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Gov. John Bel Edwards is urging all Louisianans to monitor Tropical Storm Zeta as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico over the next few days. It is too early to know the exact path of Zeta, but the current tracking cone does include Southeast Louisiana and the forecast shows Zeta becoming a hurricane before landfall.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) has activated its Crisis Action Team and is monitoring the forecast. On Sunday afternoon, the governor and GOHSEP began calls with the National Weather Service and parish emergency managers.

“It is unfortunate we face another tropical threat this late in a very active season,” Edwards said. “We must roll up our sleeves, like we always do, and prepare for a potential impact to Louisiana. This storm is expected to make landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast by midweek, meaning we have a few days to prepare. As we’ve seen this hurricane season, a tropical threat during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency is challenging, but something we can handle.

“We will once again find solutions for this potential threat while work to help the other areas of the state impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. If Tropical Storm Zeta does become a serious threat, we stand ready to ramp up our actions as a state to meet the needs of our people and communities.”

GOHSEP urges citizens to stay “weather aware” by monitoring the NHC, local National Weather Service offices, local media and any information issued by local emergency managers and first responders. If anyone is traveling in areas inside the state or outside the state impacted by this system, carefully check driving routes. If flooding does become a factor, most problems occur when people attempt to drive on water-covered roadways. Download the free ALERT FM App for local and state alerts.

Also, check emergency supplies, and remember to replace any items they may have already been used during the busy hurricane season.

Check the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s www.511la.org before any travel, to see if the region is impacted by Tropical Storm Zeta.

Find more tips on weather and preparedness on GOHSEP’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Listen to conversations on all aspects of emergency management by downloading GOHSEP’s The Get A Game Plan Podcast. Citizens can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new Alert FM App. It is free for basic service. The Get A Game Plan App is another resource available to help prepare for any type of emergency. Download the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other information at www.getagameplan.org.