PRESS RELEASES | Thursday, September 11, 2008
Department of Social Services News Update
DSS Secretary Williamson Announces Disaster Food Stamp Update
The Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) processed 52,876 Disaster Food Stamp applications today at 42 sites, and 131,270 applications have been processed since the program began on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Governor Jindal Gives Update on State Preparedness Efforts for Hurricane Ike, Announces Pre-Landfall Presidential Disaster Declaration for 4 Parishes
Today, Governor Bobby Jindal gave an update on state preparedness efforts surrounding the impact of Hurricane Ike in southwest Louisiana, and announced that after his conversations with FEMA Director, Chief David Paulson, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the federal government has granted a pre-landfall presidential disaster declaration for the parishes of Cameron, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis and Vermillion. The Governor originally requested a pre-landfall presidential disaster declaration for all 64 parishes on Monday.
Disaster Recovery Centers Temporarily Closed Due to Severe Weather
All Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) throughout the state will remain closed until further notice due to severe weather predictions, state and federal disaster officials announced tonight.
Department of Education News Update
Department of Education Releases List of School District Closings Due To Hurricane Ike
The Louisiana Department of Education released today a list of local school districts that have announced closings in preparation for Hurricane Ike.
Department of Corrections News Update
Weekend Visiting Resumes at Some State Correctional Facilities
Dixon, Allen and Phelps Canceled; Louisiana State Penitentiary Affected
After being postponed for the last two weekends due to Hurricane Gustav, visitation at most state correctional facilities will resume this weekend (September 11 - 14, 2008), with some exceptions.
Office of Homeleand Security and Emergency Preparedness News Update
Louisiana Emergency Site Adds RSS Feed
Louisiana's emergency information site, emergency.louisiana.gov, is adding an RSS feed to allow individuals and news agencies to receive automatic updates when news is posted online. Department of Economic Development News Update
Five Business Counseling Centers Open Today To Help Hurricane-Affected Businesses
Louisiana Economic Development (LED), The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network (LSBDC) and regional economic development partners announced the opening of five Business Counseling Centers created to assist businesses affected by Hurricane Gustav.
Department of Health and Hospitals News Update
9/11/08 Update on Water Systems under Boil Advisory
Hurricane Gustav has caused widespread power outages and damage to drinking water systems throughout Louisiana.
Department of Agriculture and Forestry News Update
LDAF Pet Evacuation Operation A Success
Pet owners are praising the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) for its efforts to get pets out of harm's way during evacuations for Hurricane Gustav.
FEMA Amends Emergency Declaration to Include Calcasieu Parish at Request of Governor Jindal
Today, 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.
Division of Administration News Update
State Government Offices Closed In 14 Parishes Friday
Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced today that because of threats posed by Hurricane Ike, state government offices will be closed on Friday, September 12th, in these parishes with voluntary and mandatory evacuations.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Update
Search and Rescue Units Staging for Response To Hurricane Ike Impact
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division personnel are prepared to move into areas that may be affected by Hurricane Ike’s impact.
University of Louisiana System Campus Closures Due to Hurricane Ike
McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have cancelled classes for Friday, Sept. 12 due to Hurricane Ike.
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration News Update
Office Of Coastal Protection And Restoration Monitoring Storm Surge Flooding Throughout Coastal Louisiana
The Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration (OCPR) is coordinating efforts to send essential flood fighting resources to the central and western Louisiana coastal areas in advance of the landfall of Hurricane Ike.
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration News Update
Orleans Levee District To Close Highway Flood Gates In Eastern New Orleans Tonight
The Orleans Levee District (OLD) has announced it will close the floodgate on U.S. Hwy 11 near Irish Bayou at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, to prevent storm surge flooding from Hurricane Ike.
Department of Social Services News Update
Department of Social Services Closing Food Stamp Sites for Hurricane Ike Impact, Registering Evacuees
As a safety precaution due to tropical storm force winds already hitting the coast of Louisiana, traffic concerns, and due to mandatory and voluntary evacuations ordered on the coast, the Department of Social Services is closing 27 Disaster Food Stamp sites at 4 p.m. Anyone who is not served today will receive a time stamped application to get them ahead in line when they try again. Also, the program has been extended to Tuesday, September 23rd.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Federal Emergency Management Agency
[FEMA-1786-DR] Louisiana; Amendment No. 3 to Notice of a Major Disaster Declaration
The notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana is hereby amended to include the following areas among those areas determined to have been adversely affected by the catastrophe declared a major disaster by the President in his declaration of September 2, 2008.
Nicholls Cancels Classes, Closes Friday Due to Hurricane Ike
Due to the threat of tropical storm force winds from Hurricane Ike, Nicholls State University has implemented Phase I of its Hurricane Preparedness Plan. As a result, no classes will be held on Friday, Sept. 12.
Department of Revenue News Update
Department of Revenue Closes Some Offices Temporarily
Offices of the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) in New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Covington will be closed temporarily, effective Thursday, September 11, 2008.
Parish Updates
Department of Health and Hospitals News Update
Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Continues to Update Number of Gustav Fatalities
Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Louis Cataldie, M.D. releases memo regarding fatalities related to Hurricane Gustav.
DEQ, Others Completing Post-Gustav Assessments
Since Gustav made landfall, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has worked with federal, state and local agencies to conduct numerous inspections of various sites throughout the state. These assessments were aimed at sites that could potentially be hazardous to human health and the environment and started shortly after Gustav made landfall. Vermilion Parish Orders Partial Mandatory Evacuation
Vermilion Parish officials have called a Mandatory Evacuation of Vermilion Parish below LA Highway 14 to include all of Erath and Delcambre. For Medical Special Needs patients there is a Mandatory Evacuation of the patients below LA Highway 14 and on the west side of the parish from the Meridian Line Road to the Cameron and Jeff Davis parish lines.
DEQ postpones public hearings until further notice
Due to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, some hearings have been postponed until further notice. The public comment period is also continued until further notice.
St. Martin Parish Orders Voluntary Evacuation of Belle River and Stephensville
St. Martin Parish Officials have ordered a voluntary evacuation of Lower St. Martin Parish (Belle River & Stephensville), for those residents who reside in travel trailers or mobile homes. The Point of Distribution Site for water, ice, and MRE'S located in Belle River at the Belle River Fire Department will be closed on Friday, September 12, 2008.
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration Monitoring Storm Surge and Levee Conditions as Ike Approaches
The Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration is working closely with levee district and Corps of Engineers officials to direct necessary resources and monitor storm surge levels as Hurricane Ike moves into the central Gulf of Mexico.
UPDATED: State government closures today
Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced today that because of evacuations associated with the threat of Hurricane Ike, state government offices will be closed on Thursday, September 11th, in Calcasieu, Cameron and Plaquemines parishes, as well as portions of other parishes.
State Police Prepared For Hurricane Ike
With Hurricane Ike potentially approaching the southwest Louisiana coast and the southeast Texas coast by Friday evening, the Louisiana State Police is prepared for the influx of traffic traveling east on Interstate 10 through Louisiana. State Police, in conjunction with local, parish and Texas officials, are continuously monitoring the traffic in both states and making adjustments as necessary to maintain continuous traffic flow on all major highways. State Police units are on the ground and in the air along all major highways to monitor traffic conditions.
Calcasieu Parish Issues Partial Mandatory Evacuation
The Calcasieu Parish Executive Policy Group has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents who reside in travel trailers, mobile homes, and low-lying areas due to the potential for high water, storm surge, and wind. This mandatory evacuation also includes special needs residents throughout the parish who are home-bound, requiring electricity for their well-being.
Department of Social Services News Update
DSS Releases Statement Following Tent Collapse
Following an incident where a tent collapsed at a food stamp distribution site in St. James Parish earlier today, the Louisiana Department of Social Services released the following statement.
Five Business Counseling Centers Open Today to Help Hurricane-Impacted Businesses
Louisiana Economic Development (LED), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network (LSBDC) and regional economic development partners today announced the opening of five Business Counseling Centers, created to assist businesses adversely affected by Hurricane Gustav.
FEMA Adds Six Louisiana Parishes for Individual Assistance
Six additional parishes – Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, St. Helena and Washington – have been made eligible for federal disaster assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced.
Department of Corrections News
Weekend Visiting Resumes at Some State Correctional Facilities
After being postponed for the last two weekends due to Hurricane Gustav, visitation at many state correctional facilities will resume this weekend (September 11 – 14, 2008), with some exceptions. Visitation is cancelled this weekend at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, La. as inmate evacuees from coastal Louisiana (Hurricane Gustav) are being housed in the visiting area of that prison.
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