Jindal declares a State of Emergency for Louisiana until April 20
By: Nancy Cook
Updated: March 24, 2012
Gov. Bobby Jindal Wednesday (March 21) proclaimed a State of Emergency for the entire state of Louisiana effective through April 20, due to the heavy rains and tornadoes that pummeled northwest and central Louisiana earlier this week.
Although a State of Emergency was declared for the entire state, several parishes declared states of emergency prior to the governor's proclamation. Those parishes included Arcadia, Ascension, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Claiborne, Jefferson Davis, Natchitoches, St. Charles, Union, Vermilion and Vernon, and were referred to in the state proclamation.
The proclamation gives the governor emergency powers to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake and other natural or manmade causes, in order to ensure that preparations of the state will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters and to preserve the lives and property of citizens.

