Fallen tree damage and debris from Gustav in Baton Rouge, LA

Cleanup is in full swing today in Baton Rouge and across Southern Louisiana today as residents try to clean up what they can in between thunderstorms from the remnants of Gustav. If you live in an affected area and are lucky enough to have internet service (and air conditioning, presumably), click here for information from the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness. Alternatively, if you have wireline or mobile phone service, call 1.866.288.2484. If you’d like to help victims of Hurricane Gustav takepart by donating money, time, or products to the relief effort.

Some updates from family and local news sources:

• Areas affected by Gustav continue to be hit with heavy rains and are under flash flood and tornado warnings.
• Portions of I-10 remain closed in and around Baton Rouge due to downed power lines. Surface streets are mostly blocked in Southdowns, Boccage, and Mid-City neighborhoods (and elsewhere).
• At the Dow Chemical Plaquemines Plant’s weather monitoring station they recorded 94mph sustained winds during the height of the storm yesterday. The plant is across the river on the west side of the Baton Rouge metro area
• Schools will most likely be closed until Monday.
• The National Guard is distributing supplies (including ice) at locations throughout Baton Rouge and the Acadiana Parishes
• They expect to have power restored to 50% of the city of Baton Rouge within 1-8 days. Outlying areas in Ascension Parish (and elsewhere) are being asked to look for temporary accommodations elsewhere as power will not be restored for another 4-6 weeks.
• Residents who have evacuated are being asked to delay returning until at least tomorrow.
• No word on Saturday’s LSU football game. It may sound silly to some, but the games are an important rallying point for the community. The LSU/Tennessee game in 2005 was a big boost to local businesses and morale after Katrina.

Read more from our Hurricane Gustav coverage