NATCHEZ — The storm threatening the Louisiana coast has strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane as winds reached a maximum sustained strength of 75 mph with higher gusts, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said 11 a.m. Saturday.

Hurricane-force winds were measured some 45 miles to the east of Hurricane Barry’s center, now located 40 miles south of Lafayette and moving northwest at 6 mph.

Severe weather is anticipated in Adams County between Saturday afternoon and Tuesday with the worst of the storm occurring later Saturday night, said Neifa Hardy, Communication Officer for Adams County Emergency Management.

“We are expecting somewhere between 6 to 12 inches of rain with up to 15 inches of rain possible,” Hardy said. “We are also at risk of tornados with 40 to 50 mph winds possible. The Adams County Safe Room is currently open to those wanting to get out of the weather but we are not classifying it as a shelter at this time.”

Hardy said to call 911 and not the main line of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office or the Natchez Police Department in the event of storm-related damages or other emergencies so that emergency responders can track the location of callers and respond more quickly.

Volunteers are needed to direct people through the safe room, Hardy said.

Sandbags are no longer available at the Adams County Port but are available to the public at 35 Majorca Road, the Natchez Public Works Department and the Foster Mound Volunteer Fire Department, Hardy said.

In Concordia Parish, sandbags are available at the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility in Ferriday and the Concordia Fire Department on Airport Road in Vidalia, said Guy Murray, Concordia Parish Emergency Preparedness Director.

“We have just finished a conference call with the National Weather Service in Jackson,” Murray said. “Barry has been updated to a low-end Category 1 hurricane. For us, the situation has not changed. We’re estimated to receive 8.5 inches of rain over the next three days, but up to 12 inches of rain still possible. … We expect sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with up to 50 mph gusts. … We have a marginal risk of tornadoes but my hope is that won’t be the case.”