Hurricane Relief/Help Information Thread

LSU classes to resume Monday

LSU will resume classes on Monday and will cancel fall break and require students to attend classes on a Saturday to make up for lost time,” Provost Astrid Merget announced today.
But Baton Rouge Community College is pushing its opening back until Wednesday because of continuing problems with power outages, said Joe May, Louisiana Community and Technical College System president.
“All indications are it should be reopened at that time,” May said, unless power is still down.
LSU had power restored Thursday evening.
LSU students will now have classes Oct. 9-10, when fall break was originally scheduled.
The remainder of classes will be made up on one of four Saturdays: Sept. 20, Oct. 4, Oct. 11 or Oct. 18.
More scheduling options will be announced next week, but faculty will have the latitude to choose which dates work best for their students.
Final exams and other dates will remain the same. But the last day for students to drop classes without receiving a “W” grade is Tuesday.
Southern University also is planning to return to class on Monday.
Our Lady of the Lake College is resuming classes Tuesday.

 

HOUMA -- The Blood Center is asking all able donors in the community to donate blood to help abate blood shortages caused by Hurricane Gustav. With many community hospitals coming back on line, they will need to be supplied with life-saving blood.


The Blood Center was forced to close for the hurricane and cancel blood drives and close donor centers, causing a serious drop in the community blood supply.
“Extreme weather brings with it a serious threat to our local blood supply,” said Blood Center President Billy Weales. “Collections were set back for a full six days, which caused a drop in our inventory levels. We need donors of all blood types to donate now in order to help restore the blood supply to safe levels to ensure that we can supply the hospitals in our area.”
Currently, The Blood Center’s Mathews Donor Center is operating on special extended hours, and plans to resume normal operations beginning Monday, September 8th.
Mathews Donor Center
4884 Hwy 1, Raceland
(985) 532-6660
Saturday, September 6th: 10 am – 6 pm
Mon & Tues: 2 pm – 8 pm
Sat: 9 am – 3 pm
Donating blood is safe, simple and easy, and just one pint can help to save up to three lives. Donors must be in good health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be at least 17 years of age to donate blood. The entire donation process takes less than an hour.
The Blood Center is a non-profit community service organization that provides blood to 30 hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout southeast Louisiana, including Terrebonne and Lafourche.

 

Outside Parish Power Estimates

-- A parish-by-parish estimate for restoring power.
JEFFERSON
-- 90 percent of customers should have power by Sunday. Restoration in non-coastal areas should be complete by Tuesday.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 70,557 customers, or 35 percent of Entergy's customers in the parish, remained without power.
ORLEANS
-- 90 percent of customers should have power by Saturday. Restoration should be 100 percent complete by Monday.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 55,840 customers, or 39 percent of Entergy's customers in the parish, remained without power.
--Entergy New Orleans opened two customer information centers. One is at 3400 Canal St. and the other is at 4021 Behrman Hwy, Suite J. in Algiers. Customers can find out restoration efforts by address, ask safety questions and pay bills.
--A third customer information center will open Saturday in the Household of Faith at 9300 I-10 Service Road.

</STRONG>ST. TAMMANY</STRONG>
-- Only 13,287 (16 percent) without power; Cleco expects to have electricity back to 80 percent of St. Tammany by Friday and 90 percent by Saturday. Three hundred linemen and 200 tree cutters, based at North Shore Square mall in Slidell, have begun working to restore power.

ST. BERNARD
-- 100 percent of customers should have power by Sept. 15.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 7,680 customers, or 50 percent of Entergy's customers in the parish, remained without power.

ST. CHARLES
-- 100 percent of customers should have power by Sept. 15.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 11,537 customers, or 53 percent of Entergy's customers in the parish, remained without power.

PLAQUEMINES
-- 100 percent of customers should have power by Sept. 15.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 5,933 customers, or 60 percent of Entergy's customers in the parish, remained without power.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
-- 90 percent of customers should have power by Monday and everyone should have power by Wednesday.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 17,217 customers, or 88 percent of Entergy's customers in the parish, remained without power.

TERREBONNE
-- 90 percent of customers should have power by Sept. 26 and everyone should have power by Oct. 1.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 24,970 customers remained without power.

LAFOURCHE
-- 90 percent of customers should have power by Sept. 24 and everyone should have power by Oct. 1.
--As of 1:30 pm Friday, 36,338 customers remained without power.

 

GUSTAV UPDATE NO. 6 –
ASCENSION PARISH COMPREHENSIVE RECOVERY EFFORTS UPDATE​

GONZALES, LOUISIANA, SEPTEMBER 5, 2008:​

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES​

As of 9 AM Friday, September 05, 2008, Both Distribution Centers have been
resupplied with MRE’s, Tarps and limited Ice. We do not have any water.​

Relief Supplies will be distributed to Ascension Parish residents at the Lamar-Dixon
Expo Center in Gonzales on the east side of Ascension and at the Lemann Center in
Donaldsonville on the west side of Ascension. These two facilities will be the relief
supplies destination point for residents. They will be open at 9 AM each day and
remain open until supplies are exhausted. All emergency supplies will be distributed
on a first come basis.
Distribution of all emergency supplies will be handled in a Drive-Thru fashion. Please
remain in your vehicle. Residents are asked to present proper Ascension Parish
identification to receive goods.
The facility will remain open while goods are available. We are on a 24 hour resupply
schedule, exact resupply times are not known at this time.​

Gustav Comprehensive Press Release #6 - 1700 Hrs - Update 9-5-08 Page 2​

~ MORE ~​

BURNING DEBRIS​

EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING THE BURING OF DEBRIS ISSUED
Parish President Tommy Martinez will sign an Executive Order today banning
the burning of storm debris any closer than 500 feet from an occupied
dwelling. He is signing the order because neighboring windows are open due
to power outages and the invasion of smoke may possibly cause medical
complications, such as asthma. President Martinez is requesting residents to
please hold off burning until power is restored to your area or bring your tree
debris to the Ascension Civic Center. Sheriff Jeff Wiley said deputies will
vigorously enforce this order if the fires are closer than 500 feet.​

FLOOD STAGES/ RIVER NOTICES​

Parish President Tommy Martinez has declared a State of Emergency due to the high
water levels on the Amite River and the Diversion Canal, as of September 4, 2008.
“Due to the potential to cause extensive damage in Ascension Parish and to
minimize the threat to life and property of the citizens of the Parish; and the area
involved is in need of emergency actions and support to respond to the incident,
all recreational boat traffic on the Amite River and Diversion Canal is halted and
these waterways are closed until further notice.” Wildlife and Fisheries
Department is currently patrolling these waterways.​

Amite River at Bayou Manchac – MAJOR FLOODING EXPECTED​

Flood stage 9.0’ Last Reading 12.6’ est.
Expected Crest: 15.5’ on Saturday Morning​

Amite River at French Settlement – MINOR FLOODING EXPECTED​

Flood stage 4.0’ Last Reading 4.4’
Expected Crest: 5.5’ on Saturday Evening, May fluctuate​

Gustav Comprehensive Press Release #6 - 1700 Hrs - Update 9-5-08 Page 3​

~ MORE ~​

Amite River at Port Vincent – MODERATE FLOODING EXPECTED​

Flood stage 8.0’ Last Reading 8.1’
Expected Crest: 11.0’ on Saturday Evening​

UTILITIES
Electric​

Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez and OHSEP are asking residents to
make sure they are aware of the dangers of downed power lines and are taking the
necessary precaution. President Martinez asks that “everyone be very careful when
cleaning and clearing debris, be sure there are no power lines in any area in which
you are working. If you spot a line, stop and call your electric company
immediately.” More information regarding safety around downed lines in your yard
or down lines you may encounter in your vehicle can be found online at​

www.entergy.com​

​

​

​

.​

Generator Safety and Fire Hazard Alert​

Residents should turn off the main breaker to your home if you have ​

hard wired​

your generator to your home. Leaving your breaker on is a serious safety hazard to
the electric crews working to restore your power and poses a severe fire hazard to
your home. Never wire your generator into the meter leads.​

Power Outage Update
DEMCO​

• ​

DEMCO has 500 crew members working. The Galvez Sub-Station is up as of 10
am this morning. Roads being worked are: Hwy. 931, LA 44 west, Henderson
Bayou and Hwy. 431 to Stringer Bridge Road.​

• ​

The Prairieville/Manchac Plantation area. Estimated restoration time is 1 to 2
days.​

Gustav Comprehensive Press Release #6 - 1700 Hrs - Update 9-5-08 Page 4​

~ MORE ~​

ENTERGY
East Ascension​

Areas Under Restoration or Restored​

• ​

Airline Hwy. east to Billy Blvd. has been restored. Crews are moving
toward the Port Vincent Area.​

• ​

Crews are on Weber City and Roddy Roads​

• ​

Geismar received power to their sub-station and crews are working
on Hwy. 73 and Hwy. 74.​

• ​

Prairieville Area – Airline Hwy & HWY 42 to HWY 929​

• ​

Gonzales, Duplessis & Oak Grove continues to be restored hourly.​

• ​

Pelican Point to Loosemoore Road​

• ​

Purpera Road to Highway 30.​

• ​

Sorrento to Main Street from Airline Hwy past City Hall​

• ​

Geismar – Dutchtown High Area – from I-10 down Hwy 73 to Hwy
74 intersection​

• ​

Crews are working in the direction from Port Vincent and meeting at
HWY 44/HWY 42 interchange.​

• ​

HWY 42 North to Perkins Road​

• ​

HWY 621 East of HWY 44​

• ​

In the Bluff Road Area​

West Ascension​

• ​

Donaldsonville has crew members out at this time and power is up at
the sub-station. Restoration to resident’s homes is still dependent on
utility pole repairs. They are working to get the main feed lines on
for the hospital.​

Sewage​

Power outages are causing problems with sewer lift stations. Most of the sewage
systems in the Parish are privately owned, these are being pumped down as fast as
possible. These systems are privately owned and maintained and are permitted and
regulated by the State Department of Health and Hospitals. Residents should reduce
water consumption and waste until electricity is restored to their subdivision.​

Gustav Comprehensive Press Release #6 - 1700 Hrs - Update 9-5-08 Page 5​

~ MORE ~​

MEDICAL
Emergency WIC Vouchers​

The Ascension Parish Health Unit in Gonzales has made arrangements with the
Department of Health and Hospitals for those residents needing Emergency WIC
Vouchers. Emergency Vouchers will only be issued to:​

Ascension Parish Residents​

1. Who have scheduled appointments,
2. Who missed their scheduled appointment due to Hurricane Gustav​

Evacuees​

3. Who are Pregnant or
4. Who have children under the age of 5 years
The Ascension Health Unit will be open Saturday, Sept. 6 from 8 a.m. till noon
and regular hours on Monday from 7 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. The Ascension Health
Unit is located at 1024 Ascension Complex Blvd, Gonzales, LA 70737 (off
Worthy Road across from Courthouse in Gonzales).
For directions, identification requirements or clarifications, please call 225-644-
4582.​

Food Stamp Office​

The Department of Social Services and Family Support Office in Ascension
Parish remains closed at this time due to power outages. Department officials
are working to restore services as soon as possible and will let residents know an
opening date and time as soon as it is available.​

Hospitals​

Prevost Memorial Hospital in Donaldsonville remains without power and are
working on generators. Emergency Room is open around the clock. They
remain without air conditioning at this time.​

Gustav Comprehensive Press Release #6 - 1700 Hrs - Update 9-5-08 Page 6​

~ MORE ~​

Promise Hospital currently has 25 patients; some critical patients were
transferred to other hospitals. They remain on generator power and are without
air conditioning. Resources are in route to assist with air conditioning.
St. Elizabeth Hospital’s power was restored yesterday. They are still working to
bring some systems online but are at this time handling emergencies as they
come, and should be back to normal operations by Monday.​

SHELTERS​

Dutchtown High School remains the ONLY open shelter in Ascension Parish as of
Wednesday, September 3, 2008. 147 evacuees are currently registered with Red Cross
at the Dutchtown High School shelter.​

PUBLIC WORKS & MAJOR DRAINAGE
Eastside of Ascension Parish​

East Ascension Drainage Board reports as of 8:30 am this morning that the
drainage pumps are maintaining a minus 1 foot level and there is a crew doing
waterway evaluations. Crews are being dispatched and working on problem
waterways.
Ascension Department of Public Works update as of 10 AM - 95% of Roads are
cleared and power companies are working the remaining roadways closed due
to power line problems. DPW crews are working to clear culverts and ditches of
debris. There are some roadways closed due to flooding. These remain in the
northeast of Ascension Parish, near the Amite and Diversion Canal. The
following roads are closed due to flooding at this time:​

(Diversion Canal Area) ​

​

​

Amite River Road North of the Diversion Canal​

(Summerfield Area) ​

​

​

Summerfield South off of Hwy. 431 and Airport Road​

(Off Hwy 42) ​

​

​

Idle Hour Road, Ravenwood, Kaye Drive, HH Wilson Road,
Manchac Point Road, Log Cabin Road​

Gustav Comprehensive Press Release #6 - 1700 Hrs - Update 9-5-08 Page 7​

~ MORE ~​

The Lake Martin Area water has receded.
No State Highways are flooded.
Crews are monitoring Manchac Acres Road.​

The following Boat Ramps Closed:​

Fred’s, Laurel Ridge, P.J.’s Landing, Big John’s Landing, Fisherman’s Wharf​

Westside of Ascension Parish​

(Donaldsonville Area) ​

​

​

Ascension Department of Public Works update as of 10 am
today all roads are open and no street flooding is occurring. Crews (DPW and
National Guard) are collecting storm debris.​

RESIDENT DEBRIS REMOVAL & CLEAN UP​

Debris removal services are expected to begin next week. Contracts are being put in
place at this time. Residents may bring ​

tree debris only, to the Ascension Civic Center
in Sorrento from 9 am - 5 pm daily. Residents stacking debris for removal should keep
all drainage ditches clear.​

MOSQUITO CONTROL​

Mosquito Control is spraying seven (7) days a week. Residents are reminded to empty
standing water from containers, planters, pools and other water holding areas to
prohibit the breeding of mosquitoes.​

ASCENSION PARISH SHERIFF’S UPDATE​

Sheriff Wiley has released the following information/ update:
The Curfew has been lifted in Ascension Parish. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is
currently double and triple staffed due to power outages. They are monitoring traffic
flow at intersections and long lines at retail outlets.​

Gustav Comprehensive Press Release #6 - 1700 Hrs - Update 9-5-08 Page 8​

ASCENSION PARISH SCHOOLS & 23​

RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT​

School Officials have announced the following regarding schools in Ascension Parish:
“All students on the east side will report to school on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 and
will run a regular schedule, there will be no early dismissal as previously scheduled.
Students on the west side in Donaldsonville will also report on Tuesday, September
9, 2008 if power is restored to the schools. Further updates will be released as
changes occur. All School buses will run their regular routes as their scheduled
times.”
For additional information or the full press release, please visit the Ascension Parish
School Board website at ​

www.apsb.org or call 225.473.7981 or 225.621.2300.
The 23rd Judicial District Court proceedings will reconvene on Monday, September 8,
2008 at 8:00 A.M. This includes all of the 23rd JDC, Ascension, Assumption and St.​

James parishes, with the exception of Donaldsonville.

 

Food Safety Stressed during Power Outages

The Department of Health and Hospitals is warning the thousands of Louisiana residents currently without power due to Hurricane Gustav not to consume foods spoiled due to prolonged loss of electricity. ​

Power outages are common occurrences after hurricanes, and that means the contents inside refrigerators and freezers could spoil. A generator can be used to keep refrigerators and freezers running. The generator does not have to run continuously to keep things cold. Be sure and follow safety guidelines regarding the location of a generator to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Here are some proven methods of keeping your food safe during a power outage:

• Avoid opening the refrigerators and freezers just to see how cold the contents are. Perishable food will stay adequately cold for four (4) hours in a refrigerator that is off
• Perishable foods should not be kept if they have been exposed to temperatures exceeding 40 degrees for more than two (2) hours
• Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer to monitor the temperature. Food in the freezer will continue to be frozen as long as the temperature remains at zero (0) degrees
• A freezer will stay adequately cold for two (2) days if it is full. Freeze jugs of water before losing power to minimize dead air space in the freezer
• Thawed food that contains ice crystals may be refrozen. Thawed food that does not have ice crystals but was kept at 40 degrees or below for no more than one (1) to two (2) days may be cooked, then refrozen
• Never taste food to see if it is safe to eat

The following food should be discarded after being left out more than two (2) hours above 40 degrees:

• Meat, poultry, fish, eggs and egg substitutes (regardless if it is cooked or raw)
• Dairy products
• Casseroles, stews or soups
• Lunch meat and hot dogs
• Creamy salad dressings
• Cheese pies, cream-filled pastries, cookie dough

The following food should be discarded after being left out more than eight (8) hours above 50 degrees:

• Mayonnaise
• Horseradish
• Tartar sauce

Not all foods have to be kept cold, and can be at room temperature for several days. They include:

• Butter or margarine
• Processed and hard cheeses
• Fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit juices
• Vinegar-based salad dressing and sauces
• Ketchup
• Olives
• Peanut butter
• Herbs and spices
• Fruit pies and bread
• Cakes, except cream cheese frosted or cream filled
• Flour and nuts

When choosing foods to stock for a survival kit:

• Select nonperishable food that requires little or no cooking and no refrigeration
• Can or jar sizes should be enough for one meal with no leftovers. Once cans or jars are open, many foods lose their shelf-stable character and will go bad
• Pick food you like and normally eat
• If you do not have a way to boil water if you lose power, do not include instant cooked foods.
• Do not forget baby food, special dietary requirements and pet food
• Practice using a hand-crank can opener to make sure it works before you need it
• Store food in the coolest cabinets away from appliances that produce heat
• Store food contained in cardboard boxes, thin plastic or paper in metal, glass or rigid plastic containers to prevent insect and rodent damage

Follow these guidelines to protect yourself and your family:

• Food that has come in contact with floodwater should be discarded
• If canned food has come in contact with floodwater, remove the labels and wash the cans in a solution of one (1) cup of bleach to a gallon of water
• Throw away canned food if the cans have come open, are bulging or dented

Do not use contaminated water to brush your teeth, wash your hands or prepare food

 

Roll call is filling up, glad to have you all checking in.

If someone out there wants or needs this to continue let us know otherwise it is time to rebuild. Best to you all.

 

If anyone has any extra any extra MRE's they aren't going to use please let me know. I love those things so much. I hadn't eaten them since college when I lived off of them.

 

i am gonna unsticky this for now. it seems that everyone is getting the info they need. if a need arises, we can sticky it again. but lets hope we dont need to!

 

Thanks cali!