The follow is a press release from St. Charles Parish on preparation for Ida
St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. has declared a state of emergency this morning as a precaution in advance of possible inclement weather from Tropical Storm Ida.
Residents are being urged to prepare their homes for wind gusts of up to 35 mph expected in the area by this afternoon / early evening. All tree limbs, branches or other debris put out for roadside pickup should be secured early today.
Please pick up any debris and unsecured objects in yards and neighborhoods, including outdoor furniture or equipment that could be thrown by high winds. Residents are also asked to keep all catch basins and ditches clear of debris.
Vehicular travel is expected to be hazardous Monday evening due to high winds and traffic related to the evacuation of low-lying coastal areas in surrounding parishes. Residents are urged to stay home if travel is not necessary.
St. Charles parish continues to be under a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch. As reported earlier, public schools will dismiss early. Information on school schedules is available at stcharles.k12.la.us.
The current forecast has Ida moving north / northwest from its current position 300 miles south / southeast of St. Charles Parish, eventually making landfall in Alabama.
The St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center and parish officials continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as necessary.
Residents should also prepare for the possibility of tornado warnings and power outages over the next few days.
Any questions may be directed to the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center at (985) 783-5050 24 hours a day. Special needs residents may also call this number with any concerns.
Please stay tuned to local media, Cox Cable Channel 6 in St. Charles Parish, stcharlesparish-la.gov, 1-888-SCP-9EOC or 1370 AM in St. Charles Parish for further announcements.
The mission of St. Charles Parish government is to provide high quality, efficient services to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all residents of St. Charles Parish.
