LAPLACE — Hurricane Nate is expected to crash into the Gulf Coast Saturday night as a category 2 storm, prompting St. John the Baptist Parish officials to issue a partial mandatory evacuation order and overnight curfew.

Parish President Natalie Robottom said the mandatory evacuation is for areas north of the I-55 overpass, which is Peavine, Frenier and Manchac. Residents in this area should seek higher ground and park vehicles on higher ground before roads become impassable.

Residents in areas that are historically prone to flooding and flooded in Hurricane Isaac, especially low-lying areas south of I-10 should finalize preparations and take precautions.

Residents who are elderly, sick or have difficulty managing on their own are encouraged to contact family members and friends and have a plan to leave their homes quickly should it be necessary. For special needs, please dial 911.

“We’re also issuing a curfew for 10 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday,” Robottom said. “That is the anticipated time for this storm to be in our area, and we just want our residents to do what needs to be done prior to that and be off the road during the event.”

St. John has opened Emily C. Watkins Elementary, 938 Louisiana 628 in LaPlace, as a Parish-manned shelter.

Parish officials don’t anticipate many folks going there but wanted the safe option available for anyone in need.

Lake levels continue to be monitored, and Robottom said storm surge would be the region’s No. 1 concern.

“There are homes affected by the storm surge warning, and that is the rear of River Forest, the subdivisions closer to New 51 off of Main Street and also Spring Meadows and that area,” Robottom said. “Those areas could see surge, which of course, they get water without a storm.”

Parish officials are encouraged to see Nate moving very quickly, noting when it gets past the coast, it will be pushing water out of the lake.

Areas that typically flood during rain events and assessable Interstate interchanges are major concerns this weekend.

Robottom warns that residents in the evacuation zone are not taking the storm serious enough, noting many of the same residents acted similarly during Hurricane Isaac and had to be rescued, which required valuable emergency response that could be used elsewhere.

St. John the Baptist Parish residents can expect to start feeling tropical storm level winds by 4 or 5 p.m. Saturday.