Rapides public schools open Wednesday as residents prepare for Hurricane Laura

Central Louisiana residents are being urged to prepare for Hurricane Laura before the storm reaches land late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Laura is being compared to Hurricane Rita, which caused extensive damage and power outages in the area in 2005. It's still expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane somewhere between southeast Texas to southwest Louisiana.

Rapides Parish public schools will be open Wednesday, but will close on Thursday. Friday is a student holiday.

The Rapides Parish Library announced Tuesday it would close all branches on Wednesday at noon and would tentatively reopen on Friday.

Both Louisiana State University at Alexandria and Central Louisiana Technical Community College said late Tuesday their campuses would close at noon on Wednesday.

Classes from noon through Friday are cancelled at both institutions. Classes should start again on Monday.

Louisiana College in Pineville has cancelled all in-person classes through Friday.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced all state offices would be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Laura could dump between 4 to 8 inches of rain in Rapides Parish, with the potential for up to 15 inches. Wind gusts are forecast to be between 30-40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph.

Avoyelles Parish's forecasted wind is the same as Rapides, and it could receive between 3-6 inches of rain with the potential for 10 inches of rain.

Vernon Parish could receive between 5 to 10 inches of rain, also with the potential for up to 15 inches. Wind gusts could be between 50 to 70 mph, with gusts up to 90 mph.

The Grant Parish Sheriff's Office has warned residents the parish could see between 4-6 inches of rain and "hurricane-strength winds," according to its Facebook page. It expects more rain in the southern and western areas of the parish.

Photo gallery:As Hurricane Laura takes similar path, here's a look back at Rita's 2005 damage

There is a threat of tornadoes as Laura approaches.

Brooke Wilkes-White was one of many people filling sand bags on Tuesday across Central Louisiana. She filled 15 at the Johnny Downs Sports Complex, off Coliseum Boulevard in Alexandria, to use at her front and back doors.

She also wanted to place some around an add-on bedroom. Flooding has been a problem for her before in her subdivision near Alexandria Country Day School, she said, so she wanted to be prepared.

She's already raised some furniture and electronics off the floor onto cinder blocks.

"It floods every time. Every time," she said. "It's bad, bad."

Sand bag locations have popped up across parishes to help residents. Here's a list of where you can get them.

Avoyelles Parish

• Avoyelles Parish Maintenance Barn, Mansura
• City of Bunkie Fire Station 2
• Bordelonville, at the old school
• Brouillette Fire Station
• Cottonport Town Hall
• Dupont Fire Station
• Effie Fire Station
• Fifth Ward Fire Station
• Hessmer City Hall
• Marksville City Hall
• Mansura Town Hall
• Moreauville Town Hall
• Plaucheville Town Hall
• Simmesport Town Hall

Grant Parish

• Bynum Fire Station
• Civic Center
• Pollock Fire Department
• Walker Ferry Road Fire Department
• Nantachie Fire Department
• Selma ballpark
• Prospect ballpark
• Dry Prong tennis courts

Rapides Parish

• Within Alexandria city limits: Alexandria Consolidated City Compound, 2021 Industrial Park Road (sand bags will be filled for those 65 and older at this location); Johnny  Downs Sports Complex, 250 Vandenburg Drive; Bringhurst Park, 1 Babe Ruth Drive; Cheatham Park, 2956 Jones Ave.; and Frank O. Hunter Park, 2399 Willow Glen Road.
• Pineville Fire Department: Pineville City Barn, 405 Sanders St., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Must provide proof of residency.
• Alpine Fire Department: Training Center, Lions Club Road; and Station # 3, 3608 Rlgolette Road
• Ball Fire Department: Station #2, 5503 Pinebrook
• Boyce Fire Department: Bovee Fire Station #2 on Mayo Street
• Cotile Fire Department: Station #1, 55 Parker Road
• Cheneyville Fire Department: Town Hall, Klock Street
• Deville Fire Department: Station #4, 1244 La. Highway 115
• Echo-Poland Fire Department: Station #1, 98831 La. Highway 1 South (front of doors)
• Flatwoods Fire Department: Station #1, 2051 La. Highway 8
• Forest Hill Fire Department: Behind Forest Hill Academy on Blue Lake Road
• Glenmora Fire Department: Station #1, U.S. Highway 165 at 10th Avenue
• Holiday Village Fire Department: Station #1, 5400 La. Highway 28 East
• Lecompte Fire Department: Station #1, 2501 U.S. Highway 71 South
• Oak Hill Fire Department: Station #1, 261 Havens Road; and Station #4, 16 Morrison Road
• Plainview Fire Department: Station #1, 10941 La. Highway 112
• Rapides Parish Fire District #2: Station #1, 5104 Ransbottom Drive; Station #2, 6850 England Drive; Station #3, 3722 Church St.; Station #4, 6613 Bayou Rapides Road; and Station #5, 20 Kincaid Road
• Ruby-Kolin Fire Department: Station #2, 163 Palmer Chapel Road
• Spring Creek Fire Department: Station #1, 571 757 La. Highway 113
• Taylor Hill Fire Department: Station #1, 571 Old Highway 1, Lena
• Woodworth Fire Department: Station #1, 9059 U.S. Highway 165 South

Vernon Parish

• Leesville residents: 201 Red Town Road. 10 per household. Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m. -4 p.m. 
• New Llano residents: 213 Stanton St. Eight per household. Monday-Wednesday,  8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Residents not living within Leesville or New Llano limits: 602 Alexandria Highway. 25 per household. Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.