The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and Office of Emergency Preparedness are preparing a 5 p.m. press conference.  We'll keep you update with any news as it comes -- keep checking back for updates.

UPDATE 5 p.m. -- Police Jury President Les Farnum said the briefing is a precautionary measure.  They're asking people to take caution tomorrow.  Sign up for updates at www.calcashout.com.

OEP Director Dick Gremillion said the parish is under the "cone of error" for tropical storm-force winds from about 8 a.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday.  People are being asked to restrict travel, and they should expect power outages.  First responders will be on extra shifts to maximize public safety.

UPDATE 4 p.m. -- Category 1 Hurricane Isaac is up to 80 mph.  Coordinate are 28.7 N and 89.2 W, moving NW at 8 mph. He's situated about 30 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi

Schools will be closed in Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Acadia, Allen, Vernon and Jeff Davis parishes on Wednesday.  Also included are McNeese State University, SOWELA, Beauver Christian Academy in Deridder (for the rest of the week), Delta Tech, Our Lady Immaculate in Jennings, Bethel Christian in Jennings, CDI Head Start in Jennings, First Baptist in Jennings and Hamilton Christian in Lake Charles.

Other closures include:

  • The 14th Judicial District Court, Family Court, Juvenile Court and Clerk of Court

Sand and sandbags are available to residents of Calcasieu Parish, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, only at the threat of severe weather warnings.

The public must furnish their own shovel.

Sand and bags are at the following locations:

Ward 1 Barn, 461 Parish Road, Moss Bluff

Ward 2 Barn, 7085 Hwy 14 East, Hayes

Ward 3 Old Barn, 2320 Smith Road, Lake Charles

Ward 3 PW Facility, 5500 B Swift Plant Road, Lake Charles

Ward 4 PW Facility, 2915 Post Oak Road, Sulphur

Ward 5 Barn,  129 3rd Street, Starks

Ward 6 Barn, 1275 Plum Street, DeQuincy

Ward 7 Fire Station, 2205 Hwy 388, Vinton (Edgerly)

Ward 8 Barn, 1726 Parish Barn Road, Iowa

 

UPDATE 7:15 pm:

Hurricane Issac has touched landfall somewhere near Plaquemines Parish about 90 miles from New Orleans.

More From 107 JAMZ