OneStorm Signs Off for Now- Post Disaster Resources Available

Hello all,

We realize that many of you are still searching for the most updated, post-disaster information from your parishes or counties, and we want to help.

With Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike, we’re operating more blogs to help the communities in the storms’ tracks.  We have to sign off on the Hurricane Gustav blog for now, but, we can direct you folks to the right places for your needed information:

• For Louisiana citizens, the state of Louisiana is routinely updating this site with press releases:  http://emergency.louisiana.gov/ You can find information on school closures, FEMA help, food stamps, POD’s, and other important post-disaster resources there.
• For Mississippi citizens, the state of Mississippi is routinely updating its Mississippi Emergency Management site with post-disaster information.
• Local media, such as radio and television outlets, typically provides updated local information.
• Visit your local emergency management/government web site for recovery effort and community information.  You can find a list of Louisiana emergency management sites here:  http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/linkpages/parishpa.htm
• For free hurricane preparedness resources, including articles on how to clean up after flooding, how to clean out refrigerators and freezers after a power outage, and how to cope with disaster, please visit us at OneStorm.
• If you still cannot find the information you need, you can e-mail me at Heidi@onestorm.org  and I will answer you as quickly as possible.

Thank you for the wonderful feedback we’ve received from the affected counties and parishes.  It has truly been a pleasure to bring information to the communities that need it most.

Sincerely,

Heidi and Chris

Louisiana: Numerous State Government Offices Remain Closed

BATON ROUGE (September 4, 2008) — Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced the closure of state government offices on Friday, September 5, 2008, due to Hurricane Gustav, in the following parishes:

Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, Terrebonne, Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. James, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany

All state employees who work in a state facility located in parishes not listed above should report to work, unless they are instructed by their supervisors to either not report to work or to vacate their work sites due to unforeseen electrical outages or damages.

All essential personnel, as well as employees that are required to work due to Hurricane Gustav, should report to work as directed by their supervisors.

Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish List of Open Businesses

Note:  Openings will be updated on the St. Tammany Parish Government site…

GROCERY STORES

Covington—
Acquistapace’s
125 E. 21st (7am-10pm)
Rouse’s
Claiborne Hill (7am-10pm)
50 Park Place (7am-5pm)
Wal-Mart
880 N. Hwy 190 (8am-4pm)

Folsom—
Main’s Market
82205 Hwy 25 7am-9pm

Lacombe—
Lishman’s
Hwy 190 (8am-9pm)

Madisonville—
Piggly Wiggly
207 Covington St. (7am-9pm)

Mandeville—
Rouse’s
4350 Hwy 22 (7am-8pm)
Saia’s
2225 Florida St. (8am-8pm)
Winn Dixie
619 N. Causeway (10am-6pm)
4100 Hwy 59 (beginning Friday 9/5, 8am-5pm)
Fresh Market
1880 N. Causeway (11am-6pm)

Pearl River—
Evans Drug Mart
Hwy 41
985-863-3100
Jubilee Grocery Store and Pharmacy
61461 Hwy. 1090
985-863-6000

Slidell—
Winn Dixie
851 Brownswitch (7am-7pm)
3030 Pontchartrain (8am-8pm)
2985 Gause (6am-10pm)
Lishman’s
39522 Hwy 190E (8am-9pm)
Sav A Lot
192 Gause W. (9am-7pm)
Wal-Mart
167 Northshore Blvd. (8am-5pm)
39142 Natchez (opening Monday 9/8)

PHARMACIES

Walgreens:
Covington—
1203 Business 190 (8am-5pm)
73626 Highway 25 (8am-5pm)
71041 Highway 21 (8am-7pm)
Mandeville—
4330 Highway 22 (8am-6pm)
2880 Highway 190 (7am-7pm)
2050 Florida Street (8am-6pm)
Slidell—
1260 Front St (open 24 hours)
4142 Pontchartrain Drive (8am-5pm)
100 N Military Rd (8am-5pm)

CVS:
Covington—
627 West 21st Avenue (7am-6pm)
Mandeville—
2915 Highway 190 (open 24 hours)
Slidell—
1305 Gause (8am-8pm)

BANKS:

Resource Bank (Drive-up only 10am-4pm)
(ALL St. Tammany branches)

Whitney National Bank (**Normal Hours)
(ALL St. Tammany branches are open w/ regular hours effective today)

RESTAURANTS:

Covington—
Ground Pati (11am-9pm)

Mandeville—
Petunia’s (11am-7pm)
Semolina’s (11am-9pm)
Times Grill (11amm-10pm)
Café 59 (9am-9pm)
Hugh’s Wine Cellar (10am-7pm)

Slidell—
The Wine Market
Baskin Robbins, Slidell
Copeland’s on Gause (2pm-10pm)
Carreta’s Grill on Lindbergh Dr.
Outback Steakhouse,  E. I-10 Svc Road
Eddie D’s Restaurant & Catering, Hwy 190 East
Times Grill (11am-10pm)

GAS STATIONS:
Covington—
Confirmed:
9736 Circle K
9735 Circle K
Estates Shell, I-12 and LA 21
Claiborne Hill 1001 N Hwy 190 Business
Tyler Shell 1001 S Tyler
Main Street 2701 Collins Blvd
Reported:
Shell, Hwy. 190 near Claiborne Hill
Race Trac, Hwy 190 & I-12
Exxon, I-12 & Hwy. 190
Gas & Go Deli, 20260 HWY 36

Mandeville—
Confirmed: Jemworks 3 500 N Causeway
59 Shell I 12 and Hwy 59
Reported:
Texaco on 59

Slidell—
Confirmed:
Murphy Oil
Sam’s
2301 Gause
1610 Gause
853 Gause
3296 Pontchartrain
1833 Old Spanish Trail
183 Northshore
750 Brownswitch
Reported:
Sam’s Club #6220, 181 Northshore Blvd
Speedy G 1, 1703 West Gause
Exxon, Old Spanish Trail
Exxon, Hwy. 11
Julilee Express, 1418 Gause Blvd

Source:  “News:  St. Tammany Open Businesses.”  St. Tammany Parish Government.  4 September 2008.

Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish Power Update

As of 10 am on September 4, 2008, Cleco reported that 80% of power in St. Tammany was restored.  If the weather holds, 90% will be restored by Friday evening.  Approximately 8000 residences within municipalities and 9000 within unincorporated areas are still without power.  The more rural areas which are more difficult to access will take more time, due to the difficulty of truck access.

Hurricane Gustav was the largest event in Cleco’s 75 year history.  95% of the grid in the state of Louisiana was lost.  This was due to the storm damage which occurred in north and west Louisiana, as well as the outages in southeast Louisisana.

Source:  “News:  Cleco Power Update.”  St. Tammany Parish Government.   4 September 2008.

Louisiana: List of School Reopenings

• ACADIA PARISH – Monday
• ALLEN PARISH – Not earlier than Friday
• ASCENSION PARISH – Not earlier than Monday
• ASSUMPTION PARISH – Not earlier than Monday, probably later
• CITY OF BAKER – Monday
• BEAUREGARD PARISH – Thursday
• BOGALUSA CITY – No decision
• CALCASIEU PARISH – Friday
• CALDWELL PARISH – Friday
• CAMERON PARISH – Not earlier than Monday
• CENTRAL SCHOOLS – No report
• CLAIBORNE PARISH – Thursday
• CONCORDIA PARISH – Not earlier than Friday
• EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH – Not earlier than Monday
• EAST FELICIANA PARISH – No report
• EVANGELINE PARISH – No report

Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish Business Reopenings

We are getting reports that restaurants and our official business partners: Wal Mart, Winn Dixie, Rouse’s, area banks, Home Depot, and Walgreens are opening on both sides of St. Tammany Parish.  Also, Coastal Waste will begin picking up household waste in the city of Covington tomorrow, September 4, 2008.  These pickups will be for household waste ONLY; no limbs or storm debris will be picked up.

Source:  “Business Reopenings.”  St. Tammany Parish Government.  3 September 2008.

Louisiana: Open Gas Stations

Open Gas Stations – 9:03 a.m. September 3, 2008

The following gas stations have been confirmed to be open:
Baton Rouge

6527 Sam’s 10444 North Mall Drive

8204 Sam’s 7685 Airline Hwy

5313 Circle K Nicholson Drive

2828 Circle K Plank & Shelly

Lafayette

1681 Circle K University

1691 Circle K Kaliste Saloom

1715 Mudd Ave

1729 Kaliste Saloom

4914 Circle K Pinhook

Covington

9736 Circle K

9735 Circle K

Slidell

Murphy Oil

Sam’s

Franklin

Shell

Source:  “Open Gas Stations.”  State of Louisiana.  3 Septmeber 2008, 9:03 AM.

Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish Water and Sewage System Status

• The St. Tammany Parish Dept. of Environmental Services advises residents in subdivisions who are connected to central water and community sewage systems to limit their water usage to only what is absolutely necessary until electric service is restored.  The lack of electricity prevents the sewage systems from working properly, and overburdening the system with water usage without electricity can result in some sewage backup.  Again, please limit water usage to a necessary minimum if your subdivision does not yet have electric power.  Thank you for your help with this situation.

Source:  “Water and Sewage Update.”  St. Tammany Parish Government.  2 September 2008.

Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish Boil Water Alerts

A Boil Order has been issued for the following Water Systems and associated subdivisions.

If you live in any of these areas drink bottled water only or water that has been boiled for at least ten minutes.  Do not drink or cook with any water that has not been disinfected.  If you have any doubts do not drink the water.

BEAU VILLAGE
CENTRAL PARK
FOREST GLENN
PONDEROSA RANCHES
VILLAGE GUTHRIE
PIRATES HARBOR
ST JOE ESTATES
TIMBERLANE SUBDIVISION

Please read on for more St. Tammany Parish boil water alerts…

Louisiana: Officials- Evacuees Should Not Return Before Roads Open, Power, Water, and Emergency Services Restored

Baton Rouge (September 2, 2008) – The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with its federal, state and local partners to remind those that fled Hurricane Gustav to remain in place until state and local officials announce it is safe to return.

“Don’t go home when there’s no power, there’s no water, the roads are blocked, and trees are down,” said FEMA Administrator David Paulison.

Evacuees attempting to return home early face road blocks, traffic delays, limited water and food, limited utilities, no hospitals and limited if any health care facilities, and serious health hazards.  Those crowding the roads seeking to return home are limiting the mobility of emergency responders, utility workers and other essential personnel who must travel to their area and complete their work before it is safe for the general public to return.

Instead, evacuees should remain where they are – with friends and family, at a hotel, or at a shelter.  Shelters provide safe havens for evacuees with food and medical care while officials in southern Louisiana work to prepare for their return.