Jindal says those along spillway should prepare to get out of flood’s way

Gov. Bobby Jindal says communities along the Morganza spillway should be alert and prepare for evacuations if a decision to open the Morganza spillway is made. Jindal says he expects a decision from the Army Corps of Engineers soon on whether the spillway, a massive relief valve for the swollen Mississippi River, must be opened. The spillway runs from the Mississippi northwest of Baton Rouge to the Atchafalaya Basin and into the Gulf of Mexico near Morgan City. Jindal says he’s asked the corps for notice of at least three days so residents can be evacuated. The governor says the latest projection is for an opening as early as Saturday. Pam Vidros, a spokeswoman for the corps, says a decision is likely in the next couple of days.