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
Monday, October 3
Calcasieu School Board paycheck pick-up changes
Calcasieu Parish School Board
Paycheck Pick-Up
Oct. 4, 2005
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Changed from Barbe High Ticket Booth to Calcasieu Parish School Board Main Office at 1724 Kirkman Street.
Jeff Davis update
Hurricane Rita updates from Jeff Davis Parish:
Parishwide curfew is 7 p.m.-7 a.m. Curfews have been lifted in Elton, Jennings, Welsh and Lake Arthur.
The water is safe to drink.
No school until today, Oct. 10, with the exception of Bethel Baptist School, which is now open.
The Jennings American Legion Hospital emergency room is now open.
Electrical power is partially restored in Jennings (85 percent), Welsh (90 percent), Lake Arthur (90 percent) and Elton (90 percent). Power is still out in 35 percent of the parish.
Water is receding but some roads are still under water.
FEMA blue tarps are currently out of stock. More have been reordered. FEMA water, food and ice distribution points are located at the old Winn Dixie parking lot in Jennings, the Welsh Airport and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Home in Lake Arthur. Other distribution points include Bayou Chene Fire Department; Fenton Fire Department; Elton City Hall; Lacassine Fire Department; Topsy Veterans of Foreign Wars; Woodlawn Fire Department and Silverwood.
The Lake Arthur Police Department has been relocated to the fire station. Their number is 774-3000.
The Lake Arthur City Hall has been relocated to the Our Lady of the Lake Bubba and Lena Mae Oustalet Family Center. It does not have telephone service.
Coushatta Casino to reopen Oct. 19
Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder will reopen its casino and hotel properties at noon, Tuesday, Oct. 19.
The reservation call center reopened at noon on Monday, Oct. 10.
The Feather Fuel and Convenience Store is now open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Associates of Coushatta Casino Resort who have not yet contacted their supervisors are asked to do so immediately by calling (800) 867-8727.
Hotel manager opens heart, doors
When disasters like hurricanes Katrina and Rita strike, customers expect Entergy to restore their power quickly and efficiently.
Likewise, Entergy counts on its customers to step up to help support the power company during trying times.
Enter Patricia Philmon. She’s the long-time general manager of the Richmond Suites Best Western on the outskirts of Lake Charles. Philmon is no stranger to disasters or Entergy. She is among the first to make sure the utility workers have a hot shower and a comfortable bed after long hours of restoring power to anxious residents.
Rita, however, was no ordinary storm. It left more than 700,000 Entergy Louisiana and Texas customers without power and caused devastation to the transmission and distribution systems.
“When Katrina hit, I offered the motel to all Louisiana evacuees,” she said. “We had about 500 people staying in the 140 rooms. Our staff had made them comfortable and they were settled in.
“Then we started getting reports about Rita. Like all Calcasieu Parish residents I started monitoring the storm’s path. Finally, when the order came to evacuate the parish, I had to break the news to all the evacuees. They understood. I told them to take what belongings they had. Don’t worry about the rooms and leave. They all had transportation and left town.”
Finally, at 9 p.m. Friday, Philmon, her 11-year-old daughter Tiffany and husband Jake loaded their van and headed to Shreveport, normally a three-hour drive. Some nine hours later they arrived at a Best Western to ride out the storm before returning to Lake Charles.
A few hours later the phone call she was expecting came. It was from Clyde Mitchell, an Entergy Louisiana senior account executive.
“He said, ‘Patricia, we need rooms.’ I said, ‘Clyde, I’m in Shreveport and don’t know if the motel is still standing.’ Clyde told me that the motel had survived. I told him I’d get back with him quickly.”
Philmon and her boss made a quick trip back to Lake Charles to survey the damage and began preparing rooms for awaiting utility workers from across the country. By Sunday night, she was back in Shreveport and preparing to drive her husband and daughter back to Lake Charles. They arrived Monday at 6 a.m., and with no sleep went to work cleaning 140 rooms.
“You can image what was in those rooms,” Philmon said, holding her nose while explaining the smell from left-behind food. “It was almost unbearable. The temperature was above 100 degrees. All of my staff had evacuated so it was left to my daughter and me to clean all the rooms.”
For the next two days, the family worked 16-18 hour days, grabbing what little sleep in the back of their van, eating Deviled Ham and crackers and drinking water.
Philmon also had to solve one more problem. The computerized key card system to open doors won’t work without electricity. She managed to purchase a key machine from a local Radio Shack and spent a long night making 140 keys. By Thursday afternoon, Philmon could finally take a break while waiting for the generators to arrive.
Last Saturday, Philmon opened her heart to Entergy. Now, she’s ready to open the doors.
Memorial Hospital sets hours
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital’s emergency room is now open 24 hours, the hospital has announced. The emergency room number is 494-3036.
Also, directors and managers of the hospital are asked to report to work.
The Center for Orthopaedics is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Patients will be seen as walk-ins or can schedule appointments by calling 494-4900.
Pulmonary Associates will open 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10. Patients will be seen on a walk-in basis or can schedule an appointment by calling 494-2750.
The LSU Family Practice Clinic at 6525 Oak Park Blvd. will open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday for medical needs. Patients will be seen on walk-in basis.
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-3-05
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-3
Updated 5:00pm
· Calcasieu Visit, the first phase of the parish re-entry plan continues today. It is a “Look and Leave” period for residents to assess their property and gather needed belongings and return to temporary residences. (Refer to fact sheet issued Thursday).
· 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 order, signed by Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Hal McMillin, acknowledges the need for businesses from out of the area to perform necessary work such as tree and debris removal, roof repairs and other emergency-related services. It requires businesses to provide documentation including certificates of liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage.
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 temporary permits allow businesses to operate throughout the period of the State of Emergency, which ends October 24th.
Also necessary for issuance of the permits are the company name, address, business telephone number and a copy of the driver’s license of the applicant.
The order is effective immediately. It covers all municipalities within Calcasieu Parish as well as the unincorporated areas.
· 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 439-9979.
· 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 City household garbage drop-off locations:
City Pavilion on Huntington Street
Old Winn Dixie Parking Lot on Beglis
Westlake: Managan Center
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 (10/3):
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
· Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center
Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.
Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart
Secondary sites
DeQuincy
-Phelps Correctional Center
Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given MREs, water, and ice. We are working this with both military and FEMA sources. MREs are in short supply.
· Calcasieu Homeland Security/ Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Dick Gremillion is asking residents who are able to acquire food, water and ice on their own to avoid the supply distribution sites. The traffic has the potential to overwhelm the sites.
· City officials are asking residents of Lake Charles to conserve their water usage. Water and sewer facilities are limited at this time. As previously mentioned, all water should be boiled and treated before consumption.
· Houston River Waterworks District 11 water tests have revealed the water is safe to drink.
· 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
Status quo in Starkville for LSU
BY SCOOTER HOBBS
AMERICAN PRESS
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Memo to Les Miles:
Don’t put too much stock in that victory over Mississippi State.
The least of LSU’s teams have managed it, whether they wanted to or not.
Among the accompanying headlines you could find to go along with “LSU beats its Dog” would be “Sun rises from the East” or “FEMA fumbles” or “Search for Starkville nightlife continues.”
Real news out of Starkville would have been if the Tigers hadn’t won, or even if they’d had to work up much of a sweat to win it or left much suspense for the final scene.
A little history, Les.
In the previous decade it was mostly bad LSU teams against pretty good or even really good Bulldog teams and the results were sometimes a little closer, but otherwise virtually indistinguishable from Saturday’s final cut.
LSU has no idea how to lose to Mississippi State, so beating the Bulldogs is no great shakes.
Convenient, yes. Earth-shattering? Hardly.
Curley Hallman only managed to lose to them once. His 2-9 team beat them. It almost became an annual mirage for that particularly slapstick era of LSU football.
It took a phantom Bulldog touchdown — a fourth-down, Bulldog bounce into the end zone counted — for Gerry DiNardo’s snake-bit 1999 Tigers to lose up here.
In 2002 LSU played an absolutely awful game — horrendous, almost comical — and still beat State 31-13.
So you probably need to grade this game film on a curve, OK?
My point?
Nice win. Impressive, even. But don’t for a moment think a 37-7 thrashing of Mississippi State gets you off the hook just yet for last Monday’s embarrassing melt-down to Tennessee.
They just don’t even out.
It should keep the For Sale signs out of the yard for another week, maybe even clean up the profanity in the Internet chat rooms for a spell, but no one amongst the fandom will be drinking that purple Kool-Aid just yet.
They’ve been sold fool’s gold in Starkville before.
LSU is better than Mississippi State. More speed. Better athletes. Stronger, quicker, even smarter if Saturday was any indication.
Tell us something we didn’t already know. Besides, LSU always beat the Bulldogs even when the opposite was true.
Or did I mention that already?
Tiger fans used to fall for it when it was the only thing they had to hang their hat on, when they knew it might be the highlight of the season.
They’re after bigger game (and games) now.
Mississippi State, having failed miserably lo those many years as a turn-around game, is now viewed as a tune-up game.
Winning them is expected, not celebrated, although that was a nice postgame touch in gathering the lads around the Tiger fans in Starkville to sing the alma mater.
Or didn’t you notice the yawns afterwards?
But, good game anyway.
It still kind of looked like a team slightly out of synch, a team still looking for an identity.
But at least it knows it can still hold Mississippi State’s pedestrian offense, if no one else’s, to under 30 points and less than 1,000 frequent flyer miles. In these uncertain times when nothing much seems as it once was, that’s somehow reassuring.
It kind of capped a crazy month for LSU football, one which should be able to return now to a routine.
And, thanks, Commodores, for losing to Middle Tennessee Saturday.
Preparing for an unbeaten Vanderbilt team would have made the postponements, the delays, the short weeks, Monday Night Football in Tiger Stadium and home games in Arizona seem almost normal by comparison.
Sunday, October 2
Permits required for service workers
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 order, signed by Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Hal McMillin, acknowledges the need for businesses from out of the area to perform necessary work such as tree and debris removal, roof repairs and other emergency-related services. It requires businesses to provide documentation including certificates of liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage.
The permits will be available at the Parish Government building at 1015 Pithon St. in Lake Charles between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. There is no charge. The temporary permits allow businesses to operate throughout the period of the State of Emergency, which ends Monday, Oct. 24.
Also necessary for issuance of the permits are the company name, address, business telephone number and a copy of the driver’s license of the applicant.
The order is effective immediately. It covers all municipalities and unincorporated areas within Calcasieu Parish.
Tom Hoefer
Calcasieu Parish
Houston Chronicle features Page 1 story on Cameron
The Houston Chronicle has a page 1 story in its Sunday, Oct.2 edition about the impact of Hurricane Rita on Cameron Parish. The headline reads: "After storm surge, Cameron is no more." The reporter, Tony Freemantle, interviewed Cameron resident, Hilary Trahan, in the story. The story jumps from page 1 to A-27. The story continues there over the entire page along with photos of the devastation in Cameron.
"Hurricane Audrey nearly did them in, back in 1957, when it killed 600 people and destroyed half of the town. But even then, the Trahan clan came back and started over," Freemantle writes in his Sunday story.
"This time, that might not be possible. This time, after taking a direct hit from Hurricane Rita, there is not much left of Cameron. This time, like the toppled, 100-year-old live oaks, deep roots may not be enough."
Hector San Miguel
American Press
City Editor
Milo Nickel's hurricane blog
Lake Charles Attorney Milo Nickel has set up his own Hurricane Rita blog complete with commentary and lots of photos. He lives in the Geddings Estate south of town so he has seen a lot of storm damage.
Under one of his post entitled, "Rumors and Reality," Nickel writes, "There is a strong sense of community here. People continue to volunteer and to take care of each other. People are sharing meals, food, and water, although with the stores opening and FEMA continuing to canvass the area, these things are pretty plentiful. Life for many here is approaching normal. The warning is this; they say that what we have is likely enough for the number of people who live here. A mass return of evacuees would overload the existing system and we could be back in the dark ages."
Nickel's blog even has photos of the storm damage in Cameron Parish and of Lt. Gen. Russel Honore touring the storm damage. Viewers can ask post comments or ask questions. The blog can be seen at www.milonickel.blogspot.com/.
Hector San Miguel
American Press
City Editor
I'm a Hurricane Rita evacuee, Part 3
It has been a long week. It’s now Day 10 since Hurricane Rita slammed my town down but it seems like Day 100. A lot has happened since Rita paid her rude and crude visit here.
I got my four kids and my mother to Houston last Sunday and spent the day there reenergizing. I never knew how good a hot shower or a hot meal could be until then. I stocked up with supplies and headed back to Lake Charles on Tuesday.
I knew I needed to get back home. My wife, a KPLC-TV reporter who rode out the hurricane in Lake Charles, told me we had major roof damage.
Sure, I had to check my house but there was more stuff going on. Lake Charles evacuees spread out around the U.S. were starving for information about their hometown. My newspaper was trying to be that source. I was ready to hit the ground running.
I left Houston Tuesday morning filled up with non-perishable food, bottled water and a ton of batteries. When I got to Baytown, I was down a quarter of a tank in gas so I decided to fill up at a convenience store. There were gas lines everywhere.
I was lucky. I was only four cars deep from the pump. Two women in a pickup truck were filling up their truck but the next thing I knew they opened the bed to their truck and pulled out nine ten-gallon gas cans. People in the gas line started to honk and yell. The women ignored them. It seem to take forever for them to fill the gas cans.
After they finished and drove off, the line started to move much quicker. Once I got to the pump, I asked the guy behind me about the two women. He said they were from nearby Dayton. There was no p\ower there. It had been hit hard by the storm, he said. They needed the gas to run several generators they had bought. I felt sorry for them.
Once on the road, I started to see the impact of Rita on southeast Texas. Another guy at the convenience store had told there was no gasoline between Baytown and Lafayette. He was right.
As I approached Winnie, I could see more power lines downed by trees snapped in half by Rita’s winds. People were stranded there with no gasoline waving at vehicles passing them on the interstate. There was no power in the town and everything was closed down.
It was about 60 miles from Beaumont when I could see many buildings and homes from the interstate. They had roofs ripped off or major structural damage. The winds must have been hellacious. Large billboards were even blown over.
Ten miles from Beamount, the exits off I-10 were closed. National Guard were stationed at each one. When I reached the Ford Arena outside Beaumont, I saw it was being used as large staging area for relief groups, the military and local evacuees. There were two large medical Army helicopters in the parking lot.
In Beaumont, there was so much damage. Hotel had their windows blown out. Restaurant signs destroyed. There were power lines down everywhere. Trees were uprooted. I wondered how this compared to Lake Charles.
The Jack-in-the Box restaurant along I-10 had seen its large sign mounted on a huge black metal pole toppled by Rita. I saw TV news crews shooting video of the downed structure.
After Beaumont, I came to Vidor. A lot more damage to trees and power lines there. The Vidor Church of Christ had its roof ripped off exposing the inside of the building. There was no one around.
In Orange, the old Baptist Church had suffered the same fate. I was shocked to see that my favorite restaurant in Orange, “Joe’s Crab Shack,” had been heavily damaged by the storm. The roof and the building appeared to have been blown apart. There was still no gas and no power.
All this time, deserted vehicles littered the Interstate’s roadside. They were either out of gas or broke down. The owners were nowhere around.
Once I crossed into Louisiana, I decided to stop at the Welcome Center there. I noticed there were a lot of people there. I thought maybe the center had generator power. I was wrong. The people were trying to get into the restrooms. They were closed up tight.
All of the buildings including the Welcome Center had some roof damage. There were broken windows too. Many of the trees on the property were uprooted. There was litter scattered all around. Truckers were parked here to rest.
I passed through Vinton and all I could see was destruction. This wasn’t just roof damage or downed trees. It was devastation. The Lucky Peacock Hotel and Casino was heavily damaged along with other truckstop casinos there.
As I passed Sulphur I saw many of the restaurants had suffered wind damage along with the motels there. I kept thinking about how bad it must be in Lake Charles. I tried to prepare for the worst.
I had heard the Interstate 10 bridge had been closed but it seemed this had changed. The exit to the Interstate 210 bridge was blocked off by State Police and Interstate 10 was open.
Once over the bridge, I saw the Isle of Capri casino on the lake had some roof damage to its hotels and pavilion but it seemed to be in pretty good shape. This wasn’t the same story for Harrah’s.
It was an incredible sight. The hurricane winds had pushed the Island barge and the riverboats docked on both sides parallel to the shoreline. The boats and the barge weigh thousands of tons but were pushed aside by Rita like floating debris.
As I got off the interstate onto Lakeshore Drive, I started to see the city’s biggest landmark, the Hibernia Bank Tower, had many of its windows blown out. The Civic Center looked like it had been damaged too.
I stopped at KPLC-TV to see my wife. She looked worn and frazzled but seem to be in good spirits. She told me to go to our house. She also said to be prepared for what I was about to see in our neighborhood.
I live on Iris Street between Common and Kirkman Street. As I drove toward our house, I could see what she meant. Downed power lines were scattered on the streets along with shingles. Downed trees and tree branches seemed to be everywhere. As a native of Lake Charles, I have seen my share of storm damage but never like this.
The infamous ice storm that blacked out the city for a week in the 1990s was the last time the power had been cut off to such a large area in our town. Tree branches covered with ice broke off onto power lines cutting off electricity.
In Rita’s case, the power lines were knocked down by entire trees. Some streets were blocked in our neighborhood and fortunately they were deserted. No one needed to be here right now especially kids.
As I drove up into my driveway, it looked as though my house was unscathed. My large backyard was a mess though. I have more than a dozen large trees- oak, pine and pecan - there. More than half them were knocked down. The biggest tree in my yard is a towering oak that I think is more than 100 years old. The massive tree survived Rita but the hurricane winds stripped it bare of its huge branches.
My mother’s two-story cottage, which lies in my backyard, appeared to be undamaged. Many of the large trees that fell had just brushed her home. Her roof was in good shape too.
A check of my house inside found that my earlier excitement about being unscathed was premature. As I went up into my attic I could see sunlight. I had three large holes in my roof and water was dripping in. A further check of the house found water damage in one of my bathrooms.
I was depressed at first but realized I was very lucky after I saw my neighbor’s house down the street. He had a large tree fall on top of his house collapsing a large section of his roof and allowing water to run down his staircase.
I had bought some tarps in Houston and managed to cover two of the holes but I couldn’t reach the third one because it was on the slant of the roof. I didn’t need to fall off and kill myself. The odd thing about this hole was that it appeared as though someone had taken their fist and punched a hole in my roof breaking the boards.
It must have been some kind of projectile that did the damage but I was not able to find it anywhere. I cleaned up our front yard and later cut the grass.
My first thought after I assessed the damage was that I wanted anyone who passed my house to know while we might be down we certainly weren’t out. I hung my American flag in front and posted a large sign I made on the front window. It said, “Survivor of the Hurricane of 1918, Audrey and Rita.”
I forget to mention that my house has had a charmed life of sorts. It was built in 1910 and completed three days before the Great Fire of 1910 that wiped most of the downtown and 60 residences.
A Catholic cemetery at the corner of Iris and Common Streets acted as a fire break as the flames moved down Iris Street. My house was spared. It also came through the last two hurricanes that hit Lake Charles. I don’t know what kind of damage it had back then but the house was still standing as it is today.
The other good news is that my cat survived the hurricane. We took our two dogs when we left for DeRidder before the storm hit but our cat was nowhere to be found. I fed him a whole bowl of cat food as he limped up. He ate all of it and more after that. I thought to myself what a great interview he would be if he could talk. What did he see and what did he hear when Rita arrived?
My neighbor across the street, Mark, came over to talk. He had some storm damage to his roof and most of the palm trees he has in his yard seemed to fare well in the storm. He said he had evacuated before the storm to DeRidder too.
Probably the oddest thing to happen at my house this week was the sight of ten shirtless men asleep on my front porch. I drove up the other day to pick a few things and saw this pile of guys sprawled out. I asked them if I could help them and they all looked at me in a daze. I immediately realized they didn’t speak English.
As it turned out there were part of a tree-removal outfit that had been clearing debris at the rental house next door. This yard was now all nice and clean but for some reason the men had put all of the debris in my front yard. The foreman, who did speak English, couldn’t say who he worked for and said his men were too tired to remove the storm debris from my front yard. They had been working since 7 a.m., he said. I knew this was going to be a bad day. What else could happen?
Hector San Miguel
American Press
City Editor
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-2-05
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-2
Updated 5:00pm
· Calcasieu Visit, the first phase of the parish re-entry plan continues today. It is a “Look and Leave” period for residents to assess their property and gather needed belongings and return to temporary residences. (Refer to fact sheet issued Thursday).
· 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 order, signed by Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Hal McMillin, acknowledges the need for businesses from out of the area to perform necessary work such as tree and debris removal, roof repairs and other emergency-related services. It requires businesses to provide documentation including certificates of liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage.
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 temporary permits allow businesses to operate throughout the period of the State of Emergency, which ends October 24th.
Also necessary for issuance of the permits are the company name, address, business telephone number and a copy of the driver’s license of the applicant.
The order is effective immediately. It covers all municipalities within Calcasieu Parish as well as the unincorporated areas.
· 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
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
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.
· From Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control Director Lucas Terracina:
Residents of Calcasieu Parish will continue to be plagued by hordes of mosquitoes produced from the waters of Hurricane Rita. No area of the parish will be immune from this scourge.
These mosquitoes are very aggressive daytime and nighttime biters, and will make cleanup efforts practically unbearable.
Mosquito populations of this magnitude are very common after storm events of this magnitude and will be affecting this area for weeks.
Ground control efforts have been somewhat hampered by the conditions left from the storm. There is a lot of debris on and along the roads making travel at night very difficult and dangerous for the drivers. These conditions continue to improve nightly and will assist in allowing us to cover more territory.
Aerial efforts have been somewhat more successful, as additional assets have been brought in to supplement the parish's two airplanes. Yesterday there were a total of 5 aircraft that treated in areas of Calcasieu Parish, treating close to 200,000 acres. This however is only a drop in the bucket of what needs to be treated.
Weather permitting, aerial and ground units will once again be out in areas of the parish to assist in reducing mosquito numbers. Rain or high winds could be a factor today and tomorrow for effective mosquito control.
These mosquito populations will be with us for a while, as another wave is expected to be on the wing Monday or Tuesday. So it looks as if we will be battling these pesky insects for quite sometime.
The mosquito control office has not had office staff in to take calls due to damage from the Hurricane and staff needed to combat the problem. It is hopeful that we will be up and running very shortly.
We realize that this problem is severe and parish-wide and are working hard to get to everyone as quickly as we can.
· Calcasieu Parish Animal Services has announced that the feeding and watering program started on August 30 will continue through the next two weeks or 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 receiving food and water.
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 439-9979.
· 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 City household garbage drop-off locations:
City Pavilion on Huntington Street
Old Winn Dixie Parking Lot on Beglis
Westlake: Managan Center
In the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish, Waste Management will be placing garbage trucks at the following four 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 will be open beginning Monday October 3rd with limited services available. 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/):
Sulphur Victory Worship Center
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
Sickle Cell Anemia Center on Opelousas
LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059
Cameron Recreation Center
· Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center
Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.
Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart
Secondary sites
DeQuincy
-Phelps Correctional Center
Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given MREs, water, and ice. We are working this with both military and FEMA sources.
Special emphasis on Food and Water distribution has been placed on Northern Calcasieu Parish, Southern Beauregard Parish and Starks rural areas. Those residents are encouraged to go to Phelps Correctional Center for commodities and are encouraged to car pool and send larger vehicles to get supplies for multiple families.
· Calcasieu Homeland Security/ Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Dick Gremillion is asking residents who are able to acquire food, water and ice on their own to avoid the supply distribution sites. The traffic has the potential to overwhelm the sites. Citizens who came in during the Calcasieu Visit “Look and Leave” program are especially discouraged from receiving the supplies, as they had access to commodities at their temporary locations and should not be here in the parish if they are not self-sufficient. Many local merchants are now providing these services.
· City officials are asking residents of Lake Charles to conserve their water usage. Water and sewer facilities are limited at this time. As previously mentioned, all water should be boiled and treated before consumption.
· 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 sunrise to 10am. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
· Calcasieu Parish Employees Credit Union has established a number for members to call if they need cash from their accounts. Call 337-540-7766 if you need a check mailed to your temporary location.
Tom Hoefer
Calcasie Parish
LSU takes out frustrations on Bulldogs
By SCOOTER HOBBS
American Press
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State has long been a soothing tonic for whatever ails LSU.
Saturday, for instance, the Tigers got to watch somebody else evacuate for a change.
LSU woke up after an early slumber to silence the dreaded Mississippi State cowbells while routing the Bulldogs 37-7 Saturday.
The massive second-half exodus by Bulldog fans may have been weather-related, but it was a brief and light shower and the march to drier ground was more likely from watching LSU break open the game by scoring with ease on all three of its third-quarter possessions to make the final quarter as meaningless as it was scoreless.
“This team came on the field with an edge,” LSU head coach Les Miles said of the short week his team had after an embarrassing overtime loss to Tennessee Monday night. “There weren’t many smiles in the locker room and around the football office this week.
“This team needed to go out and get a win.”
They came to the right place.
LSU beat the Bulldogs for the 13th time in 14 meetings and they’ve now out-scored State 120-13 in their last three visits to Starkville.
But this one was different after the Tigers blew a 21-0 lead Monday night against Tennessee.
“We came in with a chip on our shoulder,” said Tiger linebacker Kenny Hollis, who delivered the hit of the season in the second quarter, one that left State running back Jerious Norwood with a concussion and sent teammate Jessie Daniels’ helmet and chip strap flying in different directions.
“We were going to be ready to play.”
Quarterback JaMarcus Russell completed a career-high 20 passes on just 23 attempts, including touchdown passes of 14 and 44 yards to Dwayne Bowe, while Skyler Green caught eight passes and set up touchdown drives with punt returns of 37 and 27 yards.
The much-maligned Tiger defense shook off an early faux pas that gift-wrapped State’s only touchdown and stymied the Bulldogs while sacking two quarterbacks six times.
The domination LSU has come to expect here was slow in developing, however.
Xavier Carter’s 36-yard touchdown run on a reverse accounted for over half of LSU’s first-half rushing total.
But after Russell loosened up the State defense in the first half, mostly with short passes and mainly the “bubble screen” to Green that Rohan Davey and Josh Reed popularized during the Tigers’ march to the SEC title in 2001, the Tigers could chose their options in the second half.
“I thought our offense showed some great balance out there,” Miles said. “They controlled the game when they needed to.”
Any chance of a repeat of Monday’s second-half collapse against Tennessee was quickly dispelled.
The Tigers used up over half the third quarter on their first scoring drive of the second half, marching 80 yards mostly on the ground with Joseph Addai for a 24--7 lead, then needed only six total plays for another pair of touchdowns that sealed the deal and all but vacated Davis Wade Stadium.
Addai finished with 86 yards on 17 carries.
“They came out the second half and just shoved the ball down our throats,” Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said. “They pounded us.”
The Bulldogs had only one first down while the Tigers were marching in the third quarter.
“It’s not what I said,” Miles said of the way the Tigers came out in the second half. “I think our guys understood that we needed to play with greater intensity. I didn’t need to say it, although I did.”
LSU survived a sluggish first half that revisted some of the Monday nightmares against Tennessee before the Tigers managed a 17-7 lead.
The Tiger defense jumped off sides on the game’s first play from scrimmage and moments later LSU blew another secondary coverage as State’s Joey Sanders got 30 yards behind the nearest Tiger and scored on a 66-yard pass to give the Bulldogs a quick 7-0 lead.
“Without that play they score no points,” Hollis said. “Most of the other gains they had were by penalty.”
State was little more than a nuisance after that opening shocker, which Miles blamed on a miscommunication.
“We expect that out of our defense,” Miles said. “It shouldn’t be a surprise. There are still some things we need to get fixed, but certainly we expect them to play well.”
After the opening touchdown, the Bulldogs managed only 80 more yards in offense before the Tigers turned the defense over to backups for the final quarter.
“There was one gaffe,” Miles said. “But after that in no way did I ever feel like they were going to mount a sustained drive on our defense.
LSU NOTEBOOK: Hollis delivers monster hit
BY SCOOTER HOBBS
AMERICAN PRESS
STARKVILLE, Miss. — LSU’s defensive play of the game Saturday against Mississippi State might have come on a play in which the Bulldogs picked up a first down.
It should make all the highlight shows — Kenneth Hollis’ monster hit of State star running back Jerious Norwood at the end of a 19-yard scamper with a screen pass.
LSU safety Jessie Daniels was trying to get a handle on Norwood to bring him down when Hollis sprinted from the other side of the field to finish off the job right in front of the Mississippi State bench and knocked them both into next week.
The crowd of 48,344 gasped at the collision, which sent both Norwood and Daniels down in a heap.
Daniels helmet popped off and his chin strap when spinning about 15 feet straight up in the air.
It was the only tackle that Hollis was credited with in the game, but he got his money’s worth with the kind of hit former LSU head coach Mike Archer once called a “slobber-knocker.”
“I just hit both of them,” said Hollis.
Both Daniels and Norwood stayed down for several moments, with Daniels suffering a bloody mouth and Norwood a concussion.
Hollis said Daniels wasn’t mad at him. “He said, “Good job, but don’t take it out on me.’ “ Hollis recalled.
Daniels returned to the game shortly, but Norwood was done for the day. He did return to the sidelines after a brief trip to a local hospital for an MRI.
“I had a full head of steam because I was on the other side of the field and ran all the way to the other side,” Hollis said.
“I don’t think he (Norwood) ever saw me.”
That wasn’t all Norwood didn’t know.
“I didn’t know who I was or where I was,” Norwood said after the game. “That’s the hardest I’ve ever been hit in my life.”
UPON FURTHER REVIEW: Who says you can’t get a call reversed?
LSU head coach Les Miles had to think his offensive game plan was in trouble when the Tigers were flagged for offensive pass inteference the first time JaMarcus Russell threw the “bubble screen” pass to Skyler Green.
The penalty was for blocking downfield while the pass was in the air — basically a pick play — but in college that’s legal when the pass is completed behind the line of scrimmage, as it was in this case.
Miles literally got down on his knees on the sideline begging the officials to confer on the flag, which came from far downfield.
They did and after a discussion the flag was waved off when referees closer to the action determined the completion was behind the line of scrimmage.
“The guy who made the call only saw the block,” Miles explained. “He didn’t check where the ball was (behind the line of scrimmage).”
They did not, however, use the instant replay system now available for SEC games to make the determination.
Miles said he was merely trying to explain to the officials what the Tigers were doing on the play, which LSU went to repeatedly during the game.
He said the play was simply an effort to get the ball in Green’s hands more often more than anything the coaching staff picked up on the State defense.
“But we felt like getting him into the secondary created some things to our advantage,” Miles said.
RECORD: Using that high-percentage pass extensively, QB JaMarcus Russell had a career-high 20 completions and Green a career-high eight receptions. Russell’s .870 completion percentage (20 of 23) was the best ever for an LSU more than 20 attempts in an SEC game. The previous best was .808 (21 of 26) bhy Alan Risher against Ole Miss in 1981.
MISSING IN ACTION: Two key Tigers did not make the trip. WR Buster Davis stayed home with a foot injury while backup CB Mario Stephenson missed the game due to a death in his family.
NEW TRADITION: Shortly after the victory, the entire LSU team trotted down to the corner of the stadium in which most of the LSU fans and the Tiger band was stationed, where they all joined in singing the school’s alma mater. It’s a new tradition Miles had said LSU would do after victories at home games, but he hadn’t mentioned it as a road exercise.
DEBUT: Former Barbe player Ryan Miller, a redshirt freshman center, saw his first college action after starter Rudy Niswanger limped off the field in the second quarter with a sprained ankle. Niswanger returned the next series, but was unable to stay and Miller played the remainder of the game.
Miles said he expects Niswanger to be ready to play this week.
DOMINATION: LSU has now beaten Miss. State 13 of the last 14 years and 18 of the last 21. The Tigers have out-scored the Bulldogs 202-26 over the last five games and 120-13in their last three trips to Starkville.
FRUSTRATION: Mississippi State has now lost 17 straight games against SEC West opponents, datiing back to a 2001 victory over Ole Miss.
OOPS: LSU, which hadn’t really had a special teams miscue this season, missed its first extra point of the season after opening the second half with an 80-yard scoring drive. Colt David hit the right upright with the PAT try. David did, however, connect on a 30-yard field goal, LSU’s eighth straight.
TOO QUICK: LSU’s defense, which had seven off-sides penalites last Monday against Tennessee, jumped off sides on the first play from scrimmage Saturday.
The Tigers also wasted little time revisiting their chronic problems with blown coverages in the secondary as four plays later, MSU’s Joey Sanders got 30 yards behind the nearest Tiger defender and scored easily on a 66-yard pass play from Omarr Conner.
“I saw him wide open and I couldn’t believe it,” Conner said. “The throw was tough because he was so wide open.”
It was Mississippi State’s longest play from scrimmage in over two years, since a 70-yarder against Tulane in 2003.
IN CHARGE: LSU’s game captains were RB Joseph Addai, DT Kyle Williams and P/PK Chris Jackson.
NEXT: LSU will be on the road again next week Vanderbilt for a 6 p.m. kickoff to be televised by ESPN2.
LSU-Miss. State: How they scored
FIRST QUARTER
Miss. State 7, LSU 0
MSU: Joey Sanders 66-yard pass from Omarr Conner (Keith Andrews kick). Time: 2:14 Scoring Drive: 80 yards, 5 plays, 2:14. Drive Started: 20 (KO into end zone). Drive Notes: Sanders was 30 yards behind the nearest LSU defender.
Miss. State 7, LSU 3
LSU: Colt David 30-yard FG. Time: 5:02. Scoring Drive: 35 yards, 9 plays, 4:06. Drive Started: MSU 48 (punt rolled dead). Drive Notes: JaMarcus Russell completed a 13-yard pass to Bennie Brazell and a 20-yarder to Early Doucet before the drive stalled.
LSU 10, Miss. State 7
LSU: Xavier Carter 36-yard run (David kick). Time: 2:14. Scoring Drive: 57 yards, 4 plays, 55 seconds. Drive Started: LSU 43 (2-yard PR by Skyler Green). Drive Notes: Carter got wide on a reverse and used his world-class speed to split two defenders who appeared to have an angle on him.
SECOND QUARTER
LSU 17, Miss. State 7
LSU: Dwayne Bowe 14-yard pass from JaMarcus Russell (David kick). Time: 14:45. Scoring Drive: 46 yards, 3 plays, 1:01. Drive Started: MSU 46 (24-yard punt OB). Drive Notes: Russell also completed passes of 16 yards to Doucet and 11 yards to Green.
THIRD QUARTER
LSU 24, Miss State 7
LSU: Jacob Hester 1-yard run (David kick). Time: 6:58 Scoring Drive: 80 yards, 13 plays, 8:02. Drive Started: LSU 20 (KO into end zone). Drive Notes: Joseph Addai had runs of 15 and 12 yards while Shyrone Carey had three carries for 16 yards and Skyler Green caught a 12-yard pass on 3rd-and-8.
LSU 30, Miss State 7
LSU: Bowe 44-yard pass from Russell (Kick failed). Time: 4:33. Scoring Drive: 59 yards, 3 plays, 27 seconds. Drive Started: LSU 41 (3-yard PR by Green). Drive Notes: State bit on a pump fake that looked the bubble screens LSU had been running, allowing Bowe to get wide open.
LSU 37, Miss State 7
LSU: Joseph Addai 1-yard run (David kick). Time: 1:38. Scoring Drive: 21 yards, 3 plays, 58 seconds. Drive Started: MSU 21 (37-yard PR by Green). Drive Notes: Addai had a 19-yard run down the MSU 1.
FOURTH QUARTER
(No Scoring)
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
* MSU drove to the LSU 24 late in the first half but Omarr Conner’s pass into the end zone was intercepted by LSU’s Ronnie Prude.
Saturday, October 1
Katrina taught Entergy lessons
BY ERIN KELLY
AMERICAN PRESS
There was at least one positive thing that came out of Hurricane Katrina: When Rita hit, Entergy was well-manned and better prepared.
Although Katrina has required a significant amount of Entergy’s attention for obvious reasons, company spokesperson Sheila Matte said she could think of no negative effects that Katrina has had on energy resources in the days of Rita’s wake.
“There was a good effect, actually,” she said. “When Rita hit, we had people from across the nation in the area. That opened up a lot of opportunities for us.”
She said the company was also much better prepared for communication failures. After Katrina, as cell phone towers failed and telephone lines died, Entergy employees had a hard time getting in touch with one another.
“I was in Houma, and I was completely isolated,” she said. “No phone. No cell. No email.”
As Rita swirled its way in the gulf, Entergy developed a communication strategy to avoid many of those problems. During the hurricane, they relied on text messaging. They also pinpointed which cell towers were still operable so employees could receive phones within that limited service.
The company also anticipated widespread power outages and stocked up on necessary equipment and supplies.
“We had supplies coming in and were talking to manufacturers (before landfall),” she said.
Their biggest challenge has been downed poles, trees in the roadways and fallen lines.
According to Matte, there are 3,379 poles down from Jennings to the Texas border; 4,773 fallen wire spans; 1,168 inoperable transformers; and 3,009 blown transformer arms. Typical thunderstorms blow a transformer fuse or knock down a line, “but we’re talking about something significantly different,” Matte said.
So far, Entergy has stuck to its priority list for re-energizing the city. The hospitals and wastewater facilities come first, followed by emergency offices such as law enforcement. Residential power is the final leg of the process.
To prevent hindrance of Entergy’s goal to have 75 percent of the city up with about 12 days, residents should stay off the roads as much as possible to give work trucks an opportunity to work at full capacity.
Matte also stressed to residents that they should “absolutely not” plug their generators into the breakers of their home.
This can cause a backfield of electricity into the power lines; a surge, in other words, that could harm an Entergy employee or unsuspecting friend or neighbor working near a downed power line.
Gas leak clears section of South Elms Street in Welsh
Welsh Fire Department workers went door-to-door Saturday afternoon, asking residents of about five houses in one section of South Elms Street to leave their homes while workmen sealed a gas leak.
A gas main in the 300-500 block of South Elms Street was nicked as a line crew dug a hole for a replacement utility pole. The crew had been trying to restore power to some houses that were still without it, according to Fire Chief John Hall.
For a while, a wind cleared most of the fumes away, Hall said. But when the wind died down, the fumes became more concentrated, and accidental ignition became a concern. When it became clear that they would not be able to seal the leak, Centerpoint Energy workers called trucks from Lake Charles for assistance and cordoned off the area, Hall said.
"They squeezed the line shut and made the repairs," said Hall.
The leak occurred at 11:54 a.m. Saturday and was repaired by 2:35 p.m.
The Elms Street houses in that neighborhood that had been without power now have it, as do about 95 percent of the homes in Welsh, Hall said. Those that do not are isolated cases, generally where Hurricane Rita damaged a single home's lines.
Roger Demary
American Press Webmaster
Calcasieu OEP Info 10-1-05
Calcasieu OEP Fact Sheet 10-1
Updated 11:00am
Calcasieu Visit, the first phase of the parish re-entry plan continues today. It is a “look and Leave” period for residents to assess their property and gather needed belongings and return to temporary residences. (Refer to fact sheet issued Thursday).
· 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
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
Tarps for temporary repairs are available at all supply distribution sites (Civic Center, Old Wal Mart in Sulphur, Old Wal Mart in Moss Bluff, Vinton Elementary, Iowa High School and Phelps Correctional Center).
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 area residents that they will be spraying tonight both with aircraft and trucks. Even though the insecticide is safe, Terracina is asking residents to please go inside their houses if they see a truck approaching and remain inside for ten to fifteen minutes after they pass by. Large, low-flying military aircraft C-130s will begin spraying today. They will be in the western part of the Parish beginning at around 4pm and ending at dark.
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 City household garbage drop-off locations:
City Pavilion on Huntington Street
Old Winn Dixie Parking Lot on Beglis
Westlake: Managan Center
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 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/):
Iowa: Lawrence Toups Park
Singer: Singer Baptist Church
Starks: Starks Silver Dollar 109 River Rd.
Vinton: Vinton Elementary
Hackberry: Hackberry Community Center
Moss Bluff: New Wal-Mart
Westlake: Community Center
Lake Charles: Family Dollar on 171
Martin Luther King Center
LeBleu Chevron @ Hwy. 3059
Cameron Recreation Center
Primary Supply Distribution Sites:
Lake Charles
-Civic Center
Sulphur
-Climatrol Building (old Wal Mart) Cities Service Highway.
Moss Bluff
-Old Wal Mart
Secondary sites
DeQuincy
-Phelps Correctional Center
Vinton
-Vinton elementary
Iowa
-Iowa High School
Residents will be given MREs, water, and ice. We are working this with both military and FEMA sources.
Special emphasis on Food and Water distribution has been placed on Northern Calcasieu Parish, Southern Beauregard Parish and Starks rural areas. Those residents are encouraged to go to Phelps Correctional Center for commodities and are encouraged to car pool and send larger vehicles to get supplies for multiple families.
City officials are asking residents of Lake Charles to conserve their water usage. Water and sewer facilities are limited at this time. As previously mentioned, all water should be boiled and treated before consumption.
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 sunrise to 10am. The remainder of the day the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow marine traffic only.
Calcasieu Parish Employees Credit Union has established a number for members to call if they need cash from their accounts. Call 337-540-7766 if you need a check mailed to your temporary location.
