Time to get going: Authorities in Plaquemines Parish, where storm surge from Hurricane Isaac caused extensive flooding overnight, have ordered a mandatory evacuation for a portion of the west bank of the Mississippi River. The evacuation affects people living from Venice north to the Oakville floodgate on Highway 23. A shelter was to open at noon in Belle Chasse. Officials say the evacuation was ordered out of concern that more storm surge from Isaac would inundate the area and levees might be overtopped. A mandatory evacuation earlier had been ordered for the parish’s east bank.
Hometown heroes: Two of the men responsible for many of the Hurricane Isaac rescue efforts in Plaquemines Parish thus far are Jesse Shaffer, 25 of Braithwaite, and his father, Jesse Schaffer Sr., 53, reports The Times-Picayune. The younger Shaffer says he has a Woodlawn firefighter aboard his boat and that his father also has someone helping him. “We’ve rescued at least 23 people, including children,” says the younger Shaffer, who was reached on his cell phone this morning while he was still aboard his boat seeking out people in need of assistance. Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser confirms the Shaffers’ rescues, adding that they’ve included a woman and her 5-month-old baby from a roof. Read the full story here.
Still roarin’:With Hurricane Isaac swirling, The Times-Picayune reports the LSU football team is doing as most other residents in the Capital City region: waiting it out. Miles says the players have been given different options of where to go and stay, including Tiger Stadium and the McClendon Practice Facility, which housed much of the team during and after Hurricane Gustav in 2008. “We’re fine,” Miles says. “We’re in the facility hunkered down. Players are in their very, very quality dorm rooms, kind of letting this thing blow.” The only LSU football casualty of Isaac was today’s practice. Read the full story here. Meanwhile, the Tigers live mascot, Mike VI, tweeted this morning that he is “Doing fine, Tigers (caretakers checked on me last night and early this morning). Hope y’all are staying safe.”
Editor’s note: Daily Report is continually updating
a list of Isaac-related cancellations and closures, as well as providing emergency contact information. See the complete rundown here; and send any updates/additions to be considered for inclusion by email to editors@businessreport.com.
