Jason Saul

St. Tammany Parish has declared a state of emergency parish-wide as a preventative measure in advance of the effects of Tropical Storm Karen, the parish announced today.

Parish President Pat Brister signed the executive order declaring the emergency at 10:45 a.m.

The parish has begun implementing parts of its storm plan, but has not called for any evacuations.

Lafourche Parish has declared a state of emergency in advance of Tropical Storm Karen, and has issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas of the parish south of the Leon Theriot Floodgates in Golden Meadow.

The mandatory evacuation order includes Port Fourchon, and begins at 2 p.m.

The parish is bracing for the arrival of Karen, which could bring tropical storm-force winds between 25 to 60 mph, and dump up to 3 to 4 inches of rain, over the next 48 hours.

Plaquemines Parish has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the eastbank of the parish, and all communities on the westbank with no levee protection. The evacuation order begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3.

Additionally, a voluntary evacuation order has been called for the westbank of the parish from Ironton to Venice. The Belle Chasse Auditorium will open at 6:00 p.m. as a place of shelter, but residents are advised to bring their own provisions with them.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is planning to continue all normal operations throughout Tropical Storm Karen, the university announced today in a press release posted to its Facebook page. That includes Saturday's home football game against Texas State.

University officials say they are monitoring the storm as it develops, and will post updates if the situation changes to campus notification systems, websites, social media and other outlets.

The Army Corps of Engineers will close the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway barge gate at the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier, the agency announced today in a press release.

The barrier is scheduled to be closed at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, according to Corps of Engineers spokesman Ken Holder.

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