Hurricane Isaac

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots officials have declared a mandatory evacuation of its barn area in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac, which is expected to become a hurricane as it moves into the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The evacuation applies to about 700 horses currently stabled at Fair Grounds, as well as all workers.

St. Charles Parish has declared a state of emergency due to the approach of Tropical Storm Isaac.

Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. signed the order at 10:15 a.m., according to a press release from the parish, in advance of expected 105 mph winds, higher gusts, and storm surges between six and eight feet beginning Monday night and into Tuesday.

The federal government says oil and gas operators continue to evacuate offshore platforms and rigs in Tropical Storm Isaac's likely path through the Gulf of Mexico.

Isaac is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall Wednesday.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement says 39 production platforms and eight drilling rigs have been evacuated. That's about 6.5 percent of the 596 manned platforms and 10.5 percent of the 76 rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Plaquemines Parish crews hustled to the levees that protect the low-lying New Orleans suburb and St. Charles Parish closed schools through Wednesday as Tropical Storm Isaac's path moved west.

It's expected to become a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall somewhere from east of Morgan City to the Florida Panhandle.

Plaquemines, Jefferson and St. Charles parishes all have declared a state of emergency. St. Charles Parish is stocking all sandbag locations; people will need to bring their own shovels to fill bags.

Note: The time of the tropical cyclone's center location at the bottom of the graphic will be 3 hours earlier than the time of the current advisory. The forecast cycle for each advisory begins 3 hours prior to the issuance of the advisory products.

Mayor David Camardelle has declared a state of emergency for the Town of Grand Isle, and has issued a mandatory evacuation order, according to a statement released by Grand Isle officials.

The statement, issued at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, was enacted due to the tropical storm watch — encompassing the entire eastern Gulf Coast — issued by the National Weather Service in advance of the approach of Tropical Storm Isaac.

BELLE CHASSE — Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser declared a state of emergency early Sunday morning due to the threat of Tropical Storm Isaac, the parish said in a press release. Parish officials say they are working with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other local leaders to prepare for the storm.

Forecasters say a hurricane watch has been extended to include the New Orleans metro area as Tropical Storm Isaac makes its way toward the Florida Keys.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday morning that the watch area now stretches from east of Morgan City, La., to the Florida Panhandle.

Forecasters have said that Isaac could be a dangerous Category 2 hurricane by the time it makes landfall over the northern Gulf Coast. That is expected to happen sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday.