Local Tropical Storm Isaac Shelters

The Monroe Civic Center is identified as the evacuation site for Terrebonne Parish.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe's, Fant Ewing Coliseum opened up as a medical shelters at 8:00 a.m.

Henrietta Johnson and Saul Adler Community Center have been designated as the shelter sites for St. John the Baptist Parish.

Also, Harvey H. Benoit, Emily P. Robinson, and Powell Community Centers have been designated as the evacuation sites for Lafourche Parish.

Grambling State University:

As Tropical Storm Isaac heads toward Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, Grambling State University's emergency response team is preparing faculty, staff and students for the worst and making plans to accommodate students from Xavier University in New Orleans.

The university has been designated as a federal emergency station, a place that will be used for emergency medical treatment and limited shelter in the event of an emergency related to the storm. Grambling State is communicating with students from the New Orleans and southern Louisiana communities where their families might be affected and preparing students who may not have experienced such storms in their home cities and towns. The facilities and housing staffs are busy securing bunks, cots and water as well as checking emergency generators, purchasing plastic and nails.

"We are a caring institution and we will do everything necessary, and possible, to first and foremost to protect our university citizens," said Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue. "We have planned for emergencies such as this and we're implementing elements of that plan."

"Our emergency team met this morning and we're continuing to have subcommittee meetings and conversations to make sure everything goes smoothly," added Ellen Smiley, executive assistant to the president.  "We take our responsibilities seriously. Fortunately, we just reviewed our emergency response plans and we even did a mock drill. We're prepared and we will be ready."
  
Smiley said the team is divided into several sub groups, each responsible for a specific set of duties and responsibilities. She said the university has an emergency agreement with Xavier University in New Orleans and Grambling State is preparing to receive up to 100 Xavier students. Smiley said there are numerous things that need to be done and the team is working to anticipate as many needs as possible using the prepared emergency plan.

Smiley said the university remains open for all administrators, faculty, staff and students and classes are continuing until further notice.  University employees and students are encouraged to monitor the university website and KGRM-FM for updates.

Be sure to continue to follow NBC 10/FOX 14 News for further updates.