NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s governor has declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Debby threatens to flood low-lying coastal areas.

Gov. Bobby Jindal issued the declaration on Saturday.

Declaring a state of emergency is a primarily bureaucratic move that makes it easier for state officials to send needed supplies and workers to disaster-stricken areas.

Debby was moving very slowly out over the Gulf of Mexico, and it already had dumped heavy rain on parts of Florida.

It was not completely clear when or where Debby would make landfall, though current models showed it reaching hurricane strength by the time it hit the Louisiana coastline.

The storm was about 190 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Debby’s top sustained winds had increased to about 60 mph. The storm was moving toward the northeast at 6 mph.