BATON ROUGE - President Trump has approved Governor John Bel Edward's Pre-Disaster Emergency Declaration for 17 Louisiana parishes.

The declaration gives Louisiana easier access to federal response resources in the event that they may become necessary following Tropical Storm Nate.

“I appreciate the speed and decisiveness with which President Trump granted our Pre-Disaster Emergency Declaration request in anticipation of Tropical Storm Nate making landfall along our coast,” said Gov. Edwards. “This declaration will help us continue the process of preparing for potential severe weather with the support of federal resources at our disposal.”

The 17 parishes included in the declaration are Assumption, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Vermillion.