Calcasieu OEP Info 9-29-05

as of 9:00am

· Residents are still encouraged not to return to Calcasieu Parish. Officials are working on a re-entry plan. Residents should expect further details on the re-entry no later than Thursday of this week.

· All state highways in Calcasieu Parish are open. Interstate through-traffic is now on Interstate-10. Interstate 210 is closed to through traffic and is accessible only by checkpoints. People traveling within the parish should avoid using the interstate system.
The office of emergency preparedness urges all residents currently in Calcasieu Parish to use safety when driving on the roadways. All residents are asked to stop at all intersections. Each intersection should be treated as a four way stop sign. Many drivers are speeding through an intersection putting other drivers at risk.

· The City of Lake Charles has established drop-off locations for household garbage (no storm debris or limbs) at the following locations:

MLK Center -2009 Simmons
Reynaud Middle School –745 Shattuck
TH Watkins Elementary –2501 7th Avenue
Barbe Elementary –Penn St.
LaGrange HS -3420 Louisiana Ave
FK White Middle School –1000 East McNeese
Barbe High School –2200 West McNeese

· Parish President Hal McMillin has issued a parish-wide burning ban. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.

· The Environmental Health Department of The Louisiana Office of Public Health has determined that Sulphur City water is safe to drink.

· A curfew still remains in effect from dusk till dawn parish-wide

· Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center

Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.

Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart

Secondary sites

DeQuincy
-Phelps Correctional Center

Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given MREs, water, and ice. We are working this with both military and FEMA sources. We ask that residents please be patient with supplies. People living in outlying areas with a vehicle should go to three primary sites. If they are unable to drive there, they should contact their local fire department. Local fire departments will travel to distribution sites to get commodities.



· Residents outside of parish that are currently displaced are encouraged to look to the following websites for information:
-www.kplctv.com
-www.americanpresslc.com
-www.cppj.net (information is limited at this time)


· The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has closed all waterways in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes to all vessel traffic other than approved commercial and emergency traffic.

· American Red Cross announces feeding sites today in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes. The following locations are:
Calcasieu
Lake Charles: LC Civic Center, capable of feeding 10,000
Sulphur: First Baptist of Maplewood, capable of feeding 5,000
Beauregard
Deridder: Dollar General store, feeding 1,200
South Beauregard Electric, feeding 1,200
Merryville football stadium 1,200
· The American Red Cross is not giving out vouchers to contractors interested in performing work in Calcasieu Parish. This is not a service the Red Cross provides.
· City officials are asking residents of Lake Charles to conserve their water usage. Water and sewer facilities are limited at this time. As previously mentioned, all water should be boiled and treated before consumption.

· Salvation Army announces Canteen Locations throughout Calcasieu Parish beginning today (9/29):
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Singer: Singer Baptist Church
Starks: Starks Mini-Mart
Vinton: Vinton Elementary
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Moss Bluff: New Wal-Mart
Kaplan: American Legion
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Family Dollar on 171
DeQuincy: Nichols Shopping Center
LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059

The Salvation Army is scouting locations in Cameron for a canteen



Tom Hoefer
Calcasieu Parish