[00:00:02]
[JP Public Assisted Evacuation Exercise]
AS YOU KNOW, IT'S THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON AND THIS IS OUR ANNUAL TRAINING IN THE EVENT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET STATE SUPPORT FOR A PUBLIC ASSISTED EVACUATION, THIS REALLY REFERS TO AND WILL BE A SERVICE TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE AN EASY WAY TO GET OUT OF HERE.MAYBE THEY DON'T DRIVE, THEY CAN'T GET A RIDE FROM THEIR FAMILY OR FRIENDS.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THEIR LOCAL BUS STOP AND GET PICKED UP BY A BUS.
AND THIS IS ONE OF TWO AREAS WE'RE HERE AT, UM, THE VINEYARD CHURCH ON THE EAST BANK.
WE ALSO HAVE, WE'LL BE DOING IT AT THE RIO CENTER ON THE WEST BANK, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, KIND OF A PROCESSING AREA TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURE EVERYBODY'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
WE KNOW WHO WE HAVE BEFORE IT GETS ON A STATE BUS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS HERE TODAY TO HELP US.
IT'S VERY CHAOTIC WHEN A STORM STARTS BEARING DOWN ON US.
AND THE SMOOTHER WE CAN RUN OUR OPERATION, THE BETTER IT IS FOR EVERYONE.
THESE EXERCISES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
ALL THE STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS OPERATION, THIS EXERCISE IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THEY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE GET TO UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLES, AND THEREFORE THIS OPERATION WILL BE SEAMLESS.
SO WE CAN GET INDIVIDUALS IN PROCESS AND WE CAN GET THEM ON THE APPROPRIATE BUS OR THE AIRPORT, AND WE DON'T WANNA FORGET THE SPECIAL NEEDS.
WE'VE EXPANDED OUR EDE, OUR CENTRAL DUTY EMPLOYEE FORCE FOR, UH, EXERCISES LIKE THIS.
WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FUEL, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL GENERATORS, AND OF COURSE WE'VE BEEN TRAINING ALL YEAR ROUND FOR, FOR THESE EXERCISES AND FOR ANY POTENTIAL STORMS THAT COME OUR WAY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THIS EVACUATION PROCESS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION OUT OF THE PARISH.
IF THE PARISH PRESIDENT DECLARES A MANDATORY EVACUATION, IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS THAT PROHIBITS YOU FROM GETTING TO THAT BUS STOP, YOU CAN CALL 5 0 4 3 2 3 18 18 TO REGISTER FOR OUR MEDICAL NEEDS REGISTRY.
WE ADVISE THAT YOU REGISTER EARLY.
YOU ALSO WILL BRING ONE PIECE OF LUGGAGE.
YOU WILL BE PICKED UP FROM YOUR HOME AND BROUGHT TO THIS EVACUATION POINT OR THE ERIO CENTER ON THE WEST BANK TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH.
EVERYONE ONCE THEY LEAVE THESE SITES, UH, WILL BE SENT TO STATE RUN SHELTERS, UH, FOR THE DURATION OF THE STORM, AND UNTIL WE DETERMINE THAT IT'S SAFE TO RETURN TO JEFFERSON PARISH.