- Hurricane Ida is expected to strengthen into a major, potentially deadly hurricane before making landfall.
- Officials have ordered evacuations in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
- Shelters are following COVID-19 protocols.
As Hurricane Ida approaches the northern Gulf Coast, officials have ordered evacuations in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Shelters are also opening or will open soon to accommodate people fleeing the potentially deadly impacts of the hurricane.
Where shelters are open, COVID-19 protocols apply – including Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate.
LOUISIANA
Louisiana officials urge residents to get information about shelter openings and locations at shelter information points along their evacuation routes.
Those information points are:
Vidalia — Tourist Welcome Center, U.S. Highway 65 and U.S. Highway 84 / 1401 Carter Street.
Tallulah — TA Truck Stop, Exit 171 on Interstate 20 at U.S. 65.
Marksville — Paragon Casino Resort, 711 Paragon Place
Bunkie — Sammy’s Truck Stop, Exit 53, I-49/3601 LA 115 W
Alexandria — Med Express Office, 7525 U.S. 71
Shreveport — P.E. Gym at LSU-Shreveport, One University Place
Leesville — Pickering High School, 180 Lebleu Road
Oberlin — Tourist Information Center, 8904 U.S. 65
Simmesport — Maddie’s Truck Plaza, 15972 LA 1
Residents can also call 211 for shelter information or text LASHELTER to 898-211. New Orleans residents should call 311 or text DELTA to 888777.
(MORE: The Latest Forecast for Hurricane Ida)
Some parishes have already opened shelters.
Caddo Parish
The Sheriff’s Office in this parish in far northwest Louisiana said a shelter is open for residents evacuating from parishes to the south. It is at 8810 Jewella Ave. in Shreveport in the former Sam’s Club building
Lafourche Parish
Central Lafourche High School, 4820 LA Hwy. 1, Raceland.
Thibodaux High School, 1355 Tiger Drive, Thibodaux.
Tangipahoa Parish
Shelters in Hammond, Amite, and Kentwood will be open Saturday.
Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne residents will leave from H.L. Bourgeois High School and be taken to the City of Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana.
MISSISSIPPI
George County
Two shelters open at 8 a.m. Sunday.
Agricola Storm Shelter, 3161 Cooks Corner Road
Benndale Storm Shelter, 5207 Hwy. 26 W
Hancock County
Kiln Shelter, 18320 Hwy 43, Kiln
Harrison County
D’Iberville High School, 15625 Lamey Bridge Road, Biloxi
County Farm Road shelter, 15038 County Farm Road, Gulfport
West Harrison High School, 10399 County Farm Road, Gulfport
Harrison Central High School, 15600 School Road, Gulfport
Lobouy Road shelter, 9505 Lobouy Road, Pass Christian
Saucier Lizana Road shelter, 23771 Saucier Lizana Road, Saucier
Jackson County
Two shelters open at 6 p.m. Saturday.
East Jackson County, 18413 Highway 613, Hurley
West Jackson County, 13000 Walker Road, Ocean Springs
Stone County
The Mississippi State Medical Needs Shelter, only for people with medical needs, opens at noon Saturday. It is at 1640 Coy Avenue in Wiggins.
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