With the city hunkering down to shelter in place, Mayor Mitch again gathered the press to address preparation as Tropical Storm Isaac gets closer to the Gulf Coast. The storm is forecast as a Category 1 and there are no plans for an evacuation at this time, but the Mayor reminded everyone to take precautions, and treat the storm seriously. And the city moved into the nitty gritty of storm prep, addressing boats, pets and standing water. Here's a play-by-play:

12:53 That's a wrap. NoDef has complete TS Isaac coverage. Keep up with all of our updates here.

12:50 Landrieu says: "I think we're going to be okay."

12:47 La. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater says the state's University Medical Center site - including the large debris pile left over from the Palace Hotel implosion, is secured.

12:45 Mayor Mitch says he does not intend to call for a mandatory evacuation. Category 3 would be a trigger. But he says there is a "Big asterisk" If this storm does something outside the forecast track, we could alter that decision. Contraflow is prepared to be invoked, but we don't have the time for a big evacuation after 3 or 4 hours from now. For those who are making a voluntary evacuation, make a decision. if you plan to leave, don't wait and then complain about siting in traffic.

12:40 Serpas: The third, fourth and fifth NOPD districts are not with generators but requests have been put out. Serpas thinks they will be filled.

12:35 Mitch says he's worried people will do silly things like seeing what it feels like to swim in lake pontchartrain. That's dumb not only because of the danger to the person, but it also put EMS lives in danger.

12:30 Question time: Landrieu is asked what he is still worried about. The Mayor is going into teachifyin' mode, saying he can remember as far back as Betsy. Some other people might remember more than that I'm not looking at anyone in the room. He looks at Jackie Clarkson and says, "I wasn't looking at you!"

12:27 Pete Gauthier of the Port says the mouth of the Mississippi was closed last night, and most waterways will be closed tonight. They're working to minimize any barge or vessels running aground.

12:26 Pet talk:  Don't forget the critters. SPCA accepting strays but they only go out in emergencies. Snakes and raccoons wil come out of their hiding places, and look out because domestic animals may bite when they're lost.

12:25 Councilwoman Susan Guidry urges people to pick up their kayaks and small boats from Bayou St. John. They're a hazard, and even when it's not a tropical weather event, they're a breeding ground for West Nile. That's 2 La. threats in one!

12:24 Jackie says it's critically important that you follow orders. The mayor is in command and doing a very good job. Follow his mandates. "The only regrets I have ever seen were people who didn't follow orders given by a good leader. She reiterates Stacy's point that this is the most confident she has ever felt.

12:23 Stacy strikes again: Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson is set to speak, but Stacy Head cuts in saying Jackie is very confident in the preparations. Head steps away. Jackie says, "You said my entire speech for me." Stacy laughs.

12:22 The airport met with the airlines. Southwest, United and American are going to run schedules today and cancel flights tomorrow. The airport hopes to hear from other airlines before 2 p.m. today.

12:21 Charles Rice of Entergy says customers can log on to entergy.com- text message w outages and when power has been restored. Those who are suffering from an outage call 1-800-9outage. If you see a downed power line or gas leak- don't hesitate to contact

12:20 Deupty Mayor Cedric Grant: The city has begun the process of shutting down all capital projects, and all public buildings and projects will be shutdown by the end of the day. Health Commissioner Karen De salvo says the health system is ready. There are 1000 people registered on a special needs list. They will be transported to a shelter in Baton Rouge if they request. Homeless shelters are sheltering in place. People who need medications are reminded that many doctors' offices are shutting down today.

12:19 Chief Ronal Serpas: NOPD is fully ready and fully positioned. He reminds everyone to call 311 for non emergency, and 821-2222 for normal police needs. 911 is only to be used for non-life-threatening emergencies. Now he goes into the regular storm line about driving through standing water: It's against the law to drive a car or boat through flooded area. If you don't know how deep the water is, don't drive through it. It will be enforced with zero tolerance. No citizen is allowed to move a barricade.

12:18 Sheriff Marlin Gusman says close to 1,100 inmates were evacuated by 630 a.m. The move is in the interest of inmates safety and the public in advance of any contraflow. 80 inmates serving municipal sentences or waiting for their court date were released and issued summonses. OPP is not taking any persons arrested for municipal offenses except domestic violence or weapons. They will take in people violating curfew ordinance, and continue to house 1329 inmates.

12:17 Sneed time: Says the city is ready, and says now is a great time to take in outside furniture. Go to ready.nola.gov for complete emergency info.
 

12:16 Nuts and bolts of city operations: Trash pickup will cease today. Regional transit stops at 2 p.m., and bus will stop when winds reach 20-35 mph. The airport will remain operational until individual airlines stop running. Park on the neutral ground, but don't take up more space than necessary.

12:15 Now we get a little more dour: "Let me talk to you about things that can kill you," Landrieu says. They are: driving and walking in standing water, canals that have overflowed, drive under overpasses with standing water, getting hit with flying debris or getting hit with a downed power line while outside and improperly using generators or candles.

12:14 Landrieu says you will drive the success of the operation. 
If you plan to stay, hunker down, shelter in place with the supplies you have. Board up the windows hatch down the shutters. 

12:13 In light of that news, Landrieu asks everybody to remain calm. take storm seriously and execute plans, he says. The 900 residents in Venetian Isles and Irish Bayou that are outside the levee system should think about leaving today. "We are preparing for significant rain, wind, and electrical events with a possibility of localized flooding," he said.

12:12 Now a weather update; There's more clarity in the storm and the forecast. The bad news for this morning: the cone of discomfort did not change very much. The spaghetti models are trending the storm to New Orleans. Based on the latest info, Landrieu says, "We are going to have a hurricane hit New Orleans." Tropical storm force winds are expected starting tonight at midnight. 11 p.m. Tuesday night is likely when we'll start seeing hurricane force winds. He reiterates a Cat 1 is not a Cat 3, but it's a very serious storm.

12:11 Now Landrieu wants to address the great irony for all the local media in the room: the fact that a hurricane is threatening New Orleans on the 7th anniversary of the federal flood. "Nothing this storm is going to bring us that we do not believe we are prepared to handle," the mayor says. "I believe everything is going to be okay. Execute plans you have been working on for a very long time."

12:10 p.m. Presser starts. The mayor says he contacted with the feds and President Obama via the Department of Homeland Security, he's also engaged with the governor on a minute-to-minute basis.

12:00 p.m. Landrieu is late because Bobby Jindal is running a little over with his press conference. All the same players are in the house, including Homeland Secuirty Chief Jerry Sneed, Sheriff Marlin Gusman, NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas. Even State Administration Commissioner Paul Rainwater is here.