Thursday, 28 August, 2008 14:48
by Pat Gill
As of 1 p.m., the National Hurricane Center projects that the now Tropical Storm Gustav will reach the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane on Sunday or Monday, and continue on to make landfall early on Tuesday, Sept. 2 along the Louisiana coast.
Here in Shreveport-Bossier City, state and disaster relief officials are preparing to aid those affected by Gustav in the southern areas of the state. Evacuation information will be listed and updated regularly on the tourist bureau web site as it becomes available.
As of mid-morning, all hotels, motels and bed and breakfast properties in the twin cities are booked through Wednesday, Sept. 3. In addition, properties in surrounding areas in north Louisiana also are booked.
In the event that Gustav reaches Louisiana and Gov. Bobby Jindal issues an evacuation order, the following shelter sites will open:
Bossier Civic Center – Special Needs
620 Benton Rd., Bossier City, LA 71111
(318) 741-8900
Hirsch Memorial Coliseum – FEMA operated, pets will be placed in the next door barn for shelter
3701 Hudson Ave
Shreveport, LA 71109-5348
(318) 635-1361 phone
(Former) Sam's Club Facility – State operated center
8810 Jewella Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71108
Sports Mall
Industrial and I-20
LSU-S – First general population, people with cars; operated by American Red Cross
One University Place
Shreveport, LA 71115
(318) 797-5000
Ruston Civic Center
401 N Trenton St
Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 251-8613
PE Building at Northwestern in Natchitoches
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497
(318) 357-6011
Other information resources include:
Red Cross
4221 Linwood Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71108
(318) 865-9545
Christian Services
1244 Sprague St.
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 221-4857
Availability of Cabins and RV Parking at State Park Locations
For reservations, call the centralized contact number for Louisiana at (877) 226-7652.
For Shreveport-Bossier hotel vacancy information, stay tuned to our blog for regular updates.