Louisiana Residents Still Have Time to Evacuate

PRESS RELEASE

Louisiana Residents Still Have Time to Evacuate
BATON ROUGE, La. (August 31, 2008) – 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. Hurricane Gustav is a very dangerous storm and 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.

As of 4 a.m. Sunday, the southeast Louisiana contraflow plan has been fully activated.

Contraflow will not be in effect in the Lake Charles area, where residents are urged to head north on Highway 171. Highway 165 is also on alternate evacuation route for people in the Lake Charles area. State Police also urge Lake Charles area evacuees to head north, not east or west.

The state reminds travelers to have a full tank of fuel, any necessary medications, non-perishable food items and all critical documents.

Shelter-information points (also listed on the Louisiana evacuation guides) are located at:

Tourist Welcome Center, U.S. 65 & 84, 1401 Carter St., Vidalia
Tourist Welcome Center, 836 I-20 West, Tallulah
Sammy's Truck Stop, I-49, Exit 53, 3601 La. 115 West, Bunkie
Med Express Office, 7525 U.S. 71, Alexandria
LSU-Shreveport, P.E. Gym, One University Place, Shreveport
Pickering High School, 180 Lebleu Road, Leesville
Tourist Information Center, 8904 U.S. 165, Oberlin, La

Those evacuating can also call the following important numbers for information:

Motorists are urged to call *LSP (or *577) only in the event of emergencies only;
For traffic information, call 511;
For shelter information, call 211;
American Red Cross at toll-free number, (866) GET-INFO or (866) 438-4636.

For the latest information on Hurricane Gustav, you can visit emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date information.

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