Gov. John Bel Edwards visited Ville Platte to tour storm damage today.
In a press conference during his visit, the governor said three people were injured in the storm; none of those injuries were serious. He said 50 homes were damaged. More than 20,000 people were without power in Central and South Central Louisiana.
He said there would be additional police patrols in the damaged areas, and that he was issuing a statewide emergency declaration today.
He urged people to be safe, and remember to avoid downed power lines and trees.
Since the school system already had a professional development day scheduled tomorrow, there’s no school and so no school buses will be on the roads, the governor said. Faculty and staff should still report to work, the superintendent of schools said. If the electricity is back on, school will resume on Tuesday, the governor said.
No shelters are open, because there are only a few people who would need them, the governor said. Residents who need shelter and don’t have friends or family to help should call the sheriff’s office, he said.
Here’s the governor’s statement:
