By BRETT DOWNER
AMERICAN PRESS
Lake Charles’ distinctive architecture of yesteryear, steeped in history but slammed by Hurricane Rita, will get personal attention this week from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
A Damage Assessment Team will be sent by the National Trust to look at the aftermath and help property owners find some help.
The team will assess historical commercial properties Monday, then speak at a public meeting that night. On Tuesday, it will inspect the damage to old homes in the city’s historical areas.
Monday’s public meeting will be at 6 p.m. at The Brick House, 110 Pine St. It is being arranged by the Calcasieu Preservation Society and the Downtown Development Corporation. The guest speaker will be Daniel Carey, director of the National Trust’s Southwest Office. Carey and others will discuss historic preservation relief grants and bills backed by U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and David Vitter, R-La., one of which would provide a 30 percent tax credit for owners of historic homes in the disaster area who now have repair bills.
Owners of older homes don’t qualify for such free programs as Operation Blue Roof. That’s because the blue-tarp program is for damaged asphalt shingles overhead. Roofing in the Charpentier Historical District is almost entirely slate or tile — a throwback to a city decree after the Great Fire of 1910 that a home’s roof be made of non-flammable material.
Tremont said about 250 tarps are needed to cover damaged structures.
The National Trust is being asked to look at turn-of-the-century brick masonry buildings, wood structures, gables and collapsed porches.
FEMA has given the green light for the National Trust assessment, Tremont said.
The National Trust was first alerted of the issue by Ada B. Vincent and Stacy Shearman, mother-and-daughter local preservationists, who talked about Hurricane Rita at the organization’s recent conference in Portland, Ore.
Older residences and structures double as tourist attractions in Lake Charles. Restored homes, re-purposed businesses and even entire neighborhoods enjoy historical designations at the parish, state and national level.
The historical significance of some downtown homes is a matter of record, not just nostalgia. Carpenters and craftsmen of early Lake Charles drew up certain house plans that featured paneled, slightly flared porch supports which fit no design class of the day. Such columns earned an official designation as “Lake Charles columns,” and many whitewashed examples of them still stand today.
Sunday, October 16
Historical homes get national attention
Tuesday, October 11
Calcasieu moves forward, but still feels effects of Hurricane Rita (10/11)
By JEREMY HARPER
AMERICAN PRESS
The last remnants of the dusk-to-dawn curfew are gone, food and supply distribution sites are scaled back and more than 90 percent of Calcasieu Parish has electricity.
But local officials say Hurricane Rita's mark is still being felt. Debris removal, roof tarping and some aid programs continue throughout the parish.
"We still have a long way to go," Police Jury President Hal McMillin said.
McMillin lifted the parishwide curfew Monday afternoon at the request of local law enforcement agencies. The curfew had already been eliminated for vehicular traffic, but foot traffic was barred after 7 p.m.
"Operations are back to normal, we have the manpower still available, and we are requesting that the curfew be lifted," Lake Charles Police Chief Don Dixon said at the parish's Monday public briefing.
Entergy spokeswoman Sheila Matte said about 5,300 customers remain without power in the Lake Charles and Sulphur areas. She said majority of the outages are concentrated in the areas of Toomey/Starks, Gillis and Hackberry, which is counted as part of the Sulphur area.
Matte said the company will meet its self-imposed Oct. 20 deadline to have electricity restored to 95 percent of area customers who can receive power.
"We're pretty excited about this, and a lot of this is due to our customers cooperation and the cooperation that we've received from the parish, the city, the police officials and so forth," Matte said.
As more basic services are restored and more businesses reopen, local officials are scaling back the food and supply distribution sites that have been passing goods since the storm.
"A lot of our power is on, grocery stores are open and people should be returning to normal activities," Calcasieu emergency manager Dick Gremillion said. "We will still have some emergency supplies available and we will target those areas that really need those supplies."
Evacuation bus runs from the Civic Center have ended.
Help line expanded
Calcasieu Parish is expanding its local help line for people who were denied the $2,000 in expedited assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The number is 721-3850. It is staffed from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Calcasieu set up the line to help the 17,000 residents of Calcasieu, Cameron or Jeff Davis parishes who have been denied the assistance.
Three operators have helped about 1,000 people in the few days the line has been open, but many others said they were not able to get through, McMillin said.
"They were just absolutely overwhelmed with the number of calls," he said.
McMillin said 10 operators will now take calls on eight phone lines, and he urged residents to remain patient with the local operators.
"I'm asking you to be kind to these people because they're our people and they're working for us here locally," McMillin said. "As they take this information, they're getting it directly to the FEMA folks and FEMA is expediting this information ... so these people can get the money as quickly as possible."
FEMA official Donald Jack said the local help line has been successful in collecting and forwarding information to the agency.
"We've never set up a local number like this, but it was suggested and we're willing to look at any methods that we can to get problems solved," Jack said.
Jack said FEMA has said issued more than 76,000 of the $2,000 payments in Southwest Louisiana totally more than $150 million.
Other aid, such as rental assistance and damage payments, has begun to flow, Jack said.
Business help
The Chamber/Southwest Louisiana has set up a business recovery center at its office on 120 W. Pujo St. The center is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Assisting business owners will be the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and the Small Business Development Center at McNeese State University.
Representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration, which provides low-interest loans to affected businesses, will also be available.
"Our hope is to provide as much information to the business community in one location as we possibly can," said Donna Addkison, president and CEO of the Chamber.
The center will help businesses in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes. At the state's request, the center will also be serving Sabine and Vernon parish businesses.
For more information, call the Chamber at 433-3632.
School update
All but one of the more than 70 Calcasieu Parish schools have electricity and classes resume class next week, Superintendent Jude Theriot said Monday. A detailed announcement will be made Friday.
Theriot said efforts continue to rid area schools of the mold that exploded in many powerless and waterlogged facilities after Hurricane Rita.
"We are making headway with the mold problem," Theriot said. "We're not complete there by any means but we did make some significant dents."
Food will be delivered to the School Board's main warehouse on Thursday, Theriot said.
Theriot the lost school time will likely be made up by adding 35 minutes to each school day for the remainder of the year. Teacher in-service days will be eliminated as student holidays and the five extra days built into the school calendar will be used for class time, he said.
"We will announce a complete strategy when we announce the opening of schools," Theriot said. "It doesn't look like we will have to address too many of the holidays that the school children will have."
Theriot said half of the calls the School Board has been receiving are about the resumption of student athletics.
Principals, coaches and school board officials will meet this morning to discuss when and how to stage athletic events, he said.
"You know things are starting to recover when people are interested in when we are going to play athletics," Theriot said.
"I think it will help people get back to normalcy, which they definitely need."
Returning evacuee beaten to death; neighbor finds 62-year-old man (10/11)
By ERIC CORMIER
AMERICAN PRESS
Willie Smith returned home safely several days ago after fleeing to his childhood stomping grounds in Crowley for shelter from Hurricane Rita.
On Monday, a neighbor found the 62-year-old, who suffered from kidney disease and other ailments, beaten. Smith died later in the day at a local hospital.
"I went in and saw his face and shirt was real bloody. I knew enough from watching TV not to touch anything, so I went and told a neighbor across the street to call the police and the ambulance," Hodges Cormier, of 3016 Gen. Patton St., told the American Press.
No arrests had been made at presstime.
A person who lives near Smith's 3013 Gen. Patton St. home told police she saw at least two people leaving the victim's home at about noon, the time of the crime.
Police spokesman Sgt. Mark Kraus said investigators were not releasing the "means in which the homicide was committed." An autopsy will be done.
Neighbors said Smith was a quiet man who contended with never-ending health problems.
"He was a good person but real sick. I could see that he may have been sicker the last time I talked to him over two days ago," Syble Guillory, of 3008 Gen. Patton, said.
She said the crime is a shock because the neighborhood is relatively safe.
"Our neighbors are old. When I moved in over 30 years ago, Mr. Smith had been living here before I moved next to him," Guillory said.
Cormier recalled being alerted to something happening by the witness who saw the people leave Smith's house.
"That's when I went inside the house. I didn't see the guys, but she did, and gave a partial description to the police," he said.
Cormier found Smith sitting on a sofa with his head over the sofa's arm.
"I have to say, this kind of scares you a little bit. We tend to be on our own here. This is the first time something like this has happened in our neighborhood. It is quiet here," he said.
Police have not released a description of the assailants.
Monday, October 10
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-10-05
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-10
Updated 5pm
· The local hotline for FEMA assistance and information is once again operational at 721-3850. This is a 337 area code number.
· After a request by local police officials, an executive order has been signed by Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Hal McMillin, lifting the parish-wide curfew, effective tonight.
· Katrina evacuees temporarily housed in Calcasieu should not return to the parish, including those who held hotel rooms. If they left personal items at those hotels, they should contact the individual hotels for arrangements.
· People re-entering the parish in need of a shelter should contact the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals desk at 1-225-925-7383, 1-225-925-7371, or 1-225-925-7373.
· Illegal burning is the single largest problem being encountered by local officials. Residents are urged to refrain from igniting any fires for any reason. A parish-wide burning ban is in effect. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.
· Evacuation buses are no longer running from the Civic Center.
· The Regular Meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury originally scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2005, has been rescheduled and will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 in the Police Jury Meeting Room on the first floor of the Parish Government Building, which is located at 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The purpose of this meeting is to take appropriate action on items originally scheduled for consideration at the Regular Meeting on September 22, 2005, which was cancelled due to the mandatory evacuation of the Parish for Hurricane Rita, as well as items scheduled for consideration on October 6, 2005.
· Calcasieu Parish Library Director Jeff Rippel is asking his employees with water, sewer and electricity to begin returning home. The library system hopes to open most of its branches later next week. For more information employees can call 721-3530.
· Calcasieu Parish officials have issued an executive order requiring all individuals and businesses performing services in the parish to obtain a temporary work permit. The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8am and 5pm weekdays. There is no charge.
· The American Red Cross of SWLA is seeking local volunteers to help with distribution of financial assistance to local residents affected by Hurricane Rita. Please call 478-5122 to help.
· Calcasieu Parish has announced Blue Roof program sign-up locations with tarps for temporary roof repair. Call 1-888-ROOFBLU for details. This number is for informational purposes only. You must register in person at one of the sites.
Parish Government Building Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
1015 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Martin Luther King Center
2009 North Simmons and Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Moss Bluff, LA 70611
Vinton City Hall Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
1200 Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70664
Fire Station No. 2 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
3501 Maplewood Dr.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Fire Station No. 3 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
200 Darbonne
Sulphur, LA 70663
Iowa City Hall
115 N. Thompson
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur and Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff. Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center will be added later). These are not the same as the Blue Roof Tarps.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Program is also providing tarping and tree-removal services at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles at 830 Hodges and at First Baptist Church of Maplewood 4501 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur.
· Regular daily garbage pickup has resumed in Lake Charles
Sulphur garbage pickup has resumed on the normal days of the week.
Waste Management, which provides garbage collection for unincorporated area residents of Calcasieu Parish, will resume their house-to-house routes on Monday, October 10th, for household garbage only. Residents are asked to place their container at the curb no later than their normal day of collection during the week. Delays can be expected due to the storm, so everyone’s patience is appreciated during this recovery period.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal.
Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories:
Metal
Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.)
Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.
Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
· Waterways in Calcasieu Parish have been reopened to civilian and non-commercial traffic. Boaters are urged to use caution.
· Calcasieu Parish officials are not set up to accept donations of goods. Local officials say that process will begin at a later time when services are restored. Local charities should handle donations and distribution of goods on their own until further notice.
· Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/10):
Sulphur Pin Oak Trailer Park
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Martin Luther King Center
Reeves High School
· Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center
Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.
Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart
Secondary sites
Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given water, and ice. MREs are no longer available. Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
Mosquito repellent is also available at the distribution sites.
· Black Bayou pontoon bridge is open for vehicle traffic from 7am-9am, and again from 3pm –5pm. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Residents are encouraged to call 211 for information on relief help rather than further stressing emergency officials. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
· Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.
· Restaurants attempting to open must have clearance from the Office of Public Health. Call 475-3200.
· DHH has a website for questions related to Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina. www.dhhemergencynews.com
· Calcasieu Parish School Board has established a phone line for employees temporarily displaced for information at 1-866-490-1647.
Sunday, October 9
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-9
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-9
Updated 9 a.m.
· Katrina evacuees temporarily housed in Calcasieu should not return to the parish, including those who held hotel rooms. If they left personal items at those hotels, they should contact the individual hotels for arrangements.
· People re-entering the parish in need of a shelter should contact the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals desk at (225) 925-7383, (225) 925-7371, or (225) 925-7373.
· Illegal burning is the single largest problem being encountered by local officials. Residents are urged to refrain from igniting any fires for any reason. A parish-wide burning ban is in effect. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.
· FEMA has established a local hotline for issues with FEMA assistance. It is 721-3850. Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
· “Calcasieu Comeback,” a permanent re-entry plan for residents evacuated for Hurricane Rita, is underway. The re-entry plan is for the entire parish except for the town of Vinton, which will remain on a “look and leave” status. The Calcasieu Comeback plan is specifically designed to include residents who have electricity, potable water and operating sewer and who can be self-sufficient.
An announcement on the status of Vinton will be made when the infrastructure improves.
· A full dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in effect for Vinton, Starks and Iowa. The remainder of the parish has a pedestrian curfew from dusk to dawn.
· All public water systems in the parish are safe to drink except Water District #8 of Wards Three and Eight. It is still listed on the state DHH list of districts requiring boiling of water as of 5pm Friday. Many private water systems are also on boil orders. Residents on private systems should contact those systems for information.
· The Regular Meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury originally scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2005, has been rescheduled and will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 in the Police Jury Meeting Room on the first floor of the Parish Government Building, which is located at 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The purpose of this meeting is to take appropriate action on items originally scheduled for consideration at the Regular Meeting on September 22, 2005, which was cancelled due to the mandatory evacuation of the Parish for Hurricane Rita, as well as items scheduled for consideration on October 6, 2005.
· In anticipation of the vast majority of Calcasieu Parish residents having electricity service by this weekend, all Police Jury employees should return to their work locations on Monday, October 10th for normal operating hours. Any exceptions to this date due to hardship must be approved by the employee's department head. Please contact your department head directly as necessary.
· Calcasieu Parish Library Director Jeff Rippel is asking his employees with water, sewer and electricity to begin returning home. The library system hopes to open most of its branches later next week. For more information employees can call 721-3530.
· Calcasieu Parish officials have issued an executive order requiring all individuals and businesses performing services in the parish to obtain a temporary work permit. The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8am and 5pm weekdays. There is no charge.
· The American Red Cross of SWLA is seeking local volunteers to help with distribution of financial assistance to local residents affected by Hurricane Rita. Please call 478-5122 to help.
· Calcasieu Parish has announced Blue Roof program sign-up locations with tarps for temporary roof repair. Call 1-888-ROOFBLU for details. This number is for informational purposes only. You must register in person at one of the sites.
Parish Government Building Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
1015 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Martin Luther King Center
2009 North Simmons and Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Moss Bluff, LA 70611
Vinton City Hall Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
1200 Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70664
Fire Station No. 2 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
3501 Maplewood Dr.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Fire Station No. 3 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
200 Darbonne
Sulphur, LA 70663
Iowa City Hall
115 N. Thompson
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur and Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff. Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center will be added later). These are not the same as the Blue Roof Tarps.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Program is also providing tarping and tree-removal services at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles at 830 Hodges and at First Baptist Church of Maplewood 4501 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur.
· The Calcasieu Parish Animal Services feeding and watering program will continue until power is restored to the majority of the community. Units are in the field seven days a week going door-to-door to ensure that all animals are safe and nourished.
Dog and cat food will also be available at the six food locations located through the parish beginning Monday October 3.
Animal Services will only pick up those animals found as strays in need of veterinary care. For additional information, please contact Animal Services at 439-8879. This number was given incorrectly previously
· Regular daily garbage pickup has resumed in Lake Charles
Sulphur garbage pickup has resumed on the normal days of the week.
Waste Management, which provides garbage collection for unincorporated area residents of Calcasieu Parish, will resume their house-to-house routes on Monday, October 10th, for household garbage only. Residents are asked to place their container at the curb no later than their normal day of collection during the week. Delays can be expected due to the storm, so everyone’s patience is appreciated during this recovery period.
The drop-off sites provided by Waste Management have been discontinued.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal.
Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories:
1. Metal
2. Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.)
3. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.
4. Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
· Waterways in Calcasieu Parish have been reopened to civilian and non-commercial traffic. Boaters are urged to use caution.
· The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Parish Government Building at 1015 Pithon Street in Lake Charles is open with limited services available M-F 8am-pm. Call 721-3500 for information.
· Calcasieu Parish officials are not set up to accept donations of goods. Local officials say that process will begin at a later time when services are restored. Local charities should handle donations and distribution of goods on their own until further notice.
· Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/8):
Sulphur Pin Oak Trailer Park
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Martin Luther King Center
Reeves High School
· Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center
Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.
Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart
Secondary sites
Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given water, and ice. MREs are no longer available. Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
Mosquito repellent is also available at the distribution sites.
· Black Bayou pontoon bridge is open for vehicle traffic from 7am-9am, and again from 3pm –5pm. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Residents are encouraged to call 211 for information on relief help rather than further stressing emergency officials. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
· Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.
· Restaurants attempting to open must have clearance from the Office of Public Health. Call 475-3200.
· DHH has a website for questions related to Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina. www.dhhemergencynews.com
· Calcasieu Parish School Board has established a phone line for employees temporarily displaced for information at 1-866-490-1647.
Saturday, October 8
I'm a Hurricane Rita Evacuee, my last part
As the second week after Hurricane Rita’s passing through winds down, things are starting to look up in Lake Charles for the first time.
Our water supply is OK to drink and the toilets can be flushed. Stores, restaurants and gas stations are starting to open back up. Most of the town has gotten power back but there are still some sections in north and south Lake Charles that lack electricity.
My street got its electricity back on earlier this week. Well sort of. The problem was that my house was the only one that still didn’t have power. How could this be, I thought.
The lights on the second floor came on but not on the first floor. The power meter didn’t even work. An Entergy engineer came out and looked at it. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong. He said he would send some workers to look over my electrical setup.
It was frustrating. My mother’s cottage in my backyard had electricity. The line that powers her home was underground. I decided to set up shop there.
You see for the past week or so I had been sleeping in my mini-van. It was too hot to sleep in my house. I would run the air-conditioner for 30 minutes and the van stayed cool most of the night.
The van was my lifeline throughout this disaster. I used it to charge up my cell-phone and my laptop. I ate in it and kept all of my non-perishable foods in it with all of my supplies. I watched my battery-powered TV there too. I even listened to Sinatra.
But like anything new, it got old pretty quick. My mom’s house was a welcome relief.
As for my house, I waited for the Entergy guys but then something funny happened. I was talking to my neighbor, Mark, across the street when a man came jogging by. He lived down the street from me. He said he was an electrician. I told him about my problem. He walked over and shook the meter box. He turned on the breaker and the power came on to both floors of my house. It was great. I couldn’t believe it.
These past two weeks have been like that. At times when things seemed so frustrating something funny would happen to make things a little more upbeat and give me hope that my town would come back from this catastrophe.
I have certainly learned a lot from it and a lot about myself. Hurricane Rita and her impact on Lake Charles is by far the biggest news story that I have ever covered in my 28 years as a journalist in this town.
At the same time as a lifelong resident of Lake Charles, I couldn’t be prouder of my hometown. My public officials, who are suppose to keep us safe, did everything right in preparation of this hurricane’s arrival. As a result, almost the entire city and surrounding area evacuated way in advance of the hurricane coming here.
Even those persons who didn’t have vehicles to leave town were helped. City officials didn’t want anyone to be stranded like those at the New Orleans Superdome or Morial Convention Center. Buses were provided for anyone who needed a ride out of town to escape the storm. A lot of people showed up to get that free ride.
Afterwards, the same officials made it clear people should stay out of town until it was safe to return. My law enforcement officials were on top of it too. They moved quickly to make sure anyone wanting to take advantage of the massive blackout after the storm hit were soon sitting in a sweaty jail cell drinking hot water and eating MREs (meals ready to eat).
Would you believe we had members of the FBI, Secret Service and U.S. Marshal’s Service patrolling our streets at night for looters? It’s true.
Local volunteers also did everything they could afterwards to make sure those who remained behind were comfortable and not in need. Water, ice and food were plentiful in a number of sites throughout the parish thanks to the Salvation Army, Red Cross and different church groups.
The response to Hurricane Rita after she struck Lake Charles was a complete about face compared to what happened weeks before in New Orleans. It’s safe to say Lake Charles was the shining light in all of this hurricane destruction and mayhem. My city and my parish proved that pre-planning and team work can pay off in the path of a major destructive hurricane.
I also know after all I have seen and heard since the storm hit Sept. 24 I will never take an incoming hurricane for granted. We were fortunate that 95 percent of the city felt the same way and left before Rita got here. There could have been a large number of fatalities if residents had not heeded the mandatory evacuation orders.
I will never forget Hurricane Rita and all of the things I saw these past two weeks. I don’t want to forget them. Some of these were life-changing experiences that have made me appreciative for what I still have after the storm.
Some things from the storm that will always remain in my thoughts are:
* The blue wrist band: The day before the hurricane hit I was at the American Press news bureau in DeRidder with my four kids and my mom. My wife, a TV reporter, called me crying and I asked her what was wrong. She had stayed behind in Lake Charles at her station, KPLC-TV, with others to cover the storm’s arrival. She told me they had put a blue wrist band on her containing phone numbers and other contact information. The band would be used if someone found her body after the storm hit and couldn’t identify her. She told me the wrist band made her afraid she would never see her family again. I tried to comfort her.
* The storm sounds: As the hurricane winds ripped through DeRidder early Saturday morning I lay on the floor of the news bureau. All four of my kids were sound asleep close by. As the storm came through I could hear eerie noises and loud crashing sounds; metal bending and things breaking. I envisioned debris hurling through the air. It was so scary. I thought the roof of the building we were in might tear off. I’m sure we had winds close to 100 miles per hour. They say a passing tornado sounds like train but the hurricane winds I heard made more of a howling sound like a wounded animal in the night.
* No complaints: My four kids are ages 17, 15, 13 and 7. I worried about them as we evacuated Lake Charles for DeRidder the Thursday night before the storm hit. They slept three nights in DeRidder on the floor of the news bureau. Once the power went out, the building started to get hot and there were no facilities to take baths. The food we ate was cold except for some MREs they got. And all through this adventure of sorts, they never complained, whined and said they wanted to go home. Even my 7-year-old didn’t cry once. He entertained himself by making action figures out of plastic utensils and cups. I’m so proud of my kids. They even got along the whole time. They were true troopers. What more could a parent ask for out of their children.
* The evacuation: The drives from Lake Charles to DeRidder the day of the mandatory evacuation and from DeRidder to Houston the day after the storm were certainly eye-openers. We all saw things I know we will never forget. We saw fear, anguish, frustration, and anger. People ran out of gas and others saw their cars break down. This lead to many people taking desperate actions like begging for gas or trying to get a ride. They got neither. The destruction of the storm we saw on the drive from DeRidder to Houston told us that we were lucky we had found a shelter to stay in. My kids were in awe of nature’s fury as they saw huge trees snapped in half or buildings ripped apart. They now know hurricanes are nothing to kid around with.
* My dark neighborhood: I came back to Lake Charles two days after the storm hit to get back to work and found a town in shambles. I had no power on my street for more than a week. The big difference between the 1997 ice storm that put Lake Charles in the dark for days and Hurricane Rita was that people didn’t evacuate when the ice storm came. They lit candles and fired up flashlights in their homes. However, in Rita’s case, no one was here. The city was a ghost town of sorts. I remember one night sitting on my front porch watching my black and white battery-powered TV with a flashlight on. I turned everything off and sat there for a moment. I have never seen it so dark and so quiet. The sky was clear so I could see the stars. I remember thinking how surreal it all seemed.
* Food lines: Fortunately, I didn’t have to eat potted meat every day after the hurricane hit, there was a place nearby set up by a group called “Cooking for Christ.” They served hot lunches every day so I sometimes would go by and get a meal. It was so good. The volunteers were mainly from Baton Rouge but there were others from all over. I remember a woman telling me she had driven to Lake Charles from New Castle, Indiana. Her church group had taken vacation time to come here and help us. I was really touched one day when I was standing in line waiting for a meal. I looked back and saw dozens of people waiting. They were rich and poor, lawyers and blue-collar workers, old and young. It was such an amazing mixture of people but it was like they were all good friends. Finally, when the food was ready to be served, the head cook yelled out, “We are going to say a prayer.” We all prayed and thanked God for the meal. All of us in the line said, “Amen.”
* Big trees: I love trees. One reason I bought my Iris Street home in 1993, was so our family could enjoy the big trees in the backyard. I had more than a dozen trees good for climbin’ or drinkin’ lemonade in the shade. Rita has changed all of that. Many of them were seriously damaged by the storm. I don’t know if they will ever be the same. And all of the big oak trees downtown and others have all been slammed hard too. Some uprooted while others are so badly damaged they will probably have to be cut down. I know this is nature’s way but I truly believe that the downtown trees saved many of our houses. Sure, some of them fell on homes but others didn’t. They acted as buffers to block the hurricane winds from our homes. In a sense, they were hurt while trying to protect us. We should never forget them.
In closing this last part of my hurricane blog, I recognize some people say they don’t want to live here anymore because of the risk of hurricanes. I was born and raised in Lake Charles, and choose to stay here to raise a family and live out my life. I will rebuild and be better prepared for the next hurricane if it comes. As Americans, we have always been taught to take the high ground and hold it. That’s what I plan to do.
Hector San Miguel
American Press
City Editor
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-8-05
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-8
Updated 9am
· Katrina evacuees temporarily housed in Calcasieu should not return to the parish, including those who held hotel rooms. If they left personal items at those hotels, they should contact the individual hotels for arrangements.
· People re-entering the parish in need of a shelter should contact the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals desk at 1-225-925-7383, 1-225-925-7371, or 1-225-925-7373.
· “Calcasieu Comeback,” a permanent re-entry plan for residents evacuated for Hurricane Rita, is underway. The re-entry plan is for the entire parish except for the town of Vinton, which will remain on a “look and leave” status. The Calcasieu Comeback plan is specifically designed to include residents who have electricity, potable water and operating sewer and who can be self-sufficient.
An announcement on the status of Vinton will be made when the infrastructure improves.
· A full dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in effect for Vinton, Starks and Iowa. The remainder of the parish has a pedestrian curfew from dusk to dawn.
· All public water systems in the parish are safe to drink except Water District #8 of Wards Three and Eight. It is still listed on the state DHH list of districts requiring boiling of water as of 5pm Friday. Many private water systems are also on boil orders. Residents on private systems should contact those systems for information.
· The Regular Meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury originally scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2005, has been rescheduled and will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 in the Police Jury Meeting Room on the first floor of the Parish Government Building, which is located at 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The purpose of this meeting is to take appropriate action on items originally scheduled for consideration at the Regular Meeting on September 22, 2005, which was cancelled due to the mandatory evacuation of the Parish for Hurricane Rita, as well as items scheduled for consideration on October 6, 2005.
· In anticipation of the vast majority of Calcasieu Parish residents having electricity service by this weekend, all Police Jury employees should return to their work locations on Monday, October 10th for normal operating hours. Any exceptions to this date due to hardship must be approved by the employee's department head. Please contact your department head directly as necessary.
· Calcasieu Parish Library Director Jeff Rippel is asking his employees with water, sewer and electricity to begin returning home. The library system hopes to open most of its branches later next week. For more information employees can call 721-3530.
· Police plan to close Interstate 210 beginning at 2:30pm Saturday for approximately two hours. The closure is to allow electrical crews to repair lines across the interstate.
· Calcasieu Parish officials have issued an executive order requiring all individuals and businesses performing services in the parish to obtain a temporary work permit. The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8am and 5pm weekdays. There is no charge.
· The American Red Cross of SWLA is seeking local volunteers to help with distribution of financial assistance to local residents affected by Hurricane Rita. Please call 478-5122 to help.
· Calcasieu Parish has announced Blue Roof program sign-up locations with tarps for temporary roof repair. Call 1-888-ROOFBLU for details. This number is for informational purposes only. You must register in person at one of the sites.
Parish Government Building Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
1015 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Martin Luther King Center
2009 North Simmons and Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Moss Bluff, LA 70611
Vinton City Hall Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
1200 Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70664
Fire Station No. 2 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
3501 Maplewood Dr.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Fire Station No. 3 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
200 Darbonne
Sulphur, LA 70663
Iowa City Hall
115 N. Thompson
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur and Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff. Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center will be added later). These are not the same as the Blue Roof Tarps.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Program is also providing tarping and tree-removal services at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles at 830 Hodges and at First Baptist Church of Maplewood 4501 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur.
· The Calcasieu Parish Animal Services feeding and watering program will continue until power is restored to the majority of the community. Units are in the field seven days a week going door-to-door to ensure that all animals are safe and nourished.
Dog and cat food will also be available at the six food locations located through the parish beginning Monday October 3.
Animal Services will only pick up those animals found as strays in need of veterinary care. For additional information, please contact Animal Services at 439-8879. This number was given incorrectly previously
· Regular daily garbage pickup has resumed in Lake Charles
Sulphur garbage pickup has resumed on the normal days of the week.
Waste Management, which provides garbage collection for unincorporated area residents of Calcasieu Parish, will resume their house-to-house routes on Monday, October 10th, for household garbage only. Residents are asked to place their container at the curb no later than their normal day of collection during the week. Delays can be expected due to the storm, so everyone’s patience is appreciated during this recovery period.
The drop-off sites provided by Waste Management have been discontinued.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal.
Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories:
1. Metal
2. Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.)
3. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.
4. Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
· Waterways in Calcasieu Parish have been reopened to civilian and non-commercial traffic. Boaters are urged to use caution.
· The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Parish Government Building at 1015 Pithon Street in Lake Charles is open with limited services available M-F 8am-pm. Call 721-3500 for information.
· Calcasieu Parish officials are not set up to accept donations of goods. Local officials say that process will begin at a later time when services are restored. Local charities should handle donations and distribution of goods on their own until further notice.
· Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/8):
Sulphur Kroger
Oakley Apts. On Hwy 90
Pin Oak Trailer Park
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Vinton: Vinton Elementary
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Martin Luther King Center
Wilshire Plaza on 5th Ave.
Johnson Bayou Roving
Holly Beach Roving
Welsh Southern BBQ
Reeves High School
· Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center
Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.
Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart
Secondary sites
Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given water, and ice. MREs are no longer available. Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
Mosquito repellent is also available at the distribution sites.
· A parish-wide burning ban is in effect. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.
· Black Bayou pontoon bridge is open for vehicle traffic from 7am-9am, and again from 3pm –5pm. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Residents are encouraged to call 211 for information on relief help rather than further stressing emergency officials. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
· Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.
· Restaurants attempting to open must have clearance from the Office of Public Health. Call 475-3200.
· DHH has a website for questions related to Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina. www.dhhemergencynews.com
· Calcasieu Parish School Board has established a phone line for employees temporarily displaced for information at 1-866-490-1647.
Friday, October 7
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-7 updated 5pm
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-7
Updated 5pm
· “Calcasieu Comeback,” a permanent re-entry plan for residents evacuated for Hurricane Rita, is underway. The re-entry plan is for the entire parish except for the town of Vinton, which will remain on a “look and leave” status. The Calcasieu Comeback plan is specifically designed to include residents who have electricity, potable water and operating sewer and who can be self-sufficient.
An announcement on the status of Vinton will be made when the infrastructure improves.
· A full dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in effect for Vinton, Starks and Iowa. The remainder of the parish has a pedestrian curfew from dusk to dawn.
· All public water systems in the parish are safe to drink except Water District #8 of Wards Three and Eight. It is still listed on the state DHH list of districts requiring boiling of water as of 5pm Thursday. Many private water systems are also on boil orders. Residents on private systems should contact those systems for information.
· The Regular Meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury originally scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2005, has been rescheduled and will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 in the Police Jury Meeting Room on the first floor of the Parish Government Building, which is located at 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The purpose of this meeting is to take appropriate action on items originally scheduled for consideration at the Regular Meeting on September 22, 2005, which was cancelled due to the mandatory evacuation of the Parish for Hurricane Rita, as well as items scheduled for consideration on October 6, 2005.
· In anticipation of the vast majority of Calcasieu Parish residents having electricity service by this weekend, all Police Jury employees should return to their work locations on Monday, October 10th for normal operating hours. Any exceptions to this date due to hardship must be approved by the employee's department head. Please contact your department head directly as necessary.
· Calcasieu Parish Library Director Jeff Rippel is asking his employees with water, sewer and electricity to begin returning home. The library system hopes to open most of its branches later next week. For more information employees can call 721-3530.
· Police plan to close Interstate 210 beginning at 2:30pm Saturday for approximately two hours. The closure is to allow electrical crews to repair lines across the interstate.
· Calcasieu Parish officials have issued an executive order requiring all individuals and businesses performing services in the parish to obtain a temporary work permit. The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8am and 5pm weekdays. There is no charge.
· The American Red Cross of SWLA is seeking local volunteers to help with distribution of financial assistance to local residents affected by Hurricane Rita. Please call 478-5122 to help.
· Calcasieu Parish has announced Blue Roof program sign-up locations with tarps for temporary roof repair. Call 1-888-ROOFBLU for details. This number is for informational purposes only. You must register in person at one of the sites.
Parish Government Building Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
1015 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Martin Luther King Center
2009 North Simmons and Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Moss Bluff, LA 70611
Vinton City Hall Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
1200 Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70664
Fire Station No. 2 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
3501 Maplewood Dr.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Fire Station No. 3 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
200 Darbonne
Sulphur, LA 70663
Iowa City Hall
115 N. Thompson
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur and Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff. Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center will be added later). These are not the same as the Blue Roof Tarps.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Program is also providing tarping and tree-removal services at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles at 830 Hodges and at First Baptist Church of Maplewood 4501 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur.
· The Calcasieu Parish Animal Services feeding and watering program will continue until power is restored to the majority of the community. Units are in the field seven days a week going door-to-door to ensure that all animals are safe and nourished.
Dog and cat food will also be available at the six food locations located through the parish beginning Monday October 3.
Animal Services will only pick up those animals found as strays in need of veterinary care. For additional information, please contact Animal Services at 439-8879. This number was given incorrectly previously
· Regular daily garbage pickup has resumed in Lake Charles
Sulphur garbage pickup has resumed on the normal days of the week.
Waste Management, which provides garbage collection for unincorporated area residents of Calcasieu Parish, will resume their house-to-house routes on Monday, October 10th, for household garbage only. Residents are asked to place their container at the curb no later than their normal day of collection during the week. Delays can be expected due to the storm, so everyone’s patience is appreciated during this recovery period.
The drop-off sites provided by Waste Management at the Ward One Barn on Parish Road, Burton Coliseum, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Carlyss, the Ward Six Fire Station #3, and the Waste Management Transfer Station on Highway 90 East will discontinue operation at the end of today, Friday, October 7th.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal.
Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories:
1. Metal
2. Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.)
3. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.
4. Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
· The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Parish Government Building at 1015 Pithon Street in Lake Charles is open with limited services available M-F 8am-pm. Call 721-3500 for information.
· Calcasieu Parish officials are not set up to accept donations of goods. Local officials say that process will begin at a later time when services are restored. Local charities should handle donations and distribution of goods on their own until further notice.
· Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/7):
Sulphur Kroger
Oakley Apts. On Hwy 90
Pin Oak Trailer Park
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Vinton: Vinton Elementary
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Moss Bluff: Wal-Mart
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Martin Luther King Center
Wilshire Plaza on 5th Ave.
LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059
Cameron Recreation Center
Johnson Bayou Roving
Holly Beach Roving
Welsh Southern BBQ
· Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center
Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.
Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart
Secondary sites
Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given water, and ice. MREs are no longer available. Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
Mosquito repellent is also available at the distribution sites.
· A parish-wide burning ban is in effect. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.
· Black Bayou pontoon bridge is open for vehicle traffic from 7am-9am, and again from 3pm –5pm. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Residents are encouraged to call 211 for information on relief help rather than further stressing emergency officials. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
· Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.
· Restaurants attempting to open must have clearance from the Office of Public Health. Call 475-3200.
· DHH has a website for questions related to Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina. www.dhhemergencynews.com
· Calcasieu Parish School Board has established a phone line for employees temporarily displaced for information at 1-866-490-1647.
Thursday, October 6
L'Auberge will reopen Friday
L’Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino in Lake Charles will reopen portions of the property this Friday, pending approvals from local and regional authorities, including gaming regulators, local law enforcement and health-department officials.
All employees must report to the Human Resources Department as soon as possible. Those employees who are not physically able to report to the property are asked to contact the toll-free employee communications hotline at 1-800-665-8738.
Human Resources is open 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., daily.
At 6 p.m. today, L’Auberge will reopen its casino and buffet and plans to reopen additional facilities on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Food stamps available in Lake Charles
The state Department of Social Services has opened a Disaster Food Stamp Program office at the old Trinity Baptist Church, 1639 Ryan St. Hours are 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The disaster food stamp system operates under a different set of eligibility and benefit delivery requirements than the regular Food Stamp Program. People who might not ordinarily qualify for food stamps may be eligible under the disaster food stamp program if they have had disaster damage to their homes, expenses related to protecting their homes, or if they have lost income as a result of the disaster or have no access to bank accounts or other resources.
Verification of identity and residency, if possible, will be required in order to be eligible for Disaster Food Stamp Program benefits. Other eligibility factors include income, liquid resources, expenses, Social Security numbers and household composition. The benefits may be used throughout the nation.
As of Oct. 5, DSS has distributed more than $192 million in disaster food stamp benefits to about 331,000 households as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Nearly 86,000 households have received $31 million in disaster food stamp benefits as a result of Hurricane Rita.
People in parishes impacted by Hurricane Rita who received benefits from the Katrina disaster do not need to visit offices, as the maximum allotment of benefits will automatically be added to their cards according to household size. Households from the residents of the following parishes who were certified in September will automatically receive benefits for October: Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and Washington.
Recipients should continue to use their electronic benefit cards, which will automatically have benefits added to them. They do not need to visit the DSS Offices of Family Support.
For more information about the Food Stamp Benefit program, visit www.dss.state.la.us or www.familiesla.com, or call (888) 524-3578.
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-6
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-6
Updated 9:00am
· Calcasieu Parish officials along with the mayors of the six municipalities in the parish have announced that “Calcasieu Comeback,” a permanent re-entry plan for residents evacuated for Hurricane Rita, will begin at 6am Friday October 7, 2005. The re-entry plan is for the entire parish except for the town of Vinton, which will remain on a “look and leave” status. The Calcasieu Comeback plan is specifically designed to include residents who have electricity, potable water and operating sewer and who can be self-sufficient.
The officials and mayors evaluated the status of the infrastructure in the parish and concluded jointly that the basic necessities had improved significantly in the past few days and would continue to improve before Friday. Vinton remains substantially without electrical power and is not ready to participate in the permanent re-entry plan. An announcement on the status of Vinton will be made when the infrastructure improves.
· Parish and municipal officials have announced that the curfew in effect throughout the parish will be changed to allow vehicular traffic after dark in areas where power is restored. Pedestrian traffic will still not be allowed from dusk to dawn. The dusk-to-dawn curfew for both vehicles and pedestrians will remain in effect in Vinton, Starks and Iowa until power is substantially restored. The change has been made to allow businesses the ability to remain open into the evening hours and to allow residents access to those businesses.
· Tests have revealed that water on the City of Lake Charles system is safe to drink. Lake Charles residents are still asked to conserve water.
All public water systems in the parish are safe to drink except Water District #8 of Wards Three and Eight. It is still listed on the state DHH list of districts requiring boiling of water as of 5pm Wednesday. Many private water systems are also on boil orders. Residents on private systems should contact those systems for information.
Calcasieu Water Districts #1 and #5 are no longer listed on the boil order list.
· The Regular Meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury originally scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2005, has been rescheduled and will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 in the Police Jury Meeting Room on the first floor of the Parish Government Building, which is located at 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The purpose of this meeting is to take appropriate action on items originally scheduled for consideration at the Regular Meeting on September 22, 2005, which was cancelled due to the mandatory evacuation of the Parish for Hurricane Rita, as well as items scheduled for consideration on October 6, 2005.
A preliminary agenda for this meeting will be added to this page as soon as it is finalized.
· In anticipation of the vast majority of Calcasieu Parish residents having electricity service by this weekend, all Police Jury employees should return to their work locations on Monday, October 10th for normal operating hours. Any exceptions to this date due to hardship must be approved by the employee's department head. Please contact your department head directly as necessary.
· Calcasieu Parish officials have issued an executive order requiring all individuals and businesses performing services in the parish to obtain a temporary work permit. The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8am and 5pm weekdays. There is no charge.
· The American Red Cross of SWLA is seeking local volunteers to help with distribution of financial assistance to local residents affected by Hurricane Rita. Please call 478-5122 to help.
· Evacuation buses are now running once daily at 5pm from the Northeast corner of the Lake Charles Civic Center.
· Calcasieu Parish has announced Blue Roof program sign-up locations with tarps for temporary roof repair. Call 1-888-ROOFBLU for details. This number is for informational purposes only. You must register in person at one of the sites.
Parish Government Building Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
1015 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Martin Luther King Center
2009 North Simmons and Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Moss Bluff, LA 70611
Vinton City Hall Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
1200 Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70664
Fire Station No. 2 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
3501 Maplewood Dr.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Fire Station No. 3 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
200 Darbonne
Sulphur, LA 70663
Iowa City Hall
115 N. Thompson
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur and Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff. Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center will be added later). These are not the same as the Blue Roof Tarps.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Program is also providing tarping and tree-removal services at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles at 830 Hodges and at First Baptist Church of Maplewood 4501 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur.
· Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control Director Lucas Terracina is advising residents that mosquito populations are extremely high and his office is taking extra steps to attempt to alleviate the situation. They are using low-flying military C130 aircraft, which spray from a very low altitude to spray. High winds anticipated with a cool front approaching may curtail operations temporarily.
· The Calcasieu Parish Animal Services feeding and watering program will continue until power is restored to the majority of the community. Units are in the field seven days a week going door-to-door to ensure that all animals are safe and nourished.
Dog and cat food will also be available at the six food locations located through the parish beginning Monday October 3.
Animal Services will only pick up those animals found as strays in need of veterinary care. For additional information, please contact Animal Services at 439-8879. This number was given incorrectly previously
· Regular daily garbage pickup resumes Today in Lake Charles
Sulphur garbage pickup has resumed on the normal days of the week.
In the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish, Waste Management will be placing garbage trucks at the following five locations Monday through Friday for household garbage
WARD ONE: Ward One Barn at Parish Road
WARD THREE: Burton Coliseum on the south end; Waste Management Transfer Station Highway 90 East
WARD FOUR: Fishermen Headquarters in Carlyss
WARD SIX: Ward Six Fire Station #3 on State Highway 27, south of High Hope Road.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal.
Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories:
1. Metal
2. Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.)
3. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.
4. Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
· The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Parish Government Building at 1015 Pithon Street in Lake Charles is with limited services available M-F 8am-pm. Call 721-3500 for information.
· 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.
· Calcasieu Parish officials are not set up to accept donations of goods. Local officials say that process will begin at a later time when services are restored. Local charities should handle donations and distribution of goods on their own until further notice.
· Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/6):
Sulphur Kroger
Oakley Apts. On Hwy 90
Pin Oak Trailer Park
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Singer: Singer Baptist Church
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Vinton: Vinton Elementary
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Moss Bluff: Wal-Mart
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Family Dollar on 171
Martin Luther King Center
Wilshire Plaza on 5th Ave.
LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059
Cameron Recreation Center
Johnson Bayou Roving
Holly Beach Roving
Welsh Southern BBQ
· 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 water, and ice. MREs are no longer available. Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
Mosquito repellent is also available at the distribution sites.
· A parish-wide burning ban is in effect. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.
· Black Bayou pontoon bridge is open for vehicle traffic from 7am-9am, and again from 3pm –5pm. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Residents are encouraged to call 211 for information on relief help rather than further stressing emergency officials. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
· Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.
· Restaurants attempting to open must have clearance from the Office of Public Health. Call 475-3200.
· DHH has a website for questions related to Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina. www.dhhemergencynews.com
· Calcasieu Parish School Board has established a phone line for employees temporarily displaced for information at 1-866-490-1647.
Wednesday, October 5
Mosquito Control 10-5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10-5-05
Contact Tom Hoefer
From Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control Director Lucas Terracina:
Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control is continuing its fight against hordes of mosquitoes produced by Hurricane Rita.
Aerial control units have been the mainstay of the operations covering large areas of the parish. Currently 4 aircraft are being used on a daily basis. Two of these belong to the parish operation, while the other two are via a contract with Clarke Mosquito Control/Dynamic Aviation. The US Air Force also made one flight using a C-130 over the western portion of the parish.
With all these assets a total of 558,650 acres have been covered. These efforts have assisted in reducing mosquito populations throughout much of the parish.
Ground units have also played a role during this time, but due to the obstructions on roadways, access to some areas has been limited. Each night conditions in the areas are improving allowing for more work to be completed.
Residents will continue to see mosquito populations fluctuate due to movement from their production areas. This will require additional treatments to alleviate the situation.
A cold front is expected through the area, which may delay our response to problem areas. The culprit for this delay will not be the cooler temperatures, but the associated high winds. Anytime winds are over 10 miles an hour, spraying shut down. This delay is expected for Thursday and possibly Friday evening.
Inspectors have begun their assessment of known breeding sites in an effort to begin larvicing operations. This will be necessary to curtail further production from these areas.
As soon as conditions stabilize and the winds subside, control operations will commence with both ground and aerial units.
Curfew lifted in Calcasieu for vehicles
BY ERIC CORMIER
AND JEREMY HARPER
AMERICAN PRESS
Calcasieu Parish officials today lifted the 7 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew that has been in place since Hurricane Rita hit — but only for vehicular traffic.
Pedestrians are still banned from being out during the curfew period.
Bryan Beam, assistant parish administrator, said the decision was prompted by the “the restoration of power in the majority of the parish.”
Entergy said it has restored power to more than 70 percent of its Calcasieu customers.
Beam said lifting the curfew will allow people to more easily obtain food and supplies from the growing number of retail outlets that are opening.
Residents with power, water and sewer will be allowed back to Lake Charles on Friday, according to Calcasieu Parish administrator Mark McMurry.
That announcement was made during Tuesday’s Hurricane Rita parish assessment news conference.
“The restoration of utilities has to be managed by providers. There still could be some set backs because of the instability of local utilities,” McMurry said.
In the past four days, Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish officials have visited all areas. They are basing their re-entry plan using a military model, according to chief city administrator Paul Rainwater.
Calcasieu ComeBack is the name of the plan.
Tuesday morning, Rainwater, McMurry and two consultants met with government officials from throughout the parish.
After briefing leaders on the specifics of the parish-wide assessment, it was decided to start the re-entry process.
Utilities and livability are the main concern for the decision makers.
“Our overall assessment shows that 75 percent of services have been restored in Calcasieu Parish,” Rainwater said.
Since officials started the “look and leave” initiative, an unknown amount of residents have decided to stay. “They’ve shown fantastic judgment in the way they’ve handled themselves,’’ Rainwater said.
As people trickle back into hurricane-damaged areas, Rainwater said more businesses will open.
“What the businesses do to open will assist us as to what we can provide,” Rainwater said.
Rainwater expressed concern about current fuel supplies.
“There is not enough for retail sales to handle an influx of people. Get your food and water, then stay home,’’ he said.
Other decisions made by parish and municipal officials:
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-5
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-5
Updated 9:00am
· Calcasieu Parish officials along with the mayors of the six municipalities in the parish have announced that “Calcasieu Comeback,” a permanent re-entry plan for residents evacuated for Hurricane Rita, will begin at 6am Friday October 7, 2005. The re-entry plan is for the entire parish except for the town of Vinton, which will remain on a “look and leave” status. The Calcasieu Comeback plan is specifically designed to include residents who have electricity, potable water and operating sewer and who can be self-sufficient.
The officials and mayors evaluated the status of the infrastructure in the parish and concluded jointly that the basic necessities had improved significantly in the past few days and would continue to improve before Friday. Vinton remains substantially without electrical power and is not ready to participate in the permanent re-entry plan. An announcement on the status of Vinton will be made when the infrastructure improves.
· Tests have revealed that water on the City of Lake Charles system is safe to drink. Lake Charles residents are still asked to conserve water.
All Public water systems in the parish are safe to drink except Water District #1 in Ward One, Water District #5 in Wards Three and Eight and Water District #8 of Wards Three and Eight. These are still listed on the state DHH list of districts requiring boiling of water. Many private water systems are also on boil orders. Residents on private systems should contact those systems for information.
· Calcasieu Parish officials have issued an executive order requiring all individuals and businesses performing services in the parish to obtain a temporary work permit. The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8am and 5pm weekdays. There is no charge.
· Evacuation buses are now running once daily at 5pm from the Northeast corner of the Lake Charles Civic Center.
· Post Office Information:
Main Office handing out mail to 70601 and 70602
Moss Bluff handing out mail to 70611 and 70612
Eastside opens today handing out mail to 70615 and 70616
· Mobile Kitchens from charitable or church groups need to coordinate their locations with Emergency Officials. They should contact 721-3800.
· Calcasieu Parish has announced Blue Roof program sign-up locations with tarps for temporary roof repair. Call 1-888-ROOFBLU for details. This number is for informational purposes only. You must register in person at one of the sites.
Parish Government Building Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
1015 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Martin Luther King Center
2009 North Simmons and Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Moss Bluff, LA 70611
Vinton City Hall Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
1200 Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70664
Fire Station No. 2 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
3501 Maplewood Dr.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Fire Station No. 3 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
200 Darbonne
Sulphur, LA 70663
Iowa City Hall
115 N. Thompson
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur and Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff. Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center will be added later). These are not the same as the Blue Roof Tarps.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Program is also providing tarping and tree-removal services at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles at 830 Hodges and at First Baptist Church of Maplewood 4501 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur.
· Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control Director Lucas Terracina is advising residents that mosquito populations are extremely high and his office is taking extra steps to attempt to alleviate the situation. They are using low-flying military C130 aircraft, which spray from a very low altitude to spray.
· The Calcasieu Parish Animal Services feeding and watering program will continue until power is restored to the majority of the community. Units are in the field seven days a week going door-to-door to ensure that all animals are safe and nourished.
Dog and cat food will also be available at the six food locations located through the parish beginning Monday October 3.
Animal Services will only pick up those animals found as strays in need of veterinary care. For additional information, please contact Animal Services at 439-8879. This number was given incorrectly previously
· A curfew still remains in effect from dusk till dawn parish-wide.
· 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
Regular daily garbage pickup resumes Thursday in Lake Charles
Sulphur garbage pickup has resumed on the normal days of the week.
Westlake: Managan Center
Iowa: Market Basket
In the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish, Waste Management will be placing garbage trucks at the following five locations Monday through Friday
WARD ONE: Ward One Barn at Parish Road
WARD THREE: Burton Coliseum on the south end; Waste Management Transfer Station Highway 90 East
WARD FOUR: Fishermen Headquarters in Carlyss
WARD SIX: Ward Six Fire Station #3 on State Highway 27, south of High Hope Road.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal.
Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories:
1. Metal
2. Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.)
3. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.
4. Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
· 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 Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Parish Government Building at 1015 Pithon Street in Lake Charles is with limited services available M-F 8am-pm. Call 721-3500 for information.
· 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.
· Calcasieu Parish officials are not set up to accept donations of goods. Local officials say that process will begin at a later time when services are restored. Local charities should handle donations and distribution of goods on their own until further notice.
· Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/5):
Sulphur Kroger
Oakley Apts. On Hwy 90
Pin Oak Trailer Park
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Singer: Singer Baptist Church
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Vinton: Vinton Elementary
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Moss Bluff: Wal-Mart
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Family Dollar on 171
Martin Luther King Center
Wilshire Plaza on 5th Ave.
LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059
Cameron Recreation Center
Johnson Bayou Roving
Holly Beach Roving
Welsh Southern BBQ
· 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 water, and ice. MREs are no longer available. Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
· A parish-wide burning ban is in effect. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.
· Black Bayou pontoon bridge is open for vehicle traffic from 7am-9am, and again from 3pm –5pm. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Residents are encouraged to call 211 for information on relief help rather than further stressing emergency officials. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
· Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.
· Restaurants attempting to open must have clearance from the Office of Public Health. Call 475-3200.
· DHH has a website for questions related to Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina. www.dhhemergencynews.com
· Calcasieu Parish School Board has established a phone line for employees temporarily displaced for information at 1-866-490-1647.
Mail pickup at Moss Street, downtown, Moss Bluff
By Warren Arceneaux
American Press
Lake Charles area residents can pick up mail at the main U.S. Post Office branch on Moss Street, the Eastside branch at Main and Broad Streets and the Moss Bluff branch.
All branches will be open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Retail services such as stamps will be available at all branches. Incoming Express Mail services have been suspended. Outgoing express mail may still be sent out, but may not be guaranteed.
Residents with the 70601 ZIP code can pick up all mail at the main post office, located at 921 Moss St. Residents with other ZIP codes may pick up government checks, such as those from FEMA, unemployment checks or the Social Security Administration at the main, Eastside and Moss Bluff branches.
P.O. box mail at the main branch and Moss Bluff branch is available.
The Drew Station branch on Lake Street suffered extensive damage and will not open in the foreseeable future. An alternate location is being sought.
Postmaster Elizabeth Inman said local mail is being held at various undisclosed postal locations throughout the region until delivery can resume. No timetable has been set for resumption of delivery.
“That will depend on the availability of carriers, as well as their safety, conditions in the area and safety of the mail,” Inman said. “There are many people that are not in the area now. We do not want to leave important mail in unattended boxes.
‘‘We only have 50 of 310 employees here. We may be able to start delivery in some areas quicker than others. It will likely be limited delivery to start. We may have to incorporate a rotation of which neighborhoods we deliver to each day. We are still trying to work out a plan. We are looking at all possibilities.”
Recruiting event to help hurricane victims get fresh start
KENNER – The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, the third largest auto insurance group in the U.S. and in Louisiana, is holding an all-day recruiting event at the Radisson Hotel New Orleans Airport, 2150 Veterans Blvd., Kenner, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, to help those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita secure claims representative jobs in Louisiana or in other states. Progressive operates about 450 claims offices in all 50 states and currently has 700 open claims jobs. For more information about the event, applicants can call 1-800-333-5650, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In addition to claims representative jobs, candidates can apply for customer service and other positions during the event. Progressive currently has more than 900 other jobs available throughout the country.
Job applicants unable to attend the event may go to http://www.jobs.progressive.com/ to apply online.
Juan Andrade, Gulf Region claims general manager, Progressive, said: “We have jobs open; people need work. We think we can make it easier for some people to get a fresh start.”
Firestone Polymers Company Needs Help Locating Teammates
In the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, Firestone Polymers Company (FSPC), a subsidiary of BFS Diversified Products, LLC., is in the process of determining the status of its teammates employed at the company’s two plants in Orange, Texas and Lake Charles, La.
FSPC representatives are now attempting to contact individuals who have moved to various parts of the region. FSPC is asking that any teammates employed at The Firestone Polymers plant in Lake Charles please call 1-800-847-3411.
Any teammates employed at the Firestone Polymers plant in Orange, Texas, please call 1-866-222-9336.
Teammates need to call these numbers to get important information on how to seek assistance and support as they recover from the storm as well as information on the status or resuming operations at the plants.
Tuesday, October 4
CNN's Rob Marciano in Lake Charles again
CNN's meteorologist Rob Marciano was in Lake Charles Tuesday doing a series of live reports from the city's board walk near the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau. He interviewed KPLC-TV's morning anchor John Bridges.
This is the second Marciano has been in Lake Charles since Hurricane Rita hit on Sept. 24. He drove into town a few days after the storm hit and did a news story about the hurricane's impact on Lake Charles.
Hector San Miguel
American Press
City Editor
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-4-05 updated at 5pm
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-4
Updated 5:00pm
· Calcasieu Parish officials along with the mayors of the six municipalities in the parish have announced that “Calcasieu Comeback,” a permanent re-entry plan for residents evacuated for Hurricane Rita, will begin at 6am Friday October 7, 2005. The re-entry plan is for the entire parish except for the town of Vinton, which will remain on a “look and Leave” status. The Calcasieu Comeback plan is specifically designed to include residents who have electricity, potable water and operating sewer and who can be self-sufficient.
The officials and mayors evaluated the status of the infrastructure in the parish and concluded jointly that the basic necessities had improved significantly in the past few days and would continue to improve before Friday. Vinton remains substantially without electrical power and is not ready to participate in the permanent re-entry plan. An announcement on the status of Vinton will be made when the infrastructure improves.
· Tests have revealed that water on the City of Lake Charles system is safe to drink. Lake Charles residents are still asked to conserve water.
All Public water systems in the parish are safe to drink except Water District #1 in Ward One, Water District #5 in Wards Three and Eight and Water District #8 of Wards Three and Eight. These are still listed on the state DHH list of districts requiring boiling of water. Many private water systems are also on boil orders. Residents on private systems should contact those systems for information.
· Calcasieu Parish officials have issued an executive order requiring all individuals and businesses performing services in the parish to obtain a temporary work permit. The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8am and 5pm weekdays. There is no charge.
· Evacuation buses are now running once daily at 5pm from the Northeast corner of the Lake Charles Civic Center.
· Mobile Kitchens from charitable or church groups need to coordinate their locations with Emergency Officials. They should contact 721-3800.
· Calcasieu Parish has announced Blue Roof program sign-up locations with tarps for temporary roof repair. Call 1-888-ROOFBLU for details. This number is for informational purposes only. You must register in person at one of the sites.
Parish Government Building Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
1015 Pithon Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Martin Luther King Center
2009 North Simmons and Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
Moss Bluff United Methodist Church Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway
Moss Bluff, LA 70611
Vinton City Hall Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
1200 Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70664
Fire Station No. 2 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
3501 Maplewood Dr.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Fire Station No. 3 Time: 9:00am-5:30pm
200 Darbonne
Sulphur, LA 70663
Iowa City Hall
115 N. Thompson
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur and Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff. Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center will be added later). These are not the same as the Blue Roof Tarps.
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Program is also providing tarping and tree-removal services at First Baptist Church in Lake Charles at 830 Hodges and at First Baptist Church of Maplewood 4501 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur.
· Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control Director Lucas Terracina is advising residents that mosquito populations are extremely high and his office is taking extra steps to attempt to alleviate the situation. They are using low-flying military C130 aircraft, which spray from a very low altitude to spray.
· The Calcasieu Parish Animal Services feeding and watering program will continue until power is restored to the majority of the community. Units are in the field seven days a week going door-to-door to ensure that all animals are safe and nourished.
Dog and cat food will also be available at the six food locations located through the parish beginning Monday October 3.
Animal Services will only pick up those animals found as strays in need of veterinary care. For additional information, please contact Animal Services at 439-8879. This number was given incorrectly previously
· A curfew still remains in effect from dusk till dawn parish-wide.
· 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
Sulphur garbage pickup has resumed on the normal days of the week.
Westlake: Managan Center
Iowa: Market Basket
In the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish, Waste Management will be placing garbage trucks at the following five locations Monday through Friday
WARD ONE: Ward One Barn at Parish Road
WARD THREE: Burton Coliseum on the south end; Waste Management Transfer Station Highway 90 East
WARD FOUR: Fishermen Headquarters in Carlyss
WARD SIX: Ward Six Fire Station #3 on State Highway 27, south of High Hope Road.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is asking residents in parishes where hurricane removal work is in progress, as assigned by FEMA and managed by the Corps of Engineers, to separate items to facilitate efficient removal.
Debris should be placed curbside and separated into the following categories:
1. Metal
2. Vegetative (tree limbs, leaves, etc.)
3. Large appliances like refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, etc.
4. Construction and demolition debris (carpeting, roofing siding, etc.)
· 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 Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Parish Government Building at 1015 Pithon Street in Lake Charles is with limited services available M-F 8am-pm. Call 721-3500 for information.
· 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.
· Calcasieu Parish officials are not set up to accept donations of goods. Local officials say that process will begin at a later time when services are restored. Local charities should handle donations and distribution of goods on their own until further notice.
· Salvation Army’s Canteen Locations today (10/4):
Sulphur Kroger
LeBlanc Middle School
Pin Oak Trailer Park
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Singer: Singer Baptist Church
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Vinton: Vinton Elementary
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Moss Bluff: Wal-Mart
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Family Dollar on 171
Martin Luther King Center
Wilshire Plaza on 5th Ave.
LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059
Cameron Recreation Center
Johnson Bayou Roving
Holly Beach Roving
Welsh Roving
· 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 water, and ice. MREs are no longer available. Residents in need of food should seek Salvation Army and Red Cross locations.
· A parish-wide burning ban is in effect. This ban includes all municipalities as well as unincorporated areas.
· Black Bayou pontoon bridge is open for vehicle traffic from 7am-9am, and again from 3pm –5pm. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Residents are encouraged to call 211 for information on relief help rather than further stressing emergency officials. Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.
· Residents with distressed vessels need to contact the Coast Guard before salvaging at 337-912-0074.
· Restaurants attempting to open must have clearance from the Office of Public Health. Call 475-3200.
· DHH has a website for questions related to Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina. www.dhhemergencynews.com
· Calcasieu Parish School Board has established a phone line for employees temporarily displaced for information at 1-866-490-1647.
Tom Hoefer
Calcasieu Parish
