As Louisiana began preparations for Tropical Storm Issac, the University set up a Medical Needs Shelter in the Carl Maddox Field House early Monday morning. 
Public Safety Officer Kevin Scott said setting up the special needs shelter was difficult.
“We ended up being really crunched for time,” he explained. “At [5:30 p.m.] the state officially requested us to set up the shelter. Student volunteers played a huge part. Because of student volunteers, we were able to get just about everything moved in by midnight.”
The LSU Medical Needs Shelter was operating at partial capacity Monday, meaning that 300 beds are available – 200 for special needs patients and 100 for caregivers.
The Special Needs Shelter is in response to a request from the state, Scott said. He said there is a good possibility the state could request more beds.
“If the shelter goes into full deployment, there will be 500 beds in the Field House and 300 in the PMAC,” Scott said. 
He added that the facilities will have “all the services someone could need,” including food, water and bathroom facilities. 
Several organizations are assisting in the operation, including the Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana National Guard, which is providing security for the shelter. 
Scott also spoke about the how the student population should respond to the storm.
“Students need to be sure to follow all of the information we are putting out,” he said. “Previously we had some students do their own thing and put themselves at risk by going out in the wind and the rain. They are putting the first responders in dangers, as well as themselves, because the responders have to go out and rescue them.”
 
 
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Contact Josh Bergeron at [email protected].