9-4-18
Tropical Storm Gordon is expected to strengthen into a hurricane late Tuesday when it hits the central U.S. Gulf Coast, including coastal Mississippi. From there, it is forecast to move inland over the lower Mississippi Valley on Wednesday. Gordon formed into a tropical storm near the Florida Keys early Monday as it lashed the southern part of the state with heavy rains and high winds. A hurricane warning was put into effect for the area stretching from the mouth of the Pearl River in Mississippi to the Alabama-Florida border.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Gordon approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast. Edwards announced at a news conference Monday evening that 200 National Guard troops will be deployed to southeastern Louisiana, where heavy rains and strong winds are anticipated today.
The storm’s predicted track had shifted slightly east as of Monday evening, meaning Louisiana is currently just outside the area under the hurricane warning. Still, southeastern Louisiana is under a tropical storm warning and Edwards says residents need to be prepared for the storm to shift west.
WITH TROPICAL STORM GORDON HEADED INTO THE GULF, JEFF HORCHAK HAS A LIST OF AREAS THAT WILL BE PROVIDING SANDBAGS FOR PEOPLE.
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THE CALCASIEU PARISH OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HAS RELEASED A LIST OF SANDBAG LOCATIONS. THERE ARE SIGHTS FOR FILLING SANDBAGS IN EACH WARD OF THE PARISH. YOU CAN SEE THE LIST BY GOING TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE. THOSE WHO COME TO FILL SANDBAGS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN SHOVELS.
REMINGTON COLLEGE IN LAFAYETTE IS HOSTING A BLOOD DRIVE TODAY AS PART OF THEIR THREE LIVES BLOOD DRIVE. NATIONALLY, REMINGTON COLLEGE HAS COLLECTED MORE THAN 13,900 PINTS OF BLOOD. MINORITY DONORS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND, PARTICULARLY AFRICAN AMERICANS, BECAUSE THEIR BLOOD CONTAINS ANTIGENS VITAL FOR PATIENTS WITH SICKLE CELL OR OTHER BLOOD DISORDERS. THE BLOOD DRIVE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED BLOOD SERVICES, WILL TAKE PLACE BEGINNING AT NINE THIS MORNING AND LASTING UNTIL ONE THIS AFTERNOON.
A TREE FELL YESTERDAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF SOUTH LEWIS AND 20 ARPENT ROAD IN NEW IBERIA. THE TREE HIT A POWER POLE BUT THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF POWER LOST. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES REPORTED. CREWS WERE ON THE SCENE YESTERDAY TO CLEAN UP.
A NEW 57 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER WILL BE BUILT BEHIND THE EXISTING CENTER IN LAKE CHARLES. THE NEW BUILDING WILL HAVE 38 BEDS AS WELL AS AN ON SITE MEDICAL CLINIC AND EXPANDED SPACE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL TRAINING. THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SERVICES, BILL SOMMERS, SAYS THE KIDS WHO ARE SENT THERE WILL NOT FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN PRISON, WHICH WILL HELP IN BRINGING RECIDIVISM RATES DOWN. HE SAYS THE NEW BUILDING SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY LATE NEXT YEAR OR EARLY IN 2020.
TONIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO CREATE A NEW LAFAYETTE RURAL FIRE DISTRICT. IF THEY AGREE TO IT, VOTERS IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE PARISH WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO APPROVE A NEW TEN MILL PROPERTY TAX TO FUND THE FIRE DISTRICT. THAT VOTE WOULD TAKE PLACE IN DECEMBER. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL PRECEDE THE VOTE TONIGHT.
