We're continually updating this list of resources, contacts and information for those in central and southwest Louisiana who may need assistance in dealing with the impact of Hurricane Laura.
The National Guard will be distributing MREs, Bottled Water, Ice and Tarps at Welsh High School from 8am until 8pm or until supplies have been exhausted. Please enter from South Street and turn down Greyhound lane.
The National Guard will be distributing MREs, Bottled Water, Ice and Tarps at the Multi-purpose Building in Jennings from 9am until 4pm or until supplies have been exhausted.
The National Guard will be distributing MREs, Bottled Water, Ice and Tarps at the Topsy VFW daily 4am-10pm
Additional supplies are being distributed to agencies around the parish to distribute out to the public. These distributions will occur daily at the following locations as long as supplies are available.
The following will have MREs and Water and Tarps
FD1 Roanoke
FD2 Hathaway
FD6 Elton
FD7 Topsy
Fenton Community Center
Lake Arthur PD
The following places will have tarps:
Jennings PD
Jennings FD3
Jennings FD5
In response to Hurricane Laura’s devastating storms that recently hit Louisiana, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux [walk-ons.com] is opening a Relief Kitchen in Lake Charles to help its neighbors get through this hard time.
Located at 5313 Common St. in Lake Charles, Walk-On’s Relief Kitchen will serve one free meal to anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 2 and Friday, Sept. 4. Next week, the Lake Charles restaurant will open its Relief Kitchen again from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Thursday, Sept. 10. Walk-On’s anticipates it will be able to serve up to 500 meals per day. The Relief Kitchen will be located in the parking lot, making it easy for guests to drive-thru to pick up their free meal.
Individuals who have been affected should text DISASTER to 797979 to complete a simple form to report storm damage. Those individuals will then be added to the list of those needing assistance from CCA and its disaster response partners. This is only to be used for those who have sustained damages. For all other needs, residents should call 232-HELP or 211.
FEMA Individual Assistance has been turned on for Region 5, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Vernon and Jeff Davis Parishes. Any evacuee from those parishes who needs assistance should immediately contact FEMA either by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by going online to www.disasterassistance.gov.
Assistance from FEMA may help households affected by a disaster take care of necessary expenses and serious needs that cannot be met through insurance or other forms of assistance. These include, but are not limited to, housing assistance, rental assistance, lodging expense reimbursement, home repair and other needs assistance like medical, child care, and transportation support.
Disaster survivors may apply for the Individuals and Households Program or check their application status at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Disaster survivors may also access FEMA via smartphone by downloading the application from www.fema.gov or through their mobile provider’s application store.Disaster survivors may call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-3362 to register for assistance or check their application status. Disaster survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use a Text Telephone (TTY) may call 1-800-462-7585. If you have any concerns or further questions, please call 211 or 337-232-HELP for more information.
Here's some info on help in Jennings:
Following the devastation in the wake of hurricane Laura, several Jennings-area churches combined efforts to coordinate relief to the surrounding areas. A Hurricane Relief Supply Distribution Center has been set up at the Guinn Auction Company at 1072 Frontage Road in Jennings. Here, families in need can drive up for essentials including baby items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, water, non-perishable food items and other practical needs. The supply center is open from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Feed the Need Missions, a Texas-based relief organization hosted by Bethel, will arrive Wednesday September 2. The disaster relief food truck will provide hot lunches throughout the community through Friday. Locations will vary daily; please visit Bethel Church on Facebook each day for location information.
Samaritan’s Purse, also stationed at Bethel Church, is sending crews to homes where yard, roof and property cleanup are needed. Those who are in need of assistance may submit a work order request in person at Bethel Church.
Volunteers Needed: Opportunities to serve include Supplies Center Distribution Team: Daily | 9:30AM-5PM | Guinn Auction Company; Feed the Need Cooking and Meal Service: Wednesday - Friday | 10:30AM | Meeting Location Announced Daily on Bethel Facebook Page; Samaritans Purse Work Crews: Daily | Register to serve at oneteamla.org. Visit oneteamla.org and complete the sign up form to volunteer time and labor.
Supplies Needed: Those willing may contribute to the supply center by donating items or giving financially. To donate monetarily, visit bethelfamily.org/give and select Bethel Cares-Hurricane Relief in the drop down menu. (Donations will serve the entire community and will not be limited to church membership.) Requested items for donation include the following, and may be dropped off daily from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m.:
Water; Non-perishable food; Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toilet paper, deodorant etc); Cleaning supplies(toilet paper, Clorox wipes etc); Baby items; Mosquito spray; Work gloves; Masks; Tarps; Nails for tarps; Animal food and supplies; Gas cans with gas; Rakes; Trash bags; Trash cans
Here's the latest information from Calcasieu Parish Government about Hurricane Laura recovery:
- The National Guard will be distributing food, water, ice and tarps to residents from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31 at the Lake Charles Civic Center and at McMurry Park, 300 Hazel St., Sulphur. One tarp per vehicle. The National Guard is working with the parish to make these commodities available in other parts of the parish. An announcement on new locations is expected soon.
- The Red Cross has disaster supply and food sites at the two National Guard supply sites at McMurry Park, 300 S Hazel St., Sulphur, and the Lake Charles Civic Center. Additionally, the Red Cross also has a site at 2000 Moeling St., Lake Charles. They will provide items such as cots, mops, brooms, buckets, PPE, snacks and bottled water. Partnering with the Southern Baptists, Red Cross will also be providing two meals daily at these sites. For information, visit calcasieuparish.gov.
- There will be free COVID-19 testing, as well as Tetanus and Hepatitis-A shots starting Wednesday, September 2, at the Gulfway Shopping Center, 115 West McNeese St. COVID-19 testing will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tetanus and Hepatitis-A shots will be from 9 a.m. to 3p.m.
- The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Animal Services and Adoption Center announced that only authorized personnel are allowed to provide animal rescue and sheltering for animals from Calcasieu Parish. Under no circumstances should animals be transported out of the parish or an emergency pet shelter be established without authorization from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. If you see an animal in distress, contact Animal Services at 337-853-9573.
- Water service has been restored for some residents in the parish. City of Lake Charles water service is still extremely limited. All residents in Calcasieu Parish - including within municipalities - who are experiencing water outages are being urged to turn off their water at the roadside water valves if they are able to safely do so. Please contact your water system provider should you suspect a leak or other damage to your water system. Once water is restored, it is advised that residents adhere to a boil advisory until it is safe for those advisories to be lifted.
- To register for FEMA federal disaster assistance, call 1-800-621-3362 or register online at disasterassistance.gov. If you have insurance, contact your adjuster and begin the insurance process.
- Road conditions are dangerous throughout the parish. Many roads are still impassable. Power lines are dangling; most traffic lights are on the ground – drive slowly and carefully.
- Officials are urging residents to practice generator safety. The parish has reported five deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning this week. Make sure generators are installed correctly and never operate them in enclosed spaces.
- Residents who wish to return to Calcasieu Parish will not be stopped from doing so, with the understanding that services are extremely limited, including water, power, gasoline, groceries and hospitals. Any citizens wishing to return are strongly encouraged to secure their homes then return to evacuation. Citizens who stay must be self-sufficient.
- Residents who remain in the parish must adhere to the 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. Essential employees should have their work IDs with them at all times. Deputies are stopping people out after curfew.
- Most traffic signals are not working. When driving, treat every intersection as a four-way stop.
- The parish, contractors and the National Guard have made much progress with debris clearance – they are finishing the “push phase” – pushing debris to the side of the road. The next phase of removal will begin in the next day or two.
- Communications in the parish continues to be inconsistent. There are significant landline and cell phone system problems parish wide. Many agencies are experiencing radio problems.
- Officials are asking residents to be practical with cell phone use. Text whenever possible and use short phone calls when necessary.
- Officials with Entergy ( https://www.entergy.com/view-outages/ [entergy.com] ) and Beauregard Electric ( www.becioutage.org [becioutage.org]) say damage is extensive and widespread and that residents should expect to be out of electricity for several weeks.
- Call United Way’s 211 to connect with resources for help.
- Nearly all of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s buildings sustained damage. As a result, all parish offices will be closed until further notice.
- Calcasieu Parish schools will be closed until further notice. For information, visit https://www.cpsb.org/ [cpsb.org
Here's some more information on the Red Cross operations:
August 30, 2020 The American Red Cross of Louisiana and its partners will be establishing several fixed distribution sites today, Sunday August 30, in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes. At these sites residents will be able to pick up emergency supplies such as clean-up kits, tarps, flashlights, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, hand sanitizer and trash bags.
Calcasieu parish will have two fixed sites distributing the above supplies from 12:00PM – 3:00PM:
- Site #1: Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601
- Site #2: McMurry Park, 300 South Hazel Street Sulphur, LA 70663
Beauregard Parish will have two fixed sites distributing the above supplies from 12:00PM – 3:00PM:
- Site #1: Park Terrace Shopping Center, 1011 N Pine Street, Deridder, LA 70634
- Site #2: South Beauregard Elementary, 12380 Highway 171, Longville, LA 70652
Additional distribution sites will be established in the coming days. You can keep up via Twitter and Facebook pages at ARCLouisiana for updated information as it becomes available.
Here are some updates from KPLC:
· Residents in Calcasieu Parish experiencing water outages are urged to turn off their water at the roadside water valves if they are able to safely do so.
· Most of SWLA remains under a boil advisory.
All of SWLA is under a burn ban.
· Drive slowly and carefully. Road conditions are dangerous. Power lines are dangling; most traffic lights are on the ground – drive slowly and carefully.
· It’s crucial to practice generator safety. Calcasieu has reported five deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning this week. Make sure generators are hooked up correctly and never operate them in enclosed spaces.
MEALS
· Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, serving lunch daily from 11 – 1 and dinner from 4 – 6 at Life United Church, 1800 East College St.
· Meals being given out at Walmart on Hwy. 14 in Lake Charles.
· The Salvation Army is operating a feeding station in the parking lot of Jason’s Deli on Ryan Street.
· Red Cross operating feeding and supply sites. Meals available at lunch time and 6 p.m. Supplies available from noon to 3 p.m.: clean-up kits, tarps, flashlights, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, hand sanitizer and trash bags.
- Civic Center
- McMurry Park
- Park Terrace Shopping Center in DeRidder
- South Beauregard Elementary
- Allen August Multipurpose Center and Annex (starting Monday)
· Operation BBQ Relief www.obr.org is providing hot BBQ meals to organizations, churches, and goups. All meals orders need to be in increments of 50 and must be placed by 5 p.m. the previous day. Call 386-222-2756.
· Hot meals at noon at The Church in Rosepine.
· Hot meal served tomorrow at Vinton Middle School from 12 pm until they run out of meals.
· Moss Bluff Pentecostal Church on 999 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy. will be making 1,500 free hot meals today. They will also have water, tarps, and other supplies.
FOOD AND OTHER
· The Grand Lake Firemen’s Center and Hackberry Community Center have MREs, bottled water, and ice available.
· In Beauregard, food, water, ice and tarps to be distributed starting at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31 at the following locations:
- City of DeRidder fire training site, corner of Planer Mill Road/Bilbo Street
- Merryville High School, 7061 La. 110, Merryville
- East Beauregard High School, 5364 La. 113, DeRidder
- South Beauregard High School,151 Longville Church Road, Longville
- Singer High School, 153 La. 110, Singer
· Water, cleaning supplies and other items (which were donated) at the Johnson Bayou fire station starting Monday, Aug. 31, from 9 am to 6 pm.
· Supply distribution at the Lake Arthur Police Department (water, ice, tarps and MRE’s) resumes at 1 p.m. Monday, August 31. Drive to the south end of Arthur Avenue and turn on the side of the police department. Please share this information with those who may not have social media.
· Open Door Baptist on 2154 Hwy 171 in DeRidder will be handing out supplies Monday through Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. They will have pet food, toiletries, non-perishable food, water, tarps, and female products.
HEALTH
· SWLA Center for Health Services on 2000 Opelousas Street has porta-potties, medical trailers, and showers coming in. Medical trailers have already arrived.
· Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Emergency Department is continuing to treat patients. However, services are limited at this time with only essential personnel on-site.
PHARMACIES
Walgreens -
Lake Charles, 4097 Ryan Street from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (337-474-0434)
Lake Charles, 2755 Country Club Rd. from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (337-477-7564)
Moss Bluff, 120 N. Highway 171 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Their pharmacy will not be open until noon. (337-855-4848)
TRASH
· The Sweet Lake dump will be open from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today, and it will be open tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Household items only. No limbs or debris.
· Lake Arthur trash can pickup will resumes Monday on its regular schedule.
· Garbage routes will start up again in the City of DeRidder on Monday, starting with workers’ regular routes in Green Acres, and they will go down all the city streets that they can.
FUEL STATIONS
· The Neighborhood Walmart on Ryan Street
· 7080 Gulf Hwy. Sunday 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (cash only)
· 1901 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy. Sunday 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (cash only)
· 2401 Westwood Sunday 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (cash only)
· 108 - Exxon and Chevron near Lowe’s (all grades not available)
· EZ Mart, corner of Hwy. 90 and 108 (all grades not available)
· Walmart Neighborhood Market in Moss Bluff open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
BANKING
Jeff Davis Bank-
Drive-through service available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Kirby St., Big Lake Rd., Morganfield, Moss Bluff, Welsh and Kinder.
24-Hour ATM service is available at the following Lake Charles area branch locations: Big Lake Rd., Hwy 14, Morganfield, Carlyss, Iowa, Moss Bluff, Sulphur, Welsh. and Westlake.
STORES
· Kroger on Country Club is open.
· Slagle Mall in Vernon opening at 5 a.m. with a hot meal.
· Stine open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Lake Charles and Sulphur.
· Lowe’s in Sulphur is open.
· Walgreens on the corner of Sale and Ryan in Lake Charles is open.
· Family Tire Care in Lake Charles has reopened.
· Misse’s Grocery is open in Sulphur from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· Rouses in Sulphur is selling water, ice, and bread in a drive-thru. Cash only right now.
· Boudreaux’s New Drug Store reopening Monday.
· Walmart Neighborhood Markets in Lake Charles and Moss Bluff are open.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Download our free app for Apple,Android, Roku and Amazon devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
