As Gustav inches toward the Gulf of Mexico, Iberia Parish officials are taking as many pre-storm steps as possible to safeguard the parish from the damages it witnessed almost three years ago.

Iberia Parish President Ernest Freyou declared a state of emergency for Iberia Parish Thursday afternoon as a precautionary measure, said Jim Anderson, parish Emergency Preparedness director.

Anderson said Freyou could decide whether he will call for voluntary evacuation by this mornig, but had not made a decision before press time. The Daily Iberian Web site — www.iberianet.com — will be updated with that information when the decision is made.

Vehicles line up at gas pumps for fuel Thursday in Delcambre. The scene is being repeated around gas pumps in the Teche Area as Hurricane Gustav approaches. -- Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian Advertisement

Gustav was categorized as a tropical storm as of 7 a.m. today, but forecasters are predicting it will become a hurricane by the end of today, according to The Associated Press.

The storm could hit the Gulf Coast early next week as a Category 3 storm with winds of at least 111 mph, anywhere from the Florida Panhandle to eastern Texas.

According to the National Hurricane Center tracking charts, as of 9 a.m. today, Gustav could strike land in South Central Louisiana by 2 a.m. Tuesday. But forecasts are subject to change as the storm draws closer, according to The Associated Press.

“We’ll start making decisions when the cone narrows,” he said. “Special needs people who take longer to evacuate might want to consider leaving today.”

Short traffic delays and gas shortages are to be expected by this afternoon, Anderson said.

Because of the storm, various parish departments have adjusted their normals operations to tend to readiness procedures.

Public Works Director Kevin Hagerich said he suspended concrete work on Admiral Doyle Drive and ditch work in other areas so equipment could be moved to the Acadiana Regional Airport and to an elevated “dirt pad” behind the public works building.

“Half of the equipment will go on the dirt pad,” Hagerich said.

“If something bad happens, at least we won’t have all our eggs in one basket. We can’t fix damage without working equipment.”

The flooding from Hurricane Rita ruined public works equipment, Hagerich said. But, he said, all current equipment is operational.

“Hopefully we’re just going through the exercises and nothing will happen,” Hagerich said. “But we’ll be prepared.”

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office has been planning for Gustav since Tuesday, said Public Information Officer Wendell Raborn.

The sheriff’s office purchased extra water and food for the jail, fueled emergency generators and made arrangements for emergency vehicles to be used for evacuation if necessary, Raborn said.

The sheriff’s office contacted the Elayn Hunt Correctional Facility in St. Gabriel and arranged for prisoners to be taken there if evacuation becomes mandatory.

All sheriff’s office personnel are on 24-hour call and cadets in training will be pulled from the academy for added “man power” if needed, Raborn said. Scheduled leave or vacation time for sheriff’s office employees has also been suspended.

Raborn urged residents to be ready for evacuation, noting the long lines he noticed at local gas stations and lumber stores Thursday.

“Those people are getting ready early,” he said. “Everyone needs to be doing that. Iberia Parish is vulnerable to flooding, and people need to be ready to move. Sheriff’s department and fire departments will be here before, during and after the storm and are available to help citizens.”

Anderson said if a mandatory evacuation is called, anyone without credentials seen driving around will be escorted home or out of town.

“Mandatory evacuation is just that ... it calls for everyone to leave,” he said.

“People ride out the storms, but it’s a dangerous thing to do. It requires that much more search and rescue if we have an impact.”

The Louisiana National Guard Bravo Company, 2nd Batallion, stationed in New Iberia, is activated, said Lt. Lawrence Toups.

The 105 soldiers have begun assembling units for trucks, water, food, tents and anything else the company, the 156th Infantry of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, will need for operations.

“We’ll move wherever they dictate us to move to and are ready to support local law enforcement or assist with any emergency operations that might be necessary,” Toups said.

The state’s hurricane readiness Web site, GetAGameplan.org, includes several checklists and tips on how to be prepared and what to bring when evacuating.

Whether residents stay or evacuate, their checklist should include, among several other things, a battery-powered radio, first aid kit, high energy foods, vitamins, clothing, bedding and a pillow for each member of the household, according to the state Web site.

For information on evacuation routes, visit http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov.

Iberia Parish CAO Sally Angers said the best way to stay informed about updates is to tune into local media outlets.

The Daily Iberian will update its Web site, www.iberianet.com, whenever new information is available.