and one of the real concerns here, it is going to hit right in the middle of the night. and just look at the size and scope of this hurricane. these images from the international space station. it is 400 miles across. the center of the storm still over the warm waters of the gulf, which, as you know, fuel this. the effects already being felt tonight. more than a half million people under mandatory evacuations. some in shelters in lake charles, louisiana, there. military aircraft being flown to safer ground out of barksdale air force base. the outer bands of the storm making their mark already. this is from lake charles tonight. and of course all of this hitting in the middle of a pandemic, as well. thousands of coronavirus cases just in the region expected to get slammed by this storm. so, we'll carefully guide you through it all tonight. chief meteorologist ginger zee is live in port arthur, texas, tonight, with the latest track and guidance for us. ginger, what do you expect? >> reporter: david, the words unsurvivable storm surge were used by the national hurricane center from my point here in