Hurricane Nate: Shelters Open Around New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Several shelters have opened in and around New Orleans in preparation for Hurricane Nate, which is strengthening as it churns toward landfall in southeast Louisiana Saturday evening. The area is expected to feel the brunt of the storm, which could increase to a Category 2 storm as it passes over the Gulf, from 7 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday.

Storm surges of up to 11 feet and wind speeds of 105 miles per hour are the main threats to New Orleans and the surrounding area. (Sign up for newsletters and real-time news alerts from New Orleans Patch, or find your local Louisiana Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Shelters will open in the following areas:

Jefferson Parish: Jean Lafitte Civic Center, 2654 Jean Lafitte Blvd., for residents of Lafitte, Barataria and Crown Point who live in mobile homes and low-lying homes. The building has shower facilities, and residents are asked to bring necessities and prepare to stay overnight.

St. John the Baptist Parish: Emily C. Watkins School, 938 LA 628 in LaPlace.

St. Tammany Parish: Creekside Junior High, 65434 Highway 41, Pearl River, general population and special needs shelter, and Lee Road Junior High, 79131 Highway 40, Lee Road, Covington, general population shelter.

Terrebonne Parish: Dumas Auditorium, 301 W Tunnel Blvd., Houma.

Tangipahoa Parish: Greenville Park, 111 J.W. Davis Drive, Hammond; Amite Elementary School, 301 Vernon Ave., Amite.

Plaquemines Parish: Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 LA-23, Belle Chasse.

Lafourche Parish: Raceland Recreation Center, 241 Recreation Drive, Raceland (bring your own food and water and prepare to stay for 72 hours).

St. Charles Parish: Edward A. Dufresne Community, 274 Judge Edward Dufresne Pkwy., Luling.

Washington Parish: Franklinton High School – 1 Demon Circle, Franklinton; Elizabeth Sullivan Memorial United Methodist Church, 10 Ave. B, Bogalusa, LA

Hancock County, Mississippi: Kiln Shelter, 18320 Hwy. 43, Kiln; Lee Town Shelter, 28292 Lee Town Road, Picayune.

Photo: Randy and Jill Baumy load their cat into their car as they evacuate Braithwaite, La., in preparation for Hurricane Nate, expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)