PRESS RELEASES | Friday, September 12, 2008
Coastal Flooding Update -- 10 p.m.
A temporary aqua-tube levee protecting the Town of Lafitte has failed. Pumps have been requested to assist in the dewatering of the town. USGS gauges show water levels falling at this time. The Franklin Canal levee has breached and nearby nursing home residents are being evacuated.
Town Of Lafitte Reports Levee Overtopping As Of 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12
The storm surge from Hurricane Ike has overwhelmed efforts to reinforce levees protecting the downtown area of Lafitte, LA.
Coastal Flooding Update -- 8 p.m.
Water levels in Lake Pontchartrain are peaking at slightly less than six feet. Levels in Southeast Louisiana (including Industrial Canal, Breton Sound, and Grand Isle) are receding. South-central Louisiana levels are peaking (Lafourche, Terrebonne, eastern St. Mary). Water levels from Morgan City west are still rising. The federal flood protection system (Grand Isle notwithstanding) has not been compromised. No breaches or overtopping have been reported of federal levee systems. Many non-federal/back levees have been and are being overtopped.
DSS Reminds Citizens Of Important Numbers
As Louisiana continues to recover from Hurricane Gustav, and looks ahead to the cleanup from Hurricane Ike, the Department of Social Services (DSS) reminds citizens to make use of the following important numbers: Operation Reconnect (1-800-957-1601); Foster Care/Unaccompanied Minors (1-800-259-3428); Disaster Food Stamps (1-888-524-3578, Option 3).
Department of Social Services Announces Disaster Food Stamp Update
Despite the threat of Hurricane Ike, the Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) processed 18,160 Disaster Food Stamp applications today at 12 sites-only nine of which were open for the full day. The majority of sites closed today in anticipation of the storm. A total of 149,432 applications have been processed over the past four days.
Temporary Shelters of Last Resort Have Been Opened in Sulphur and Lake Charles
The City of Lake Charles has opened a shelter at the Pryce/Miller Recreation Center at 216 Albert Street.
UNIFIED Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration/National Guard/ US Army Corps of Engineers
Coastal Flooding Update to Governor Jindal
Water levels in Southeast Louisiana are beginning to recede and are cresting in south-central Louisiana. Water is rising in Southwestern portions of the state. The federal flood protection system (Grand Isle notwithstanding) has not been compromised; no breaches or overtopping reported. Many non-federal/back levees have been and continue to be overtopped.
Governor Jindal Sends Letter to President Requesting Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Ike
Today, Governor Bobby Jindal sent a letter to President Bush requesting an expedited major disaster declaration for Hurricane Ike.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Forestry
Reports on Hurricane Gustav Impacts
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists report forest and marshland damage and scattered instances of flooding caused by Hurricane Gustav’s Sept. 1 landfall.
Search and Rescue Resources Prepared to Respond to Hurricane Ike's Impact
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division personnel will be supported by additional state and federal search and rescue (SAR) personnel as Hurricane Ike’s impact unfolds.
Update on Water Systems under Boil Advisory
Hurricane Gustav has caused widespread power outages and damage to drinking water systems throughout Louisiana.
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.
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration / National Guard / US Army Corps of Engineers
Governor Jindal - Hurricane Ike Flooding Situation Report
COASTAL FLOODING UPDATE - Water levels in the Breton Sound are beginning to fall, the water levels in the Barataria system have crested. Terrebonne and areas west continue to experience rising water levels.
Department of Agriculture and Forestry News Update
Agriculture Officials Complete Initial Forestry Damage Survey
Forestry officials are conducting aerial assessments of timber in the areas ravaged by Hurricane Gustav, Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., said today.
Contractor On Site On East Bank Of Plaquemines Parish Says Levee Has Not Been Breeched Near Scarsdale; Some Overtopping Occuring
Contractors working to re-enforce levees in Plaquemines Parish near the town of Scarsdale say there has been no breech of the levee but there is some minor overtopping as of 2:00 p.m. Friday.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Announces Saturday Hours at Baton Rouge, Houma Business and Career Solutions Centers
The Louisiana Workforce Commission today announced that Business and Career Solutions Centers in Baton Rouge and Houma will be open tomorrow to allow those impacted by Hurricane Gustav to file disaster unemployment assistance claims and search for employment.
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration News Update
Plaquemines Parish Officials Reporting Levee Breech Near Scarsdale
State and Plaquemines Parish Levee officials are reporting a levee breech on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish near the town of Scarsdale.
Division of Administration News Update
State Task Force Delivers 428,000 Hot Meals, Saving Up to $629K Compared to Cost of MREs
In addition to 615,000 meals provided to Louisiana citizens by the American Red Cross, 227,000 by the Salvation Army, and tens of thousands more by faith-based and non-profit groups across the state, Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced today that, through Thursday, a state task force delivered 428,000 hot meals in 15 parishes impacted by severe power outages since Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana on September 1.
Division of Administration News Update
UPDATED: More State Government Offices Closed Today at Noon
Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced today that because of threats posed by Hurricane Ike, state government offices are closed at 12 noon on Friday, September 12th, in certain parishes. Office Of Coastal Protection And Restoration
Plaquemines Parish Officials Reporting Levee Breech Near Towns Of Braithewaite, Scarsdale, White Ditch And Caernarvon
State and Plaquemines Parish Levee officials are reporting a levee breech of a parish levee on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish near the towns of Caernarvon, Scarsdale, White Ditch and Braithewaite.
Department of Social Services Prepares for Disaster Food Stamps
The Castine Center in St. Tammany Parish will temporarily close its Disaster Food Stamp application site on Saturday. The Center is open today and the application process is moving quickly. The center will reopen at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Parish Updates
- St. John Parish: Tornado Watch, Voluntary Evacuation Ordered for Low Lying Areas
- St. Charles Parish: St. Charles Parish Waiting on Rising Water, Wastewater System Given All-Clear
Office Of Coastal Protection And Restoration Update
Local Levee Districts Report Widespread Flooding Of Low-Lying Areas Across Southeast And Central Louisiana Coast
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration officials and officials from levee districts across Southeast and Central Louisiana have reported widespread flooding of coastal communities outside federal levee protection systems as of 10:00 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12.
People Affected by Gustav in Seven Additional Parishes Now Eligible
to Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Seven additional parishes have been made eligible for federal disaster assistance as a result of Hurricane Gustav. People whose jobs have been lost or interrupted because of the disaster in Calcasieu, Catahoula, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, St. Helena and Washington parishes are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), the Louisiana Workforce Commission announced today.
Levee Overtopping Reported in Terrebonne Parish Town of Chauvin
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration officials have reported that Terrebonne Parish officials are monitoring levee overtopping of parish levees in the town of Chauvin in south Terrebonne Parish as of 10:45 a.m. Friday.
Agriculture Commissioner Continues Tour of Areas Affected by Gustav
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., continued his tour of the state’s storm-stricken agricultural areas and visited with concerned farmers and other agribusiness leaders on Thursday, Sept. 11, in the Pointe Coupee Parish community of Batchelor.
UPDATED: Agriculture Officials Release Updated Information On Pet Shelters In Bossier City
With the opening of a secondary Red Cross evacuation shelter at Southern University in Shreveport, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry officials are now allowing pets from self-evacuators to be located in the Bossier Animal Control Shelter.
President Announces Emergency Declaration for Louisiana
The President today announced an emergency declaration for the state of Louisiana and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Ike beginning on September 7, 2008, and continuing.
School Closure List Updated
Updated 9:00 a.m., Friday, September 12, 2008
Additional Community and Technical Colleges Announce Closures Due to Hurricane Ike
Due to the proposed threat and potential effects of Hurricane Ike in southeast and southwest Louisiana, the State's community and technical colleges are taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all students, faculty, and staff. The following colleges have announced closures. If the campuses are not directly impacted by the storm, they will reopen Monday, September 15, for normal business operations and classes will resume as scheduled. Please continue to monitor the local media, the respective college websites, and the LCTCS website for additional information and regular campus updates.
Update From American Red Cross
Sheltering, Feeding, Damage Assessment and Client Casework Continues
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.
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