By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Still a bit gun shy from the brutal beating taken from Hurricane Gustav, parish officials in the River Region say they are keeping a close eye on the track of Hurricane Ike as it churns in the Gulf of Mexico.

With the anticipated track still coming close to the Southwest Louisiana coast, officials from St. John, St. Charles and St. James Parishes are not solidifying plans, but they also aren’t taking any chances because the area remains within the five-day cone of uncertainty.

“You just don’t know what these things will do, we all know that,” said St. John Public Information Officer Buddy Boe. “If Ike follows a similar track to Hurricane Rita in 2005, and we are dealing with tropical storm force winds and rain, we are going to have problems with high water.”

Boe said the parish is still monitoring the track and taking small steps to be ready, but St. John probably won’t make a decision on activating the Emergency Operations Center until later this week.

“If it looks like we are going to be dealing with feeder bands, we will make a decision about the EOC,” said Boe.

The story is the same in St. Charles Parish, where Public Information Officer Renee Allemand said the parish is watching and hoping the storm doesn’t threaten the area.

“We won’t make a decision on opening the EOC until Wednesday if necessary,” said Allemand. “All I can say is that we will be as ready as we can be.”

Allemand said that all preparations made in anticipation of Gustav are still in place, should Ike head toward the area.

“The levee repairs to Bayou Gauche held strong,” said Allemand. “The water filled tanks we positioned as temporary water blocks have not been moved, and they will stay put until hurricane season is over.”

Both Allemand and St. James Parish President Dale Hymel said that the priority at this time is still debris removal.

“We are still in recovery mode here with the storm still several days out,” said Hymel. “We are monitoring the track and staying in contact with the National Weather Service, but we aren’t doing much to prepare as of this time.”

If Ike does steer more toward the area, Boe said he hopes residents can have patience and follow orders to get out.

“We know they are weary and lacking money right now, but I hope they are keeping an eye on this one too,” said Boe. “No one wants to be caught off guard.”