August 29, 2008 Gustav heads toward Caymans after drenching Jamaica Play video

(NECN/AP) - The spinning core of Gustav was bearing down on southern Jamaica late on Thursday after leaving 67 people dead in Hispaniola, the island divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Texas and Louisiana have put their national guards on standby, and New Orleans says a mandatory evacuation might be necessary.

At least 67 people have died from the storm in Haiti, including 25 around the city of Jacmel, where Gustav first struck land on Tuesday.

On Thursday evening, the storm's center was 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of

Kingston, Jamaica's low-lying capital, as stranded tourists hunkered down in

hotels.

Forecasters say parts of Jamaica could get 25 inches (63 centimeters) of

rain,

which could trigger landslides and cause serious crop damage.

They predict it could strengthen into a hurricane before slamming into Grand

Cayman on Friday night.

"We will be prepared a little more than what we were for Ivan but for me I

hope

that nobody ever has to go through that nightmare," said one Georgetown

resident, Daylean Dixon.

Other residents were busy boarding up windows around the capital and

stocking up

on essentials in the supermarket.