US energy company Chevron has shut in production at its Petronius facility and evacuated all associated personnel to shore as Tropical Storm Bertha approaches the US Gulf Coast, the company said Monday.
Production at Chevron’s other operated Gulf of America assets continues at normal levels, it said.
The company also evacuated nonessential personnel from its Tubular Bells and Blind Faith platforms. At its onshore facilities, Chevron said it is following storm preparedness procedures while closely monitoring Bertha’s forecast and track.
“Chevron will continue to closely monitor the storm. We remain focused on the safety of our workforce, the integrity of our facilities and the protection of the environment,” the company said.
– Bertha threatens US Gulf Coast
The precautionary measures come as Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to bring heavy rainfall, life-threatening storm surge and flooding to parts of the US Gulf Coast over the coming days, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The Miami-based NHC said Monday that Bertha was located about 105 miles south of Panama City, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).
Forecasters warned the storm could bring flooding, storm surge and isolated tornadoes to parts of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi as it tracks westward toward Texas. Some areas could receive up to 8 inches of rain by Friday.
In its latest advisory, the NHC said Bertha is expected to strengthen over the next several days before potentially making landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday. Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 70 miles from the storm’s center, which is moving northwest at about 3 mph.
Officials warned that storm surge of 1 to 4 feet is possible along parts of the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts, while flash flooding could affect urban areas.
New Orleans officials have begun distributing sandbags and urged residents to clear storm drains ahead of the storm.
The NHC expects Bertha to weaken to a tropical depression on Thursday before dissipating near the Texas coast by the end of the week.
Bertha is the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season after Tropical Storm Arthur, which caused flooding in parts of the US last month.
