An American Red Cross volunteer from New Jersey has headed down to Louisiana as Tropical Storm Barry approaches.

Volunteer Matthew Teter left New Jersey Friday morning so that he could get down south ahead of the storm, which is expected to make landfall Saturday as a hurricane.

Red Cross officials say that other disaster workers are on standby. The organization is also prepositioning relief supplies in Louisiana, Texas and other coastal communities in case evacuation centers and shelters need to be stocked.

The storm has already brought heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of Louisiana.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for the state. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, New Orleans residents have stocked up on supplies, taking officials’ advice to shelter in place. Costco employees say that the hottest commodity at the store was bottled water.

The strengthening storm is expected to blow ashore early Saturday near Morgan City, about 70 miles southwest of New Orleans.