A mandatory evacuation has been issued for about 10,000 people in Grand Isle, Louisiana, ahead of Tropical Storm Cristobal.

The order goes into effect at 6 a.m. CDT Saturday, Police Chief Laine Landry told weather.com in a phone interview Friday afternoon. Landry said the town only has about 1,400 year-round residents, but thousands more come for the summer. He added that the island has seen "record crowds" since the state started to ease coronavirus restrictions.

Landry said officials are most worried about flooding on Highway 1, the main road and the only route off the island.

"What we are concerned about is anyone that either has underlying medical conditions or the elderly, if they need any type of emergency services," Landry said.

Campers and boaters were told to leave the island Friday afternoon.

(MORE: The Latest Forecast for Cristobal)

Mayor David Camardelle said in a news release that the area is expected to see 2 to 4 feet of storm surge and up to 10 inches of rain.

Grand Isle, located about 100 miles south of New Orleans, is Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island. It's often cited as one of the places in the U.S. most vulnerable to rising sea levels. Landry said the community is usually evacuated at least once a year.

Cristobal is forecast to come ashore in Louisiana as a tropical storm, most likely sometime Sunday. It's not expected to be a major storm, but could cause dangerous flooding and storm surge.

"Overall, this should be a modest storm surge event, by Gulf standards," weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman said. "That said, low-lying roads could be cut off, particularly at high tide around midday Sunday from southeast Louisiana at least to Florida's Apalachee Bay."

Communities all along the northern Gulf Coast were handing out sandbags, reminding their residents to stock their supply kits and making sure shelters are ready if needed this weekend.

(MORE: Cristobal Could Be 'Test Run' For Hurricane Season in the Era of Coronavirus)

Louisiana Gov. Jon Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Thursday night and reminded people to add a few things to their emergency kits this year.

"While it is still too early to know for sure what impact Cristobal could have on Louisiana, now is the time to make your plans, which should include the traditional emergency items along with masks and hand sanitizer as we continue to battle the coronavirus pandemic," Edwards said in a news release.

Later Friday, Edwards requested a pre-landfall emergency declaration from President Donald Trump in an attempt to secure federal assistance. Some local governments also declared a state of emergency.

Utility companies were monitoring the situation and prepared to respond if necessary.

Residents in several parishes and counties were filling free sandbags at local distribution sites as officials advised paying close attention to local emergency agencies and alerts.

In New Orleans, pumps are a key defense against flooding. A spokeswoman for the city Sewerage & Water Board told NOLA.com Wednesday that all 99 of the agency's main drainage pumps were operational and will be fully staffed during the storm.

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