Saints Send Players Home to Prepare for Hurricane Francine

In Metairie, Louisiana, the New Orleans Saints sent their players home on Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of Hurricane Francine’s imminent landfall.

Following advice from city officials, the team prioritized safety and began clearing the facility as conditions worsened due to the storm. By 2 p.m. local time, the players’ parking lot was nearly deserted as rain began to fall consistently.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen and his staff have decided to remain at the facility overnight, hoping for a return to normal practice activities by Thursday. “We’ll stay here this evening,” said Allen. “We’ll probably find a corner of the room to lay down in at some point and get a little bit of sleep. The most significant weather is going to be this evening into the early morning hours.”

Hurricane Francine is predicted to strike Morgan City, about 85 miles from New Orleans, on Wednesday night. The storm is anticipated to be a Category 1 hurricane, bringing sustained winds of up to 90 mph.

Looking ahead, the Saints are preparing for a Sunday matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. Linebacker Demario Davis expressed concern for those in the storm’s path, stating that the team prayed for their safety, as well as that of the city and surrounding areas.

“We were praying not just over ourselves but for our city and the surrounding areas through this storm,” Davis commented. “When storms repeatedly affect this area, it feels a bit like an unknown. You can have all the predictions, but the actual outcome can still be uncertain.”

The Saints opted against evacuating for this storm, instead executing a plan reminiscent of their response during Hurricane Zeta in 2020. Coaches managed operations under generator power at their facility, while players returned home early for safety.

The last time the team evacuated due to a storm was during Hurricane Ida in 2021, which struck as a Category 4 hurricane on August 29. This severe storm caused widespread power outages, prompting the Saints to relocate their operations to Texas for the remainder of the preseason and part of the regular season. Their home opener against the Green Bay Packers was also moved to Jacksonville, Florida.

“There are many factors to consider in these situations,” Allen said, reflecting on the decision-making process. “In this instance, we felt we could manage the circumstances while ensuring the safety of everyone involved. During Hurricane Ida, it was clear we needed to relocate to accomplish our work safely.”

Allen emphasized the importance of making timely evacuation decisions. Fortunately, this storm did not prompt a mandatory or voluntary evacuation from New Orleans.

“We recognized early on that we could manage this situation,” he explained. “What we didn’t know was whether we would be able to conduct our work as planned today. Initial concerns about treating the week as short due to the storm were alleviated when we saw we could make things work.”

For many players on the roster, this is their first encounter with a hurricane. Quarterback Derek Carr noted his prior experience with a storm while living in Texas, but this situation is new to him in New Orleans.

“We understand our responsibilities, even amid imperfect circumstances,” Carr commented. “I’ll be home studying tonight with my kids, as this is their first experience with something like this. They have many questions that we need to address. At work, I owe it to my teammates to stay focused and prepared.”

Amid these challenges, Carr also echoed the team’s collective sentiments, stating, “Our prayers are with the entire city and state of Louisiana as the storm passes through. We prayed for the city today. While we are football players, our priority lies within the safety and well-being of our community, which is of utmost importance right now.”