Oil production in the Gulf of Mexico practically comes to a HALT as 92 per cent of manufacturing is shut down as Hurricane Delta makes landfall - causing seven rigs and 274 platforms to be evacuated while five million in Louisiana prepare for flash floods

Roughly 92 per cent of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in in anticipation for Hurricane Delta, bringing the oil industry in the area to a standstill.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement shared in a Friday press release that seven rigs and 274 platforms had to be evacuated as Delta headed to the southwestern coast of Louisiana.

Some 62 per cent of natural gas production has also been shut-in at the Gulf, according to the release. The seven rigs that were evacuated account for

'After the hurricane has passed, facilities will be inspected. Once all standard checks have been completed, production from undamaged facilities will be brought back online immediately,' the release states. 'Facilities sustaining damage may take longer to bring back online.'

The battered Louisiana coast is being lashed by 110 mph winds as Hurricane Delta prepares to make landfall with a devastating Category 2 strength - just six weeks after the same area of the state was ravaged by Hurricane Laura.

Delta is forecast to make landfall along Louisiana's southwest coast Friday evening bringing with it a life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and dangers of flooding and tornadoes.

Five million people prepared for flash flooding and thousands were placed under mandatory evacuation orders in communities including Cameron Parish and Calcasieu Parish Friday daytime, while the Louisiana National Guard set up shelters to take in displaced residents.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at a news conference Friday afternoon almost 10,000 residents had moved to emergency shelters with most evacuees coming from Calcasieu Parish, which is expected to take much of the brunt of the storm.

The battered Louisiana coast is being lashed by 110 mph winds as Hurricane Delta prepares to make landfall this evening with a devastating Category 2 strength

Delta comes just six weeks after the same area of the state was ravaged by Hurricane Laura

Seven rigs and 274 platforms had to be evacuated as Delta headed to the southwestern coast of Louisiana

A curfew was issued for all residents in the Lafayette Parish area from 5 p.m. ET Friday through to 9 a.m. Saturday as officials warned people to prepare to hunker down in their homes.

By 4 p.m., with the storm still hours from landfall, almost 20,000 people were already without power and fears were mounting that many could be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as they turn to using generators.

In New Orleans, which is expected to escape the worst of the storm, City employees were told they would be dismissed early from work Friday to ensure they were out of harm's way as gusty winds started pummeling the city early afternoon as well as over in Galveston Texas.

Donald Trump tweeted late Friday morning that the storm was on its way and the Federal Emergency Management Agency had been drafted in to support residents in Louisiana and Mississippi as the two states received a federal emergency declaration.

Delta's path of destruction. It is expected to weaken over the weekend as it moves northeast Saturday and Sunday

'Just got a briefing on Hurricane Delta rushing toward Louisiana and Mississippi. @fema is there and ready!!!' the president tweeted.

Louisiana has been pummeled by three other tropical storms or hurricanes that have made landfall this season, most recently by Hurricane Laura which was the tenth-strongest US hurricane on record and left more than 30 people dead.

The National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm was about 160 miles south of Cameron, Louisiana, early Friday morning.

The storm had maintained its top winds of around 120 mph making it an extremely dangerous Category 3 hurricane.

At midday, the storm was 80 miles south-southwest of Cameron and blustery winds and rain had begun hitting the area.

As predicted, Delta then weakened slightly by 2 p.m. ET to a 110 mph, strong Category 2 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

However, even with the downgrade the storm surge will still be devastating when it plows into the Louisiana coastline around 6p.m. and an upgrade could be on the cards as Delta is just one mile per hour shy of returning to a Category 3.

This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite image shows Hurricane Delta moving towards the US around 8 a.m. EST Friday

It could also unleash tornadoes as it moves over land and drop up to 10 inches of rain.

Delta's destructive path to Louisiana comes after it lashed the Caribbean coast of Mexico on Wednesday, when it made landfall around 5:30 a.m. with top winds of 110 mph.

Trump tweeted late Friday morning that the storm was on its way and FEMA was 'there and ready'

Officials reported no deaths or injuries but hundreds of tourists were forced to take refuge in storm shelters after it struck just south of the popular Mexican holiday resort of Cancun.

Around 266,000 customers - one-third of residents - on the Yucatan peninsula were left without power, trees were toppled along the coast and stores were damaged.

Delta weakened to a Category 1 storm later that afternoon, before strengthening again as it moved over the southern Gulf, rising to maximum sustained winds of 90 mph by Wednesday night.

Throughout Thursday, Delta gained strength becoming a Category 3 storm as it headed across the open waters of the Gulf toward the US.

A driver for Domino's Pizza struggles with pushing his cart as the winds from Hurricane Delta move through Jennings

Wrappings for roadside billboards cover the roof of a house that was partially destroyed from Hurricane Laura

Rain pours down on the very same spot that Hurricane Laura wreaked havoc weeks ago as residents are warned Delta is on its way

Trees blow in the wind in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Friday afternoon before Hurricane Delta makes landfall

Journalists work from a porch inside a hotel in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as the battered coast is lashed by 110 mph winds

Heavy rain pours down in Lake Charles Friday afternoon as Delta headed for the area hit by Hurricane Laura weeks ago

Rain falls over farmland ahead of the landfall of Hurricane Delta near Lake Arthur as five million prepare for flash floods

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at a news conference Friday afternoon almost 10,000 residents had moved to emergency shelters with most evacuees from Calcasieu Parish, which is expected to take much of the brunt of the storm

A flood sign in Lake Charles is increasingly submerged in water Friday afternoon as the hurricane heads for the US

A truck drives through flood water as rainfall and heavy winds begin hammering Lake Arthur ahead of Delta's arrival

Hurricane Delta:

Louisiana residents have hunkered down in preparation for the hurricane with streets in Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana deserted by Friday morning.

Louisiana received a federal emergency declaration with Governor John Bel Edwards warning 'we've got people who are very tired' from the last freak weather event.

Walmart said it was closing many of its stores across the Gulf Coast as a precaution while energy companies halted 92 percent, or nearly 1.7 million barrels per day of offshore oil output, and 62 percent of natural gas production.

The US Coast Guard closed ports from Beaumont, Texas, to Lake Charles ahead of the storm.

People in this battered coastal region are taking Delta seriously.

'You can always get another house another car but not another life,' said Hilton Stroder as he and his wife Terry boarded up their Abbeville home with plans to head to their son's house further east.

'People of Lake Charles and in Cameron Parish have already suffered enough, and then here comes this one,' said Desi Milligan, who owns an RV park in Cameron that was heavily damaged by Laura.

In Abbeville, Tony Russo said 2020 had 'been a hell of a year' as he stockpiled groceries Thursday.

'I don't know really any different,' he said when asked his reaction to the busy storm season. 'You're here. If you love it you stay,' he said.

Residents attach wood to their front door while preparing for Hurricane Delta on Thursday in Cypremort Point, Louisiana

Damage from Hurricane Laura is viewed in advance of Hurricane Delta, expected to make landfall Friday, in Cameron

Residents board up the windows of St. John Baptist Church while prepping for Hurricane Delta on Thursday in Charenton, Louisiana

Super sand sacks are placed at the top of the exposed and damaged 'burrito' levee in preparation for Hurricane Delta storm surge in Grand Isle, Louisiana, Thursday

Debris, still not picked up from Hurricane Laura, lies piled up in advance of Hurricane Delta in Cameron, Louisiana Thursday

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