Evacuation Orders Issued For Parts of Acadiana

As Tropical Storm Harvey approaches South Louisiana officials have issed 3vacuation orders for residents near the coast and in low-lying areas.

Our news partners at KATC have reported the following areas now have some type of evacuation orders set in place.

CAMERON PARISH 

All areas south of the Intracoastal Water Way in Cameron Parish have been placed under mandatory evacuation again.

Danny Lavergne, head of Cameron OEP, is urging residents in that area to be out before dark. Lavergne discouraged people from traveling on the on roads during night time hours.

Tropical Storm Harvey has dropped several inches of rain in Cameron today.

Most of the Cameron Parish coastline is under a tropical storm warning, while the parish's eastern coastline is under a tropical storm watch, KPLC reports.

IBERIA PARISH 

Iberia Parish President Larry Richard has expanded the voluntary evacuation to include all of Iberia Parish, effective 2 p.m. Monday.

The National Weather Service has forecast flooding rains which could impede evacuation from this area as Tropical Storm Harvey affects the region, Richard said.

Elderly residents and residents with special medical or mobility requirements should especially consider evacuating until the risk has passed.

If the threat of dangerous weather worsens, Iberia Parish Government will declare a mandatory evacuation, provide assistance and open a shelter for residents in need of a place to stay, Richard said.

Richard said he also is asking residents to avoid getting on the road during periods of heavy rain or tornado development.

VERMILION PARISH 

There is a voluntary evacuation underway in Vermilion Parish. It is for low-lying, flood-prone areas only, officials say.

ACADIA PARISH

There is a voluntary evacuation for western Acadia Parish and parts of southern Acadia Parish.  This includes areas between Basile and Evangeline, as well as Mermentau Cove and Premeauxville.  OEP officials say those areas could see potential flooding from the Mermentau River and Bayou Nezpique.

Governor John Bel Edwards' spokeswoman Shauna Sanford told KPEL this afternoon Louisiana residents can use 511.la.org to get constant updates on the status of roads and highways, if road travel is necessary.

Sanford advised residents who are evacuating to visit redcross.org to find shelters available for the duration of Harvey's coverage of the state.

If you would like to donate time--or money--to recovery efforts here in Louisiana, Steele said www.volunteerlouisiana.gov is the Web site used to coordinate those efforts.