PRESS RELEASES - Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Governor Jindal Requests Additional Parishes Included in Presidential Disaster Declaration
Today, Governor Bobby Jindal issued the following letter to the White House requesting additional parishes be included under a Presidential Category A Disaster Declaration.
Butte LaRose POD (Points of Distribution) Site Announced
St. Martin Parish Update
The St. Martin Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has announced a distribution site will be available for residents of the Butte LaRose area beginning Thursday, September 04, 2008, at 12:00 noon until 7:00 PM. The POD site will be located at the Butte LaRose Fire Department, 1721 Herman Dupuis Road, Breaux Bridge. This site will provide water and meals ready to eat (MRE's) to local residents.
Updated Power Outage Document Released
This evening, an updated map of power outages was released.
Food Inspections Underway in Hurricane Affected Areas
In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, registered sanitarians from the Department of Health and Hospitals-Office of Public Health (DHH-OPH) are moving across the state inspecting restaurants and grocery stores. The goal of these inspections is to make sure that power outages and damage to restaurants and grocery stores does not affect food quality.
Department of Social Services: Online Database Enhances Operation Reconnect
The Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) today introduced an online database to help friends and family locate loved ones with critical transportation needs who were electronically registered, evacuated and sheltered in advance of Hurricane Gustav. As part of the Operation Reconnect hot line launched Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Update on Water Systems under Boil Advisory
Hurricane Gustav has caused widespread power outages and damage to drinking water systems throughout Louisiana. Parish-wide boil advisories are in effect for the following parishes: Lafourche, St. James and Terrebonne. Click here for a list of communities under Boil Water advisories.
All State Government Offices Closed Thursday
Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis has announced the closure of all state government offices on Thursday, September 4, 2008, due to Hurricane Gustav.
Essential personnel, including employees that are required to work due to Hurricane Gustav, should report to work as directed by their supervisors.
EPA and DEQ encourage proper curbside sorting of trash and debris
The EPA and DEQ encourage residents in hurricane-affected areas to collect trash and debris and place them curbside for proper disposal. Household chemicals can become hazardous in storm-damaged homes. Examples of materials that may need special disposal or recycling include electronics, batteries, computer hardware, paint, cleaning products, solvents, and lawn and garden products.
Education Officials Update Status of School Closures
Today the Louisiana Department of Education issued a report on the status of school districts across the state. Click here for a report of school closures by parish.
Office Of Coastal Protection and Restoration Officials Fly Over Coast; Conduct Levee Damage Assesments
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration levee and wetland experts flew over coastal Southeast Louisiana to make initial assessments of levees and wetlands in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Click here for a list of assesments by parish.
Department of Agriculture and Forestry completes plans for pet return
The Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has completed plans to return evacuated pets and their owners to the evacuation pickup points in their home parishes. The LDAF evacuated 1,604 pets with their owners to pet shelters in Shreveport and Alexandria, including 200 cats, 1400 dogs, a rabbit, a bird and a guinea pig.
Update from St. James Parish
The St. James Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, has announced that ice is available at Taylor's Express in Gramercy, Grand Point Grand in Grand Point and the Jubilee in Vacherie. There will be only one bag per adult, on a first-come first-serve basis. A curfew is in effect from 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. until further notice. An alcohol ban is also currently in effect. There is a limited amount of stores open with gasoline.
Treasurer Kennedy Holds Conference Call with National Rating Agencies
State Treasurer John Kennedy held a conference call with the three national rating agencies today to update them on the status of state and local government finances in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. Representatives from Fitch, Moody's Investors Service, and Standard and Poor's participated in the 2:30 p.m. teleconference.
Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Continues to Update Number of Gustav Fatalities
Eight additional fatalities were confirmed today, bringing the total fatalities related to Hurricane Gustav to 18, including two carbon monoxide deaths, two deaths in house fires, two deaths due to falling trees and two deaths attributed to a tornado.
Department of Agriculture and Forestry processes requests for nearly 1 million gallons of fuel
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has processed requests for nearly one million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel, in addition to 140,000 pounds of aviation fuel to emergency personnel in the response to Hurricane Gustav.
Clarification on interview with FEMA Administrator David Paulison
In a report filed on the Business Wire September 3, 2008, FEMA Director David Paulison commented on conditions at a shelter in Shreveport. That shelter, located at an abandoned Sam's Club building, is not a city-run shelter as Paulison said; it is a Critical Transportation Needs Shelter operated by the state.
Pete Maravich Assembly Center is NOT a Distribution Point for Emergency Supplies
There is incorrect information circulating regarding points of distribution for emergency supplies in Baton Rouge leading some residents to the LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) looking for tarps, ice, water, and food. The PMAC is NOT a distribution center for emergency supplies, and is serving only as a Special Needs Shelter.
FEMA Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Personnel Assessing Katrina/Rita Temporary Housing Units
FEMA is mobilizing Federal Asset Assessment Teams (FAAT) to identify damages to travel trailers, mobile homes and park models in parishes impacted by Hurricane Gustav. Residents who already know if their temporary housing unit sustained damages should call the maintenance number previously provided to them by their trailer contractor.
South Louisiana Community College Resumption of Operations and Classes
SLCC has announced that it will resume classes and operations on Thursday September 4, 2008 at the Lafayette campus and Franklin site. All other campuses and sites will remain closed due to power outage. ULS Hurricane Gustav Campus Status Update
As the state recovers from Hurricane Gustav, all eight University of Louisiana System campuses are focused on restoring normal operations as soon as possible. All universities with the exception of Nicholls State University and Southeastern Louisiana University will resume classes Thursday, September 4. Efforts are underway to assist Nicholls and Southeastern by its sister schools with both targeting resuming classes Monday, September 8.
Latest Plaquemines Parish Information - Re-Entry for Eastbank, Curfew, Utilities
As of 3:00pm today, Wednesday September 3, the mandatory evacuation for the eastbank of Plaquemines Parish north of White Ditch is lifted. Residents here will be allowed to return home. Please note - residents should be prepared for limited utilities and have enough food for three days since stores are not yet open.
Updated College & University Closure List, 1 PM
Current list of closures and opening dates.
LSU Eunice to Remain Closed Until Monday
LSU Eunice officials have announced that the university will reopen next week. Due to the post-hurricane damage and cleanup efforts in the university’s service area, LSUE will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 5. Classes will resume Monday, Sept. 8.
First Search and Rescue begins early in Louisiana
National Guard, Wildlife, and Fisheries patrol for problems
The minute Hurricane Gustav slammed into Louisiana’s shore, the Louisiana National Guard was ready. Coordinating with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, they took off on the first search and rescue operations flight beginning at 6:00 a.m. Sept. 2, 2008.
Programs Available to Help Manage Stress
Over the next days and weeks, thousands of Louisiana citizens will be returning home to find downed trees, damaged homes, and power outages. Stress levels may be also rising for thousands of Louisiana citizens who evacuated to shelters. Worries about home damages and the well-being of family and friends can contribute to elevated stress levels.
State Collecting Information on Open Gas Stations
The State of Louisiana is collecting the locations of gas stations that are confirmed to have both power and fuel, which will be posted here. The public is encouraged to help by going to the Web site and submitting information on open gas stations as well.
FEMA Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office Personnel Assessing Katrina/Rita Temporary Housing Units
Teams deployed to assess damages to travel trailers and mobile homes
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is mobilizing Federal Asset Assessment Teams (FAAT) to identify damages to travel trailers, mobile homes and park models in parishes impacted by Hurricane Gustav. Residents who already know if their temporary housing unit sustained damages should call the maintenance number previously provided to them by their trailer contractor.
Health Officials: Stay Out of Floodwaters
Hurricane Gustav's floodwaters may seem harmless to those cleaning up, but hazards can be lurking in the muddy water. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is urging everyone to stay safe and stay out of the floodwaters.
Road Home Postpones Friday Outreach Event in New Orleans
The state of Louisiana has postponed the Road Home outreach event originally scheduled for Friday September 5 in New Orleans until residents that evacuated due to Hurricane Gustav have time to return to the city and power is restore. Power Outage Documents Released
Today, a map and a breakdown of power outages was released.
BRCC Extends Closure Due to Power Outages
Due to the continued power outages throughout the local area, Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) has announced it will close through Saturday, September 6, 2008.
DSS Shelter Newsletter Published
The Louisiana Department of Social Services has created a newsletter for residents who took refuge from Hurricane Gustav. Currently, nine states are sheltering our residents and this newsletter is a way to ensure that they have access to the most up-to-date information and important phone numbers. Click below for the latest edition of the DSS Shelter Newsletter.
Industry Urged to Call National Spill Number if Needed
Department of Environmental Quality Update
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are reminding business and industry owners to report spills to the National Response Center (NRC). The Center is integral to these facilities' long-established procedures in response to natural disasters such as Gustav. The NRC serves as the sole point of contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological and biological releases in the United States.
St. John Allows Re-Entry Wednesday, Sept 3, 6:00 AM
Updates as of 6:30 pm, Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Attorney General's Office Says Social Security Checks were Mailed Prior to Hurricane Gustav
Thousands of Louisianians may be worried about their
Social
Security checks which are normally received on the 3rd of each month.
Attorney General
Buddy Caldwell says the United Postal Service was proactive and
processed the checks
prior to the storm making landfall.
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