Despite Governor Bobby Jindal’s inclusion of Washington Parish in a call for a voluntary evacuations in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac, Washington Parish Director of Emergency Preparedness Tommy Thiebaud said there is currently no need for local residents to leave.

At approximately 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Thiebaud said the parish is watching the storm and in regular contact with the National Weather Service. Although they will take part in conference calls before then, Thiebaud said Washington Parish officials plan to decide a course of action after the 10 a.m. call on Monday.

“Fortunately we have a little bit more time than our coastal parishes,” Thiebaud said. “This storm has changed courses so many times… We want to make the best decision we can based on the information.

“We figure (Isaac) ought to be ramped up by then, and they would have a good idea where it’s going to hit.”

Bogalusa School Board President Paul Kates said schools will be open tomorrow but will likely close Tuesday and Wednesday, depending on Isaac’s path.

As of Sunday evening, Isaac was projected to make landfall somewhere along the northern Gulf Coast. All of Southeastern Louisiana is in a hurricane warning.

“We are going to working closely with (Bogalusa) Mayor (Charles Mizell) and (Thiebaud) and go along with what they tell us,” Kates said.

Washington Parish Schools were already scheduled to be closed Monday for an in-service for the teachers. A school district official said late Sunday a decision will be made Monday regarding Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thiebaud added one more thing.

“But we want to tell people to prepare as if it was coming straight at us,” Thiebaud said.

For additional updates continue to check with www.gobogalusa.com.