LC official: 95 percent of city evacuated

Lake Charles City Administrator Paul Rainwater said Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu arrived in the city on Thursday and assisted through the night with the mass evacuation and preparedness for Hurricane Rita.

Rainwater said firefighters and police officer swept the city Friday and estimated that 95 percent of the residents have evacuated. He said a quarter of the public works employees are staged in the city, with the remainder staged north of town and will return as needed.

Landrieu got to Lake Charles on Thursday and helped throughout the night with evacuations and emergency preparedness efforts.

Rainwater said the Louisiana National Guard in Lafayette prepared to move into Lake Charles when needed. Also, he said there is still no word on federal resources, but city and parish officials remain in negotiations Friday.

Shawn Martin
Beauregard News Bureau Chief