Projections have Hurricane Gustav headed to the Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Gustav's forecast track sends the storm into the Gulf of Mexico as a major hurricane this weekend.

The National Hurricane Center says this will be the first major hurricane in the Gulf since the 2005 season that brought Katrina, Rita and Wilma to the Gulf Coast.

Officials say since it has been three years since a major storm threatened coastal residents along the Gulf, people need to make sure they are prepared and pay attention as we get closer to the long holiday weekend.