A state of emergency has been declared in four southern US states with as Hurricane Nate gathering strength as it heads towards the Gulf Coast.
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and parts of Florida have issued hurricane warnings and evacuation orders.
The measures apply to parts of the city of New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina 12 years ago.
Nate killed at least 25 people as it swept through Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras as a tropical storm.
The storm, which brushed past Mexican beach resorts, is still strengthening, and is now expected to make landfall as a category two hurricane overnight.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency ahead of the hurricane, which is due to make landfall on Saturday night local time.
He said more than 1,000 National Guard troops had been mobilised with a number sent to New Orleans to monitor the drainage pumps there. "Anyone in low-lying areas... we are urging them to prepare now," he said.A mandatory curfew from 18:00 (23:00 GMT) is in place in New Orleans.
"Nate is at our doorstep, or will be soon," the city's Mayor Mitch Landrieu said, adding that the winds could cause significant power outages.
"We have been through this many, many times, there is no need to panic," he added.
