11/02/2026
Your Louisiana Lookout for the week of November 2, 2026. Four things to know:
1. Two motorcyclists were killed on US 90 within about six hours, Louisiana State Police say. Friday evening in Avondale, a motorcycle hit an SUV that was turning left onto Homeplace Drive. Early Saturday on the Crescent City Connection, a motorcycle hit a car stopped behind a disabled vehicle in the left lane, and the disabled vehicle left before responders arrived. When you see hazard lights ahead, slow down early and change lanes if you can; if you ride, wear a DOT-approved helmet and leave yourself room to stop.
2. Clocks fell back an hour on Sunday, and sunset in New Orleans now comes around 5:10 p.m., so much of the evening commute is in the dark. About 3 in 4 pedestrian deaths in the U.S. happen after dark, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, and AAA says the 5 to 6 p.m. hour becomes more dangerous once the clocks change. Drivers: slow down, use your headlights, and scan crosswalks and corners when turning. Walkers and riders: wear something bright or reflective and use a light.
3. A federal watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, found that almost 9 in 10 U.S. properties at high flood risk have no flood insurance through the national program. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. The GAO asked Congress to raise coverage limits, make property-level flood risk data public, and require lenders to give buyers a flood quote before closing. Check now whether your home has flood coverage, because new flood policies usually take 30 days to start.
4. DREO recalled about 338,800 DR-HSH015 ceramic space heaters made from April 2025 through January 2026 after 17 reports of units catching fire. They were sold at Costco and online at retailers including Best Buy, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Kohl’s, and QVC for $70 to $110. Check the label on the bottom; if yours is included, stop using it and contact DREO at 833-820-0887 for a free replacement. With cooler nights ahead, keep any space heater three feet from anything that can burn and plug it straight into the wall.