Calcasieu reentry plan: "look and leave"

Calcasieu Parish officials and the mayors of the six municipalities in the parish announced a phased reentry plan Thursday for parish residents evacuated for Hurricane Rita, the worst disaster in parish history.

The plan is split into two phases: Calcasieu Visit and Calcasieu Comeback.

Calcasieu Visit is a “Look and Leave” period that will permit residents to re-enter the parish, assess the damage to their homes, gather important belongings and then return to safer and more secure locations outside the hurricane-damaged area. This phase will begin Friday, Sept. 30 during daylight hours.

Citizens returning to the parish must be prepared to be self-sufficient, with their own food and water, parish officials said. They also must stay off the streets at night and must have access to cash, as credit card usage will be difficult.

Elderly residents, children and other special needs citizens are strongly urged not to return during the first phase, officials said.

Residents will be asked to return to their temporary lodging locations at their own discretion to permanently re-enter in Calcasieu Comeback at a date yet to be determined.

Returning residents are urged to call a re-entry information line at 337-721-3840, which will list informational checkpoints at the following Interstate-10 exits: I-10 in Iowa, I-10 at Highway 171 in Lake Charles, I-210 at Enterprise Boulevard in Lake Charles, I-10 in Westlake, I-10 at La. 108 in Sulphur, I-10 at Beglis Parkway in Sulphur, I-10 at Ruth street in Sulphur and I-10 at Exit No. 7 in Vinton.