Louisiana's Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as the levee system faces one of its greatest tests since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans says it's confident the levees are in good shape with the Mississippi River expected to reach its highest level in close to 70 years.

On Wednesday, heavy rains tore through homes and a water spout was spotted on Lake Pontchartrain.

Officials say this could just be a warm-up for what's coming, asking New Orleans residents to stock up on at least three days' worth of supplies. They're also asking for help with preventing any more flooding. "This is the time to help us clear debris in front of catch basins," Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a Wednesday news conference.

The city is telling most residents to shelter in place with others already being ordered to evacuate.

The storm that's brewing in the Gulf is forecast to become a tropical storm Thursday afternoon and a category one hurricane by late Friday or early Saturday, making landfall somewhere between New Orleans and Houston.

"The entire coast of Louisiana is at play in this storm," Gov. Edwards said.

More flooding is expected. In total, forecasters say the storm could bring up to 10 to 15 inches of rain, with parts of the Gulf seeing as much as 20 inches.

The National Hurricane Center warns, "The slow movement of this system will result in a long duration heavy rainfall threat along the central Gulf Coast and inland through the lower Mississippi Valley through the weekend and potentially into next week." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'The Way, The Truth and The Life': Direct Descendant of Muhammad Now Follows Jesus

Food for Thought: The Rich Do Not Get Rich at Expense of the Poor [Video]

Mamdani Erases Little Italy ... and (Of Course) the Jews

A Lesson from King David, and a Call to Prayer from Give Him 15

Prayer Alert: Israel Has Informed the US of Another Specific Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump

Marco Rubio Steps in After Tim Walz Pardoned Illegal Alien Child Rapist before Deportation

Prosecutors Present Texts of Alleged Confession by Tyler Robinson in Hearing for Charlie Kirk Murder

'The Resurrection and the Life': Navy Vet Comes Back to Life After Family Prays

Are Weight Loss Medications Right for You? Pros and Cons of GLP-1s

Company Issues Voluntary Recall of This Specific Kind of 'Pedigree' Canned Dog Food

Prayer Alert: Hundreds of Thousands of Acres Burn as Fires Spread in West

HHS Announces $281 Million to Expand Addiction and Mental Health Programs

Results: In Turkey, Trump Ordered a Trade Halt with Spain, Now They've Suddenly Agreed to Boost NATO Payments

As Billboards Promoting 'Birth Tourism' Pop Up Along Border, Trump to Ask SCOTUS to Reconsider 'Insane Decision' in Birthright Citizenship Case

Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Theories Suddenly Disappear as Video Evidence is Shown in Court

Donnie Wahlberg: 'The Most Important Thing I Ever Did Was to Give My Life to Christ'

'Fourth of July Miracle': Missing 4-Year-Old Found Alive after Walking Nearly Five Miles Along Oregon Coast

Christian Hollywood Star Exposes the Perverse, 'Demonic' Fraud Inside Foster Care System

Brazilian Judge Sentences Parents to Prison for Homeschooling Their Daughters

Little Sisters of the Poor Return to Court Again over Obama Contraception Mandate