[00:00:03]
HI, THIS IS JEFFERSON PARISH PRESIDENT CYNTHIA LEE SHANG.
I'M HERE AT THE TERRYTOWN PLAYGROUND ON SOMETHING THAT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE ARE IN HURRICANE SEASON.
WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS WE'RE CALLING IT A SHELTER EXERCISE.
WHEN HURRICANE IDA HAPPENED, WE FOUND OURSELVES HAVING TO SHELTER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
THAT'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN, THAT'S PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE WOUNDS, THAT'S PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS.
SO IMMEDIATELY WE WERE IN THE BUSINESS OF CARING FOR THEM.
AND SO TODAY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SORT OF A RUN THROUGH.
WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE ACTORS AND PEOPLE HERE, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY PROCESSING THEM THROUGH.
IT'S A MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT HERE GOING ON, BUT OUR BELIEF IS THE MORE WE CAN PRACTICE AND THE MORE WE CAN TRAIN, THE BETTER ABLE WE'LL BE ABLE TO RESPOND IF NEED BE.
TODAY WE'RE HERE AT TERRYTOWN PLAYGROUND TO PRACTICE SHELTER OPERATIONS FOR A DISASTER.
SO WE HAVE ACTORS WHO ARE PRETENDING TO BE INDIVIDUALS NEEDING SHELTER, AND THEY HAVE SOME INSTRUCTIONS ON WHO THEY ARE AS A PERSON.
THEY COME IN, THEN WE GO THROUGH A MEDICAL TRIAGE.
PEOPLE GET REGISTERED, THEY GET ASSIGNED A COTT, AND THEN A SHELTER WORKER WOULD COMPLETE AN INTAKE FORM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MEET YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS, YOUR DIETARY NEEDS, THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THAT WE START TO COLLECT THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO GET YOU INTO THE NEXT STEP OF HOUSING.
WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS NOT JUST PHYSICALLY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, BUT WE'RE DEVELOPING BONDS AND CONTACTS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS.
KNOWING EVERYONE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL MAKES EVERYONE A BETTER STAKEHOLDER TOWARD THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
WE'VE RECOGNIZED THAT WE HAVE TO DO MUCH BETTER WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION.
THE MORE WE CAN KIND OF DO THESE DRY RUNS THROUGH EVERY KIND OF SCENARIO WHERE IT'S FOOD DELIVERY SHELTERING.
UM, WE'VE INVESTED IN SHOWERS AND, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR OURSELVES WHEN WE'RE IN THIS CRISIS SITUATION, THE BETTER WE ARE ABLE TO PREPARE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT NOBODY WANTS.
BUT WE, WE WANNA BE VERY PREPARED IN JEFFERSON PARISH TO RESPOND TO OUR NEEDIEST CITIZENS AT THE TIME.
WE KNOW THAT A SHELTER IS NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE PLACE TO STAY.
WE WANT OUR RESIDENTS TO REALLY HAVE OTHER ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO BE ABLE TO SHELTER WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, GET A HOTEL ROOM.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR EVERYONE.
AND SO TODAY, JEFFERSON PARISH IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME BASIC ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE IN A DISASTER, UM, SO THAT THEY HAVE SOME BASIC HOUSING, FOOD, AND MEDICAL CARE THAT THEY NEED.