Here's the latest on how to access resources and assistance in southwest Louisiana.
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.
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
New info out of Lake Charles:
In response to Hurricane Laura’s devastating storms that recently hit Louisiana, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 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.
Kroger has announced that they are providing laundry facilities to customers impacted by Hurricane Laura, as well as shower facilities for First Responders. Customers at the Sulphur and Lake Charles Kroger locations are invited to use the laundry trailers that contain a line of washing machines and dryers. A water truck nearby pumps gallons of water into the washers, helping those in the area without water to wash clothing and blankets.
Kroger is also supporting the First Responders in the area helping with disaster relief efforts by providing a row of 10 showers at both the Sulphur and Lake Charles Kroger locations. All first responders are invited to use the showers, provided specially for them and store associates.
Both laundry and shower facilities can be found at:
- Kroger, 2010 Country Club Road, Lake Charles
- Kroger, 1421 Beglis, Sulphur
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 from Calcasieu Parish officials, from the Sept. 3 briefing:
- Waste Management began running its regular residential Calcasieu Parish pickup routes in unincorporated areas on Thursday. Pickup will continue on Friday in the Starks and Vinton areas. Residents are asked to make sure containers are visible along roadways, but not in the road. Residents who lost trash containers in the storm may call Waste Management to get a replacement at 337-436-7229.
- Because Waste Management is beginning regular residential routes, the only food waste sites in operation on Friday will be at Ward 1 Yard, 461 Parish Road, Moss Bluff and Ward 2 Yard, 7085 Highway 14 East in Hayes. Collections times are 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. No solid waste, storm related debris, household appliances or construction debris will be accepted. Food waste must be double bagged and tied.
- For City of Lake Charles locations for temporary collection sites for household food waste, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com [cityoflakecharles.com]
- Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control will be spraying using its plane and several trucks. They ask residents to wear repellent at all times.
- Calcasieu Parish is still under a mandatory evacuation order. Some insurance companies are requiring policy holders to show them a copy to accept claims. To see the document, visit the news section at www.calcasieuparish.gov [calcasieuparish.gov]
- The US Army Corps of Engineers is the resource for free tarps through Operation Blue Roof. Calcasieu residents are eligible. To apply, call 1-888-ROOF-BLU or visit: www.usace.army.mil/blueroof// [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]
- The National Guard will be distributing food, water, ice and tarps to residents from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. at the following locations: Vinton Elementary School, Westwood Elementary School in Westlake, Iowa Middle School, Walmart Neighborhood Market in Moss Bluff, DeQuincy Railroad Museum, Lake Charles Civic Center, Washington Marion High School in Lake Charles, McMurry Park (300 Hazel St.) in Sulphur.
- The Red Cross has disaster supply and food sites at the following locations: McMurry Park, 300 S Hazel St., Sulphur; Huber Park, 2401 Fourth Ave., Lake Charles (replaces the Civic Center); 2000 Moeling St., Lake Charles; Market Basket on Third Avenue in Lake Charles and 900 Horridge St. in Vinton. 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 – at noon and 5 p.m. For information, visit @ARCLouisiana on Twitter or at Facebook.com/ARCLouisiana.
- There will be free COVID-19 testing, as well as Tetanus and Hepatitis-A shots 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. Another COVID-19 testing site is now open at All-Star Buick on Napoleon Street in Sulphur. Testing will be from 8 a.m. .- 6 p.m.
- Residents in need of transportation to evacuate may call 911. Transportation is available from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. only.
- The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has issued a burn ban because of dangerous downed trees and limbs, dry weather conditions and damaged water systems. The ban prohibits all outdoor private burning of any kind but doesn’t include prescribed burns. To report violations, call 225-925-4297.
- The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Animal Services and Adoption Center said officers and authorized rescue groups have been performing animal rescues throughout the parish for the past few days. A reminder that no animals are allowed to be transported out of the parish and no emergency pet shelters should 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 many residents in the parish. Immediately after the storm, 128,000 parish households were without water. Now many of those households have been restored. City of Lake Charles water service is also largely restored. 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. Also, residents are being asked to conserved water while issues are being repaired.
- FEMA has opened a drive-thru document drop-off site for residents at 3310 Broad St. It will be open seven days a week, 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.
- 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. If you are denied, a reason is provided. Continue contacting FEMA and your insurance provider.
- Road conditions are improving, but hazards are still present in many locations. Officials say the large amount of traffic on the roads is hampering recovery efforts.
- Most traffic signals are not working. When driving, treat every intersection as a four-way stop. Public Works has started the process of reinstalling road signs.
- 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.
- Residents who wish to return to Calcasieu Parish will not be stopped from doing so, with the understanding that services are limited. Residents wishing to return are strongly encouraged to secure their homes then return to evacuation. Residents who stay must be self-sufficient.
- Officials are urging residents to practice generator safety. The parish has now reported nine deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning in the past week. Make sure generators are installed correctly and never operate them in enclosed spaces.
- A “Keep Calm Line” has been established to connect residents to resources when dealing with their stress and mental health: 1-866-310-7977.
- The parish, contractors and the National Guard have made considerable progress with debris clearance – 95 percent of parish and city roads are complete. Workers have started to pick up vegetation. If you are aware of a road that still needs clearing, call Calcasieu Parish Public Works at 337-721-3700.
- Officials with Entergy ( https://www.entergy.com/view-outages/ [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com] ) and Beauregard Electric ( www.becioutage.org [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]) say damage is extensive and widespread and that residents should expect to be out of electricity for several weeks. Entergy finished its assessments and found there were 6,500 damaged poles, 300 miles of downed wires and 2,890 damaged transformers.
- Call United Way’s 211 to connect with resources for help, including a list of open pharmacies, Urgent Care facilities and more.
- All Calcasieu Parish Police Jury offices will be closed until further notice.
There will be no briefing on Friday, Sept. 4. The next briefing will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5.
RED CROSS
September 3, 2020 – The Red Cross has released updated information on locations where emergency supplies and feeding are being provided for impacted communities. These locations are ever changing, so we encourage everyone to visit our Facebook page each day for the most up to date listing of information, at ARCLouisiana.
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.
Allen Parish (Partner sites) –
NO EMERGENCY SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION THURSDAY AT THESE SITES
Lunch (12:00PM)
Dinner (5:30PM)
Site #1: 206 E Main St Elizabeth, LA
Site #2: 115 N 10th Street Oakdale, LA
Site #3: 215 W 5th Ave Oberlin, LA
Site #4: 313 Ford Street , Reeves, LA
Site #5: 808 2nd Ave., Kinder, LA
Site #6: 362 Raymond Church Hwy., Elton, LA
Calcasieu Parish -
Emergency Supplies (12:00PM - 3:00PM*)
Site #1: 4747 Evangeline Hwy, Starks, LA 70661
Site #2: 704 Johnson St., Westlake, LA
NO EMERGENCY SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION TODAY AT THESE SITES
Lunch (12:00PM)
Dinner (5:00PM)
Site # 1: 2000 Moeling, Lake Charles, LA
Site # 2: 300 Hazel, Sulphur, LA
Site # 3: 2401 4th Ave., Lake Charles, LA
Site # 4: 935 3rd Ave., Lake Charles, LA
Site # 5: 203 S. Grand Ave., DeQuincy, LA (5:30 Dinner)
Site # 6: 900 Horridge Street, Vinton, LA (5:30 Dinner)
Beauregard Parish -
Emergency Supplies (12:00PM - 3:00PM*)
Lunch (12:00PM)
Dinner (5:30PM/6:00PM)
Site # 1: 1011 N Pine Street, Deridder, LA
NO EMERGENCY SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION TODAY AT THESE SITES
Lunch (12:00PM)
Dinner (5:30PM/6:00PM)
Site # 1: 7061 LA-110, Merryville, LA
Site # 2: 5364 LA-113, Deridder, LA
Site # 3: 9080 Hwy 27, Singer, LA
Site # 4: 2380 Hwy 171, Longville, LA
Evangeline Parish -
NO EMERGENCY SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION TODAY AT THESE SITES
Lunch (12:00PM)
Dinner (5:30PM/6:00PM)
Site #1: 4084 Leman Rd., Oakdale, LA
Jefferson Davis Parish -
Emergency Supplies (12:00PM - 3:00PM*)
Lunch (12:00PM)
Dinner (5:30PM/6:00PM)
Site # 1: 112 S. Adams Street, Welsh, LA
NO EMERGENCY SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION TODAY AT THESE SITES
Lunch (12:00PM)
Dinner (5:30PM/6:00PM)
Site # 1: 409 Algonia Ave., Lacassine, LA
*Or Until available supply has been exhausted.
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.
Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys will be hosting a Hurricane Laura relief station at the office in Lake Charles on Thursday. There will be essentials such as paper towels, toilet paper, water, diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies, and more offered to bring some relief to our fellow Louisianans. If you were affected by Hurricane Laura and need essential items, please visit the relief station. To ensure that everyone can receive supplies, the office will be limiting three items per person. The office is encouraging everyone to follow safety measures with face masks and social distancing. Here are the details:
Hurricane Laura Relief Station
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2020
Time: 12:00pm-3pm (while supplies last)
Location: Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys- Lake Charles
Address: 3042 Ryan St., LC, LA 70601
Matthew 25: Ministries is responding to Hurricane Laura. Their Disaster Response Team is on the way to Lake Charles with two Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Units, as well as customized panel and pickup trucks loaded with supplies such as P&G personal care kits, household and cleaning products, Cintas first aid and safety kits and supplies, and additional items such as Pampers diapers, Charmin toilet paper, Tide Pods, generators, fans and tarps.
On Tuesday, September 1, Matthew 25’s Disaster Response Team will be distributing supplies in the Lake Charles area. Also starting September 1, the Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Laundry units will be at the Walmart Supercenter 3451 Nelson Rd, Lake Charles, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., or until 200 loads are collected. There is a limit of 2 loads of laundry per household. All washable items, with the exception of heavy bedding, will be accepted. Masks and social distancing are required for all beneficiaries at Tide Loads of Hope activation sites.
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.
