Governor Blanco Declares "State of Emergency" in Louisiana

"Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency late Thursday as an unpredictable weather disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico had potential to intensify and wreak havoc along the coast.

Mark Smith, a spokesman for the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said the governor had ordered 100 school buses to be put on standby, along with ambulances and workers for emergency evacuation shelters. In addition, he noted, the declaration allows for the Louisiana National Guard to be put on alert as well." | Read more|

Groups Vow To Clear "Coastal" Hurdles

"Senior Army Corps of Engineers officials agreed Wednesday to work with state officials and representatives of environmental and other nongovernmental groups to quickly identify and solve scientific and engineering concerns to speed construction of four major coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects.

The agreement resulted from a request of an environmental leader who suggested forming small teams to solve problems that might crop up in preparing to build major projects. The request came during a meeting of corps and state officials working on proposals to protect the state's coast from storm surge from large hurricanes with independent scientists and environmental and civic groups." |Read more|