St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis is undeniably concerned about Gustav. Although still a tropical storm after hitting Haiti, it is predicted to regain hurricane status and strengthen to a possible Category 2 or 3 storm.

Earier today Davis said that, depending upon the strength and revised predicted tracks of Gustav, parts of the parish may be asked to evacuate.

Although it's still too early to tell what will happen, Davis is asking everyone to make preparations, gather important papers, fill prescription medications and get any medical supplies they may need. On Wednesday, forecasts had Gustov entering the Gulf of Mexico Saturday and making landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River Monday as a category 3 hurricane. This morning's forecast had shifted, with Gustav expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday, with landfall Tuesday morning to the west of the river near Vermillion Bay.

But the track of the storm is still unclear, and the National Weather Service's cone of uncertainty had landfall in a 610-mile range from Texas to the Florida panhandle. Davis said the cone should narrow today.

If evacuations are called, low-lying parishes to the south would be evacuated before St. Tammany, Davis said. Any decisions on school closings, evacuations, contraflow and other emergency matters will be made possibly by Saturday.

Davis said the situation can change depending upon Gustav's predicted path. He said he will meet again Friday morning with the parish's mayors and other elected officials, and even if the storm drifts west as predicted today, "The east side of a storm is the bad part with the most wind and rain," Davis said.

Evacuation necessity and plans will depend upon the projected path, wind speed and size of Gustav, he said.

At the present time, anyone planning to evacuate is being asked to take their animals with them if possible. Arrangements have already been made for animals currently in shelters. Animals will be allowed to accompany patients at the special needs shelter, but provision for them must be made by the caregiver accompanying the patient.

The special needs shelter will be located at Covington High School if needed. If activated, people needing to use the shelter need to bring all their equipment, including hospital bed, medication and medical supplies. A caregiver must accompany them.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Jack Strain said this afternoon the 1,000 or so men and women prisoners being held at the parish jail in Covington will not be evacuated.

Strain said the manpower and supplies to run the facility will withstand Gustav if the storm makes landfall in southeast Louisiana.

Strain also said he's spent the majority of the last 24 hours meeting with different officials, including Gov. Bobby Jindal, making preparations in case of a Gustav landfall.

Those preparations, he said, include helping the State Police and National Guard initiate the contraflow plan, which would require a significant amount of manpower from his department.

"The lines on paper look pretty cute, but it's really a major undertaking," Strain said. "We did it in 2005 quite successfully, and I think we'll have even more success this year."

With the communications debacle that occurred three years ago tomorrow during Katrina, Strain said communications has been a major concern in many of the discussions he's held with officials. He said preparations are being made to ensure all agencies will have contact with one another before, during and after the storm.

He would not say if evacuations were imminent within the parish, but he did urge residents to heed any evacuation orders given.

“We're not going to drag anyone out of their homes,” he said. “But why would you want to stay with the possibility of losing electricity for two weeks?”

Ultimately, Strain said, before any more preparations are made, they will be watching Gustav closely.

"You have to remember we're still five days away from any potential event," Strain said.

Citizens seeking the latest parishwide information can call 809-2300 or visit the parish Web site at www.stpgov.org.