WATCH: ABC13's Charlie Haldeman shows how jammed I-10 is through Lake Charles
Mounds of debris from Hurricane Laura remain in Delta's path
Drivers were seen slowly moving in heavy traffic on I-10 in Lake Charles on Thursday.
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said a mandatory evacuation has been issued and posted strong warnings in a Facebook video to his city, which was already ravaged by Hurricane Laura in August.
"It really is a scary proposition for Lake Charles," Hunter said in the video. "I cannot encourage people enough to evacuate."
Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed by Laura in the region. Many salvageable houses still are covered in blue tarps awaiting roof repairs or rebuilding.
READ MORE: A look at the aftermath from Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles and Cameron
Skyeye video tour of damage from Hurricane Laura
Hunter says people without transportation should go to a city bus stop and head to the local convention center, where state-administered buses will take them away from the area to a shelter site elsewhere in the state.
He told residents that even if their home survived Laura, they shouldn't assume that their home will make it through Delta.
"I know that we've been through a lot and I know that we're tired. But we have a job to do right now, and that job is to keep ourselves safe," Hunter said.
READ MORE: Lake Charles residents scrambling to prepare for Hurricane Delta
Lake Charles scrambling to prepare for Hurricane Delta
The Associated Press contributed to this report.