FROM: Suzanne Parsons Stymiest
DATE:  Friday, September 23, 2005
TIME:    12:30 PM

Hurricane Rita Curfew

            After a meeting with mayors and law enforcement this morning, Parish President Kevin Davis has declared a curfew in St.Tammany Parish from 9:00 PM tonight, Friday, September 23 to 6:00 AM, Saturday, September 24, 2005.  St. Tammany Parish is expecting wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour, a 2 to 4 foot storm surge, and between 3 and 5 inches of rain.

            A mandatory evacuation order is in place for residents south of Highway 22, south of Highway 190 as it crosses Mandeville and Lacombe and south of Fremaux/Shortcut Highway in the Slidell area.

The following shelters are open for St. Tammany Parish residents:  Creekside Elementary, Riverside Elementary, 6^th Ward Elementary, and Pearl River High in Pearl River.   Bayou Lacombe Middle School in Lacombe and Fountainbleu Jr. High in Mandeville are also open.

We expect that you will only have to stay in a shelter for one night.  If you have a life threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.  For storm related problems or information, call 898-2323.

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