Louisiana, Mississippi keeping eye on Gustav NEW ORLEANS (AP) (wrkf) - As Friday's third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, officials in Louisiana and Mississippi are keeping an eye on a storm named Gustav.

The storm was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm after moving over Haiti but forecasters expect it to regain strength and move into the Gulf of Mexico in a few days. Long-range forecasts say the storm could be a major hurricane threatening the central Gulf Coast by Monday.

In New Orleans, where thousands were stranded after Katrina hit and flooded most of the city, officials are making plans in case an evacuation is needed. People who might need help evacuating were being advised to call the city's 311 information number.

In Mississippi, Mike Womack, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, advised south Mississippi residents to have a plan in place. © Copyright 2009, wrkf