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As Tropical Storm Isaac churns up the Gulf of Mexico, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman said today that he shipped nearly half the prisoners held at Orleans Parish Prison to state facilities around Louisiana.

In a statement, Gusman said he had moved 1,037 prisoners overnight from FEMA-built jails built in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He has completely emptied two jails: the Temporary Jail and the Temporary Detention Center, more commonly known as the “Tents.”

St. Charles Parish remains under a mandatory evacuation due to the potential for dangerous storm surge, winds and flooding rainfall from Isaac. Current forecasts have the storm making landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Through the duration of the storm the parish expects the potential for widespread power outages for an extended duration, as well as a loss of emergency and parish services. This also includes the potential loss of all sewer and water services.

Hwy. 90 will be blocked in both directions at the Davis Diversion in St. Charles Parish at 6:00 p.m. this evening (Aug. 27), the parish said in a press release earlier this afternoon.

There will be no through traffic in either direction on Hwy. 90 after that time.

WTUL 90.5 FM, Tulane University's student-run radio station, will be going off the air from midnight tonight to 8:00 a.m. Thursday.

The closure is in response to the approach of Tropical Storm Isaac, the station said today on its Twitter feed.

Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph declared a State of Emergency and placed Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Department of Public Works on full activation as Tropical Storm Isaac heads into the Gulf of Mexico.

Tropical Storm Isaac has 60 mph winds according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC.) A hurricane watch has been issued from Morgan City eastward to Indian Pass, Fl. The latest NHC track shows that Southeast Louisiana is in the cone of error.