Governor’s Update on Hurricane Ike

Governor Jindal said, “I am encouraging everyone listening and watching this in coastal Louisiana, especially in these low-lying areas, to evacuate immediately. Get out of harm’s way. Do not think that because you have made it through other hurricanes you will be safe where you are. Every storm is different. This is a very large storm, and the southeast part of our state is already experiencing many feet of tidal surge. This storm will continue to work its way westward along our cost throughout today and into this evening. We have already had tornado watches issued for our coastal area, and the threat of rising tidal surge could be the most dangerous aspect of this storm. Heed the warnings. It is not too late to leave, but that time is quickly approaching. Please don’t wait. Act now to protect your own life and the safety of your family.”

Governor Jindal spoke about the threat of tidal surge along coastal Louisiana, and reported that the National Hurricane Center expects tidal surge to reach up to 19 feet in Sabine Pass, 16 feet in Cameron Parish, 10 to 11 feet of water in Vermillion Parish, and 6 to 7 feet in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes – where water is currently continuing to rise. The Governor said meteorologists are also now predicting 5 to 10 inches of rain in Lake Charles, and 3 to 5 inches of rain along western Louisiana.

The Governor warned residents about the size and the force of Hurricane Ike, cautioning that experts have reported that they expect Baton Rouge to experience intermittent high wind gusts (tropical storm strength) for 8 to 12 hours, New Orleans for 6 hours, the Houma, Morgan City, and Lafayette areas will experience these gusts from 12 to 16 hours. Lake Charles will experience category 1 winds for up to four hours, during strong wind gusts from 15 to 20 hours.

LINKS from lpb.org/hurricane

School Closures

Ike Evacuations

EMERGENCY RADIO STATIONS

State employees call for closure updates: 1-800-360-9660 or 225-342-0498

MORE LINKS AT LPB.ORG

Visit The Hurricane Information Center for Google map of evacuation and response centers, tweets from reporters covering Ike at the Chronicle and the American-Statesman, Flickr photos and local Craigslist listings for temporary housing. (National Site).

School Closures from emergency.louisiana.gov

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Elementary and Secondary Schools
Updated 9:00 a.m., Friday, September 12, 2008

Dismissing Early Friday due to Ike: East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish

K-12 Closures on Friday due to Ike:
Calcasieu Parish,Cameron Parish,Vermilion Parish, Allen Parish, Beauregard Parish, Iberia Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Lafayette Parish, St. Martin Parish, St. Mary Parish, Vernon Parish

Universities, Colleges, Community and Technical colleges

Updated Friday, September 2, 2008, 10:44 a.m.

The Board of Regents continues to monitor Hurricane Ike’s impact on our campuses. Below is a list of colleges & universities that have closed due to Hurricane Ike:McNeese State University (Lake Charles),Nicholls State University (Thibodeaux),University of Louisiana at Lafayette,LTC Young Memorial, ampus (Morgan City),LTC Young Memorial Franklin Branch (Franklin),LTC Evangeline Campus (Abbeville),LTC Teche Area Campus, New Iberia),SOWELA Technical Community College (Lake Charles),LTC Gulf Area campus (Abbeville),LTC Morgan Smith campus, Jennings),River Parishes Community College (Sorrento),South Louisiana Community College (Lafayette), LTC Oakdale Campus,LTC amar Salter Campus (Leesville),Delgado Community College,LTC Region 1 (New Orleans), LTC Acadian Campus (Crowley), LTC T.H. Harris ampus (Opelousas),LTC Teche Area Campus (New Iberia), LTC Ascension Campus (Sorrento),Southern University (New Orleans, only)

 

 

UPDATE FROM YOUR AMERICAN RED CROSS

Sheltering, feeding, damage assessment and client casework continues

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (September 11, 2008) – The Louisiana Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is still responding to the needs of those affected by Hurricane Gustav. The organization provided services to meet the immediate emergency needs of people by providing shelter, food, water and emotional support in the first days prior to and after landfall of the storm. As of today, seven shelters are still operating in the 10-parish area, and volunteers continue working with damage assessment, mobile feeding and bulk distribution of supplies.

Shelters still open:

Kernan Avenue BREC, 333 Kernan Avenue, BATON ROUGE, EBR

Scott Civic Center, 1200 Major Pkwy, NEW ROADS, POINTE COUPEE

Erwinville Community Center,5110 Section Road, PORT ALLEN, WBR

Flannery Road Recreation Center, 801 Flannery Road, BATON ROUGE, EBR

West Livingston School, 320 Rodeo, DENHAM SPRINGS, LIVINGSTON

Gus Young BREC, 4201 Gus Young Ave, BATON ROUGE, EBR

Miracle Place, 2080 Main St, BAKER, EBR

Several kitchen sites were set up last week through a partnership with Southern Baptists. Meals are loaded into Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles, and the ERVs bring the meals to those in the hardest-hit neighborhoods. Damage assessment teams were on the ground to analyze the significant structural damage to homes within days after the storm. The routes were provided through a partnership with the parish offices of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. The significant structural damage will be the basis of the emergency financial assistance. Client casework started just days ago, and volunteers are visiting with individual families through outreach.

Red Cross Update
The Red Cross has also established several fixed-feeding sites where individuals can pick up a hot meal. As power is restored to neighborhoods, these sites may close to assist others in most need.

Fixed feeding sites open:

Maringouin Town Hall, 77510 Landry Drive, Maringouin, Last meal will be served Friday, September 12 at Noon

Old Church’s Chicken Parking Lot, Corner of Highland & East Harding, Baton Rouge, Meals start Friday, September 12, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Mount Salem Baptist Church, 1100 St. Vincent Street, Donaldsonville, Meals served only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (September 12 – 14), from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Intersection of Plank Road and Railroad Crossing, North Baton Rouge, Meals served twice a day, from 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. each day

Martin Luther King Center, 4000 Gus Young Avenue, Baton Rouge, Meals served twice a day, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. each day

Grocery Store/Town Hall, Hwy. 42, French Settlement, Evening meal only: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

City Hall, 18115 Willow Street, Grosse Tete, Meals served twice a day, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. each day

St. Joan of Arc, 39315 Hwy. 75, Bayou Pigeon, Meals served twice a day, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. each day

Calcasieu Parish added to FEMA declaration at request of Governor Jindal

At the request of Governor Bobby Jindal, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) amended the individual assistance emergency declaration to include Calcasieu Parish. Governor Jindal has requested federal assistance for all 64 parishes and continues to advocate for those parishes which FEMA has not yet approved