The City of Bogalusa is asking residents to be prepared and to keep a close eye on the local news. Self-serve sandbags are now available at 10 a.m. at four locations in Bogalusa: under the flagpoles in Cassidy Park, the intersection of Austin and Bayer streets, the Avenue B Sports Complex and the East Fourth Street Ball Park. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels.

Washington Parish President Richard Thomas said the parish now has sandbag filling locations set up at the Washington Parish Public Works Location #1, 801 Pearl St., Franklinton; Washington Parish Public Works Location #2, 7 Mile Road/Hwy 10 YACC Building, Franklinton; and Washington Parish Fire District #7, 17380 Bill Booty Road, Bogalusa.

Thomas is urging all citizens to “remain vigilant and continue to monitor local media.”

Updates can also be seen on wpgov.org and on Facebook under the Washington Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

While city crews are working to clear catch basins and to remove debris from the roadsides, Mayor Charles Mizell urges everyone to join in the storm preparation by clearing basins and ditches near their homes or on their own properties.

He also encourages everyone to make sure they have necessary medical supplies and to be prepared to be self-sufficient for a week.

The latest forecast has Tropical Storm Isaac making landfall somewhere along the Gulf Coast between southeast Louisiana and Mobile, Ala., as early as tomorrow night. Some forecasts are predicting the storm will take up to 36 hours to move through the area.

Please continue to monitor www.gobogalusa.com for updates.