Sept. 3, 2020 - Parish officials gave the latest updates on Hurricane Laura recovery at Thursday's daily briefing.
· Residents in need of transportation to evacuate can call 911. Transportation is available from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, a 24-hour-a-day comfort station will be set up at the parish pick-up point, located at Chennault International Airport, 364 Mallard Cove St., Lake Charles. The comfort station will provide air conditioning, water and food for those individuals who arrive outside of operational hours. This operation will last seven days and can be continued based on need. For residents who need transportation to the comfort station, 911 will dispatch Parish Para-Transit to pick them up.
· Earlier today, all landlines in Vinton with the 589 prefix were not working due to a break in the fiber connection. Residents were asked to use cell phones to call 911. This issue has been resolved and the landlines are all working.
· 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
· 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
· 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//
· 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.
· 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/) and Beauregard Electric (www.becioutage.org) 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.
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