Ida's expected path in this area takes it through Pointe Coupee instead of Avoyelles

Hurricane Ida is still more than a day away from the Louisiana coast, but it appears at this time Avoyelles Parish will not take a direct hit. That could change, but so far each new update has pushed the expected path to the east.

The storm will be stronger than previously predicted, making landfall as a Category 4 near Atchafalaya Bay Sunday evening with sustained winds of 132 mph and gusts of 161 mph. Ida is then expected to go due north on a route that takes it past Franklin, New Roads and St. Francisville before leaving the state near the rural community of Turnbull and then passing Ashwood, Miss., still packing hurricane-force winds of 86 mph.

Avoyelles Emergency Preparedness Director Joey Frank said current projections call for the parish to receive 1-5 inches of rain Monday and experience winds of 40-50 mph.

"I am sure we will have power outages, but there shouldn't be any floods unless we get more than five inches of rain within an hour," Frank said. "There will be a trees and limbs knocked down from the wind."

People are reminded not to drive anywhere during or immediately after the storm unless it is absolutely necessary.

Sandbags will be available at the following locations on Saturday:

Bordelonville Fire,
Brouillette Fire Dept
Bunkie Fire Dept Station 1
Cottonport Town Hall
Dupont Fire Dept.
Fifthward Fire Dept
Hessmer Town Hall
Marksville at Main & N. Washington St
Mansura Town Hall
Mansura at the Parish Maintenance Barn on Valley St
Moreauville Fire Dept.
Simmesport City Hall

Those wishing to fill their sandbags are reminded to bring a shovel.