Transcript for Nate could hit Gulf Coast as a hurricane

Excited about that. Millions are bracing as well because tropical storm Nate strengthening in the caribbean right now heading right towards the gulf coast. And states of emergencies have been declared in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida. The storm is forecast to become a hurricane before it makes landfall this weekend. It's already deadly claiming at least 22 lives across central America. Our chief meteorologist ginger zee tracking it all. Good morning. Good morning. We're watching Nate right now south and east of the yucatan peninsula but it is moving fast at 14 miles per hour it'll go to the north and northwest and put the path on here just to give you an idea of what's happening. That hurricane watch includes cancun and cozumel for tonight through early tomorrow because it's moving so fast. It goes into the gulf and by tomorrow night that's when effects start to be felt along the gulf coast, biloxi, mobile over to Pensacola all in the watches and advisories. Impacts are huge, four to eight feet of storm surge up to a foot of rain. That's why we're most concerned especially in New Orleans where Steve osunsami is this morning. Reporter: Good morning too you, ginger. There is, of course, that talk that this city could see up to a foot of rain all at once and that has all eyes in this city on these, the drainage pumps that keep this city dry. Believe it or not, this one is actually working but there are a dozen of these pumps across the city that are not and three of them are considered major. The storm that's coming is already catastrophic. Nearly two dozen people are dead in Central America after roads and homes were flooded. In some areas they're expecting nearly 30 inches of rain. In Florida, Louisiana and Alabama, city and state officials are already declaring a state of emergency this morning. There is potential for this storm to intensify very quickly. Reporter: Families sick and red of these terrible storms this hurricane season have to get it together again. Clearing store shelves of water and other supplies. Hard to imagine to experience another storm right now. We all have to be prepared. Reporter: In the Louisiana bayous not protected by WLEF veries they're under a mandatory evacuation this morning. You need to be where you want to be by dark on Saturday. Reporter: They're going to start getting sandbags to families today. They're going to be available at local fire stations. Back to you in New York. All right, Steve, thanks so

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