, Texas, to west of Morgan City, Louisiana. 

A storm surge watch is in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne for areas outside of the southeast Louisiana Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.

RELATED: Tropical Storm Laura: Tropical storm, hurricane watches issued for parts of the southeast Texas coast

3:50 p.m.  —  Thursday’s game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park will be played on Tuesday as part of a doubleheader beginning at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday’s game, which was originally scheduled for 8:10 p.m., will be moved up to a 12:10 p.m. start.

3:35 p.m. — Galveston County Judge Mark Henry says he anticipates a voluntary evacuation for Bolivar Peninsula Tuesday if the current models don’t change. 

3:05 p.m. — County Judge Mark Henry has signed a Disaster Declaration for Galveston County in response to possible impacts from Tropical Storm Laura.

“Forecasts are showing the possibility of heavy rains, tropical force winds, and storm surge impacting our area,” said Judge Henry. “This storm potentially presents a serious threat to the life safety and property of our residents.”

2:15 p.m. — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott mobilized more than 70 members of the Texas Army and Air National Guard in response to Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

2 p.m. — President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Texas. FEMA is available to help state and local agencies to areas that will be affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura to coordinate disaster relief efforts starting Monday. The declaration includes Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Willacy counties. 

1:38 p.m. — City of Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown has issued a voluntary evacuation for residents living in low-lying areas and west of the end of the Seawall in advance of Tropical Storm Laura, effective 1 p.m. Monday.

12:47 p.m. — Brazosport ISD is closing schools on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There will be no classes for virtual at-home learners or at school learners on these closure dates. Other school closures will be posted here.

12:33 p.m. — Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia issued a county-wide disaster declaration in advance of Tropical Storm Marco and Tropical Storm Laura’s landfall, expected later this week. There is currently no evacuation order for Chambers County.

11:30 a.m. — Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie announced Monday he is calling for a mandatory city-wide evacuation beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 25. Mayor Bartie originally announced a voluntary evacuation of Sabine Pass, Saturday, August 22. 

Get the latest forecast at khou.com/weather.

Track the storms on our interactive radar khou.com/hurricane.

Download the KHOU app for the latest updates, including weather alerts: khou.com/app.