With Hurricane Sally Tracking Toward Southeast Louisiana, Governor Edwards Urges Residents to Prepare

With Hurricane Sally in the Gulf of Mexico and headed toward Southeast Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency and is asking citizens to prepare for impending tropical weather. According to forecasters, Sally is expected to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane and make landfall on the Louisiana coast either late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. 

To read Governor Edwards' complete emergency proclamation for Tropical Storm Sally, click HERE. You can also click HERE to watch the Governor's 2:00 p.m. storm press conference with key state officials. Future updates can be streamed online through either Louisiana Public Broadcasting's website or the Governor's Office Facebook page. 

For more information from the Governor's Office on how you and your family can prepare for the tropical weather, click HERE. Residents can also opt in to receive text alerts from the Governor's Office by texting LAGOV to 67283. 

The City of New Orleans Prepares for Sally's Impact

With New Orleans foretasted to be in the anticipated path of Hurricane Sally, the city is preparing for the impact of the storm in the metro area. Residents and business owners can find regular preparedness updates from city government, including information on sandbags, neutral ground parking, and the latest from the Sewage and Water Board, online at ready.nola.gov. 

You can also opt-in to receive direct storm updates from the city by texting SALLY to 888777. 

Keep Up With the Latest Storm Forecasts and Advisories With the National Hurricane Center

In addition to forecasts and updates from local meteorologists, you can also find the latest information on Hurricane Sally such as projected tracks, wind speeds, and storm surge expectations online through the National Hurricane Center. The center posts regular updated advisories every three hours.

To visit the National Hurricane Center's website to get the latest on Sally, click HERE. 

Get a Hurricane Game Plan for Your Business, Your Employees, and Your Family

With some businesses potentially feeling the impact of Sally as soon as tomorrow, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) is encouraging all Louisiana business owners who do not already have a hurricane plan to visit their website for guidance on how to create one, as well as things to consider as they prepare for tropical weather. To visit GOHSEP's “Get a Game Plan” webpage for business, click HERE. 

Click HERE to see GOHSEP's full Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide. It contains more information relevant to keeping your business, employees, communities and families safe.  

Get Additional Hurricane Information for Your Company from the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center 

The Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center, a joint operation of GOHSEP and Louisiana Economic Development, also has additional resources for businesses preparing for the impact of Hurricane Laura. The BEOC provides information and alerts for business owners, as well as helpful links to information such as individual parish emergency offices and DOTD's road condition database. To visit the BEOC's website, click HERE. 

The BEOC also serves as the main point of contact for Louisiana businesses who have not been impacted by the storm and want to either volunteer or donate their resources to help the state recover. For more information, click HERE. 

See the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA Hurricane Toolkit for Business

To help businesses prepare for the impact of hurricanes and tropical weather, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA have assembled a toolkit complete with helpful information such as how to assess readiness, develop a preparedness plan, and checklists to guide business owners through closing and reopening their company. To see the complete hurricane toolkit, click HERE. 

Click HERE for additional hurricane preparedness information for businesses from FEMA. 

Hurricane Preparedness Tips from the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration has assembled useful information to help guide businesses as they prepare for the impact of hurricanes and tropical weather. The SBA's storm guide includes information such as the IRS' tips on protecting your business records and cleanup guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control. To see the SBA's emergency preparedness webpage, click HERE. 

The SBA also has a complete hurricane preparedness checklist for businesses. To access a printable PDF version of the checklist, click HERE.