On Sunday
Jindal made the announcement as the state waits for the arrival of Hurricane Ida, now a Category 2 storm.
There is a hurricane watch from Louisiana to Florida's Panhandle.
When a state of emergency is declared state resources are freed up and put on high alert. At this time levees on the floodgate are being closed in an attempt to avoid serious flooding.
Weather Services are saying that rain could be begin as early as Sunday evening.