Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng called for a voluntary evacuation of the parish today, and said mandatory evacuations are in effect for Grand Isle, Lafitte, Barataria, and Crown Point.
"These folks are very vulnerable," Sheng said. "They're outside of our levee protection system, they're very vulnerable to storm surge."
Sheng said by Saturday night, people need to be wherever they plan to be when the storm hits. The forecast calls for worsening weather on Sunday.
For anyone planning on sheltering in place, they need to not only consider the storm but its aftereffects.
"Electrical outages, if water's not available to you, if the stores are closed, grocery stores, drug stores," Sheng said. "All of those modern-day amenities are not going to be available to you. If you are somebody that vulnerable and need to get out early, these are the considerations that you and your family should be weighing right now."
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Sheriff Joe Lopinto said there will be extra patrols on the streets after the storm danger subsides, on the lookout for looters. He also urged anyone who shelters in place to stay indoors for at least a day after the storm.
"Give us the ability to clear the roadways, whether its electrical lines or tree debris," the sheriff said. "Stay in your house the extra day or so, especially at night."