Today, Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference along with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to give an update on state and federal preparedness measures surrounding the impact of Hurricane Gustav on Louisiana.
Governor Jindal said, "Our most up to date information from the Hurricane Center shows that the storm did not reorganize as well as it could have, which is good news; but, again, we expect tropical storm force winds overnight tonight and as early as late this evening. St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Terrebonne Parishes will get tropical storm force winds by midnight. Those areas at the mouth of the Mississippi River will get hurricane force winds early Monday morning. The Hurricane Center said hurricane wind warnings will stretch from Lake Charles to Baton Rouge.
East Jefferson Levee District Closes Northbound and Southbound Lanes of Causeway
The East Jefferson Levee District closed the Causeway Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain to both northbound and southbound traffic at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Aug 31. The Causeway Bridge will remain closed until further notice.
DSS Announces Updated Shelter Information
The Department of Social Services announced the following information today: DSS has four state-run Critical Transportation Needs Shelters open right now with a capacity of approximately 10,000 people. They are full. The locations are: Shreveport (2), Bastrop and Monroe.
ULS Hurricane Gustav Campus Status Update
The eight University of Louisiana System campuses are vigilantly monitoring Hurricane Gustav. All have activated their campus emergency action teams. The four South Louisiana universities are making appropriate arrangements to secure the safety of their campus faculty, staff, and students, and the four North Louisiana universities are preparing to support and assist.
East Jefferson Levee District Closes Both Southbound Causeway Lanes
The East Jefferson Levee District has announced the closure of both southbound lanes of the Causeway on Sunday, August 31, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. The levee district is assessing the ability to close one northbound lane without impacting the evacuation process.
Governor Jindal's Afternoon Update on Hurricane Gustav Preparedness Efforts
Governor Bobby Jindal said during a press conference Sunday, "Hurricane Gustav is a Category 3 storm, but is only 15 miles-per-hour below Category 4 level. We will be experiencing tropical storm force winds to begin as early as late this evening. He also updated evacuation efforts, shelters, National Guard and military assistance and the expected search-and-rescue efforts.
State Announces Closures of State Parks
Most south Louisiana state park properties have been closed. All sites have been evacuated.
Louisiana Residents Still Have Time to Evacuate
The state of Louisiana wants coastal residents to know that it is not too late to evacuate their homes before Hurricane Gustav. Tropical storm force winds are expected to impact Louisiana Sunday evening. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the following parishes: Allen, Vermillion, Lafourche, Assumption, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Cameron, St. Mary. St. Charles, Terrebonne, Iberia, St. John, Jeff Davis, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Orleans, and Jefferson. Citizens should take evacuation orders seriously.
Ag Chief Says to Call Local OEP Offices for Pet Evacuation Information
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said it's not too late for residents with pets and critical transportation needs (CTN) to evacuate. "Trucks and buses are ready at parish pick-up points to evacuate you and your pet if you have a critical need," Strain said. "We'll keep the trucks there as long as it's safe for our volunteers." Parish pick-up points for transportation to the CTN pet shelters are expected to close as storm conditions become unsafe for volunteer and OEP personnel.
Pointe Coupee Parish Issues Voluntary Evacuation Order for Mobile Home Residents
A voluntary evacuation order has been issued by Sheriff Beauregard "Bud" Torres III to all Pointe Coupee residents who inhabit mobile home trailers, effectively immediately. Temporary shelters for these residents are being established at the public schools at Upper Pointe Coupee, Morganza, Rosenwald, Rougon, Livonia and Valerda. All shelters will open at 6:00 pm Sunday, August 31.
Large Sandbags Block LA 1 at the Leon-Theriot Floodgate in Golden Meadow
Large sandbags have been placed on LA 1 at the peak of the LeonTheriot Floodgate in Golden Meadow, LA. The Lafourche Levee District has placed these large sandbags in an attempt to raise the roadway to the actual levee height.
University of Louisiana Lafayette Closed Wednesday
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced today that, due to Hurricane Gustave, it will extend its closure to include Wednesday, September 3, 2008.
State Issues Updated List of Evacuations by Parish
The state has issued an updated list of parish-by-parish evacuations from Louisiana. The following parishes have full or partial mandatory evacuations: Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron,Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche,Orleans,Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermillion and Washington.
GOHSEP Situational Report
To prepare for Gustav, GOHSEP activated its EOC at Level 3 at 1800 hours, 27 August 2008 with select ESF’s and GOHSEP personnel. GOHSEP increased its level of activation to Level 2 at 0600 hours, 28 August 2008 and again up to Level 1 at 0600 hours, 31 August 2008.
South Lafourche Levee District Director Urges Lafourche Residents to Evacuate Immediately
The director of the South Lafourche Levee District is urging all Lafourche Parish residents to evacuate the area in advance of landfall of Hurricane Gustav. Windell Curole, who is also the interim director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, says the parish hurricane protection levees in South Lafourche are not capable of withstanding the storm surge force of a Category 3 or stronger hurricane.
BRCC Closed Through Wednesday, September 3
Due to the immediate threat of Hurricane Gustav, Baton Rouge Community College has announced it will close thru Wednesday, September 3, 2008, weather permitting. Classes will resume as scheduled on Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 7:00 a.m.
LSU Closed Through Wednesday, September 3
Due to Hurricane Gustav, LSU will remain closed through Wednesday, Sept. 3. The LSU Child Care Center, the LSU Laboratory School, the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the LSU Agricultural Center Baton Rouge offices will also be closed. LSU AgCenter research stations and extension offices off-campus are to follow the procedures of their local parish governments.
Tangipahoa Parish Updates Gustav Preparations
The parish of Tangipahoa is under a mandatory evacuation for of all residents living in mobile homes and travel trailers, as well as all residents living south of Highway 22. There are currently six shelters open in the parish. Anyone planning to evacuate to a shelter should bring food, water, medication, bedding, and any other items needed. The shelters are able to provide housing only. A curfew is in place in parts of the parish.
Bonnabel and Williams Boulevard Boat Launch Flood Gates Closed
The East Jefferson Levee Board closed the floodgates at Bonnabel and Williams Boulevard Boat Launch at 10:00 a.m. Sunday. The closure also prohibits vehicular traffic at those sites.
City of New Orleans Begins Mandatory Evcautions
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin has announced a mandatory evacuation for the City of New Orleans beginning today, Sunday, August 31, 2008. Mayor Nagin has ordered a mandatory evacuation on the West Bank of New Orleans beginning at 8 a.m. today. The mandatory evacuation is set to begin at noon on the East Bank.
Contraflow Plan Active in Both Southeast and Southwest Louisiana
The Louisiana contraflow traffic plan has been activated as the state prepares for the likely landfall of Hurricane Gustav. As of 4 a.m. Sunday, the southeast Louisiana contraflow plan has been fully activated. In southwest Louisiana, the Lafayette contraflow plan on I-49 North has been activated. Contraflow will not be in effect in the Lake Charles area, where residents are urged to head north on Highway 171.
Red Cross Offering "Safe and Well" Internet Registry for Storm Evacuees
The American Red Cross encourages all Hurricane Gustav evacuees to register online to post a "Safe and Well" message at https://disastersafe.redcross.org.
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