Washington Parish President Richard Thomas wants to assure all local residents that the parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness department is, and will continue to, monitor any tropical storm that is potentially heading this way.

“As of Monday, we have been coordinating with the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, along with the National Weather Service, through conference calls,” he said. “At my direction, they will post updates to the Washington Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Facebook page, along with the parish government webpage.

“Although the forecast models for Invest 93L are uncertain at this time, the NWS has forecasted that southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi could receive three to five inches of rain, with the potential of 10-to-15-plus inches.”

As a result, Thomas said sand bags would be available at Washington Parish Fire Department #7 at 17380 Bill Booty Road in Bogalusa, Washington Parish Public Works Location #2 YACC Road off Highway 10 west of Seven Mile Road, and Washington Parish Public Works Location #3 at 801 Pearl Street in Franklinton.

At 1:43 p.m. the National Weather Service in New Orleans issued a statement that the potential tropical cyclone had been named Tropical Storm Cindy, but that rain and flooding remained the highest local concern.

“You should always remain prepared throughout hurricane season,” Thomas said. “All residents, if you haven’t already done so, should be preparing and, as always, have an emergency plan in place. Now is the time to make sure your generator is in working order, and that you have all necessary supplies you may need for seven days. I continue to urge everyone to remain vigilant and stay tuned to the local media.”

Meanwhile, Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal urges everyone to be aware of both areas of low pressure for possible tropical development.

As of Tuesday morning, the National Hurricane Center expected a tropical cyclone to develop near the Yucatan or in the Gulf of Mexico early this week. The likelihood of development is 70 percent over the next 48 hours, and 90 percent over the next five days. That means a tropical depression or weak tropical storm could be in the Gulf of Mexico this week.

The other system is not expected to come this way, but the National Hurricane Center has labeled the second area as “Potential Tropical Cyclone Two.” This system is located in the central Atlantic, about 700 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands, moving swiftly to the west.

Seal urges citizens to download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.