As precaution, Calcasieu declares emergency

Calcasieu Parish officials have declared a state of emergency as a precaution now that Hurricane Dean has been upgraded to a major hurricane and appears headed for the Gulf of Mexico.

The declaration came after a similar statewide declaration by Gov. Kathleen Blanco. It would allow state and federal resources to flow to the area should the storm strike.

Calcasieu’s newly formed Executive Policy Group will meet Sunday night to discuss Dean, Calcasieu officials said.

The group is comprised of the Police Jury president; the mayors of the six parish municipalities — Lake Charles, Sulphur, Iowa, DeQuincy, Westlake and Vinton; and the sheriff.

“Although the areas that may be impacted by the hurricane are not yet known, residents should be making their preparations now in the event Southwest Louisiana is affected,” the parish said in a statement.

JEREMY HARPER