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

FEMA Adds Parishes to Disaster Declaration List

FEMA has added the following parishes as designated for Individual Assistance: Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, St. Helena, and Washington. Visit www.fema.gov for more information.

State Government Closures

State government offices will be closed on Thursday, September 11th, in the following parishes: Calcasieu, Cameron, Plaquemines

 

In the Southwest area of the state:

Iberia (low-lying areas)

Jefferson Davis (low-lying areas)

St. Martin (Bell River and Stevensville and low-lying areas) St. Mary (South of Intercoastal waterway and low-lying areas) Vermillion (South of Hwy 14)

 

In the Southeast area of the state: 

Jefferson (Grand Isle)

Lafourche (South of Golden Meadow Flood Gate) St. Bernard (All areas not in the hurricane protection levee) Terrebonne (Southern and low-lying areas of the parish)

 

All agency heads are responsible for determining those essential personnel who should remain on duty. The numbers for state employees to call: 1-800-360-9660 or 225-342-0498.

 

For the latest information on Hurricane Gustav, visit emergency.louisiana.gov.

Hurricane Haiku

Recently, Smiley Anders published several noteable Haiku in The Advocate (www.2theadvocate.com). Haiku is poetry usually written in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables. These are posted here with his permission.

The wet wind arrives.

Suddenly a black rain falls.

Shingles from my roof.
————————-

Its shade was much loved,

But the tree across the street

Has shut off my world.

————————-

No red, yellow, green;

A busy intersection.

Be alert for fools.

————————-

No ice at sundown.

Take your evening cocktail warm,

Like the bloody Brits.

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Submit your own Haiku to web@lpb.org for consideration.

FROM GOV. JINDAL: Recovery, Tracking Ike

BATON ROUGE – Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference to give an update on the state’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Gustav, and give an update on the track of Hurricane Ike.

Governor Jindal said that the latest tracking information he had on Hurricane Ike showed that the storm was taking a path mostly into the Texas coast, but that he was continuing to monitor the storm as it moved across Cuba. The Governor reminded residents that it is never too early for them to be prepared for the next hurricane and encouraged them to visit www.GetAGameplan.org to get a list of supplies needed to prepare for a possible storm.

Governor Jindal also said that due to Hurricane Ike’s current predicted track, the state is continuing to monitor the storm and work with local officials in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, which could be affected. 

Jindal said that the state has already released 300 buses on contract to Texas to aid in their preparation measures for the possible impact of Hurricane Ike. Additionally, he said the Louisiana National Guard is working to send communications assets down to Southwest Louisiana, in order to preposition them in case Hurricane Ike has an impact on the area.

The Governor said that some POD (point of distribution) locations in the state are experiencing a shortage of tarps. He said that the supply of tarps from FEMA has been slower than what they originally told the state to expect. Currently, there are more than 37,000 tarps at PODs, and Governor Jindal said that FEMA has told the state that more will come to Louisiana today. Additionally, PODs currently have 1.4 million meals, 2.1 million liters of water, and 2.5 million pounds of ice. Governor Jindal said again that the state is working to supplement meal supplies when FEMA does not deliver supplies along their expected timelines.

The Governor also reported that the FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers’ Blue Tarp program is now running in 16 parishes, including the recent additions of West Feliciana, East Feliciana and Point Coupee Parishes. There are now also 14 right of entry centers set up in the state to accept applicants. More than 1,400 applications were processed through the federal program yesterday.

FEDERAL UPDATE: (Additional details on this information is available through FEMA)

 

• FEMA Registrations and Assistance Provided So Far:
  • 296,784 Registrations  
  • Dollars approved: Over $4 million
  • FEMA housing Inspectors in field: 1,503
• Seven Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open and to date have received a total of 373 visits.
  • Houma, (Terrebonne Parish)
  • Plattenville, (Assumption Parish)
  • Denham Springs, (Livingston Parish)
  • New Roads, (Point Coupee)
  • Port Allen, (West Baton Rouge)
  • Donaldsonville, (Ascension)
  • Clinton, (East Feliciana) 
• Additional Disaster Recovery Center locations will be announced in the coming days.  
• Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Gustav are encouraged to register for assistance by calling the toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585) which is open 24 hours a day seven days a week. Applicants also may register on-line at www.fema.gov.

CLEAN-UP / ARTICLE / DISASTER FOOD STAMPS

Crews are working to quickly clear debris in many parts of South and Central Louisiana because of Hurricane Ike.  They don’t want debris to become missiles should we get strong winds. 

1. Pile debris as neatly as possible near the curb (but not in the street). Try to keep the height of the pile under 3 feet, so as to allow a clear view when backing out of your driveway, or for clear view at intersection corners.
2. Do not place debris piles near mail boxes, utility boxes, utility poles, water meters or fire hydrants. Inadvertent damage to these items can occur when they are covered by debris.
3. Do not place material for pick up under low wires or overhanging tree limbs. Debris loaders cannot maneuver the collection arm safely under low hanging objects.
4. Do not place pile next to fences or cars. For safety assurance, no attempt is made to collect debris piled next to mailboxes, fences or cars. A 10 foot separation distance is a good idea.
5. Consider placing debris piles on an old sheet of plywood or other similar material to minimize damage by the debris loader to your yard.

 

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Also of interest: Article from N Y Times: Storm Long Past, Darkness and Heat Still Cling to Baton Rouge”

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<a href=”http://www.dss.state.la.us/” Department of Social Services Secretary Ann Silverberg Williamson reiterated her call to the federal government to waive the face-to-face interview requirement for Disaster Food Stamp applicants.

Applications processed 9/9/2008

Region 1 – Orleans      5,000
Region 2 – Baton Rouge  6,100
Region 3 – Covington    4,000
Region 4 – Thibodaux    2,000
Region 5 – Lafayette    9,400
Region 6 – Lake Charles 1,300
Region 7 – Alexandria   2,260
Region 8 – Shreveport     100
Region 9 – Monroe         130
TOTAL                     30,290
(Applications processed are estimates based on hand counts)

The parishes declared eligible for Disaster Food Stamps are: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana. 

Participants in the regular Food Stamp Program that they do not need to apply since their benefits will automatically be lifted to the maximum amount allowable for September and their August benefits have been increased by 20% in order to replace lost food.

The links below will explain how this program will work. You can also call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578) and press option 3 for more information.

• Federal Government Approves Launch of Disaster Food Stamp Program

Click the link below to navigate to the Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP) Web Site containing information on the benefit period, basic eligibility requirements, parishes included in the DFSP Disaster Area, the application process, and locations where application will be accepted.

• Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP) Web Site

Power Links

Baton Rouge Business Report has a nice information page at their site.

Check your power outages on the map at Entergy.com