Louisiana declares state of emergency as Dean churns toward Gulf

Aug. 18, 8:30 a.m. update: CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP) -- Hurricane Dean, responsible for 3 deaths already, whipped across the eastern Caribbean Saturday and churned toward Hispaniola, Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, with forecasters saying it could turn into a monster Category 5 storm within 72 hours. As winds hit 150 mph, the Gulf of Mexico braces for the worst. But at least one local government official is thinking ahead: In anticipation of potential impact to Louisiana, Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Dean churns across the Caribbean Sea. She has also requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration to ensure Federal assets are available to Louisiana prior to the potential landfall of Dean. We all know what happened last time!!!!