[00:00:01]
YOU FOR BEING WITH US HERE THIS EVENING.[Tropical Storm Francine Press Conference on September 9, 2024. ]
UM, I'M CYNTHIA LEE SHANG PARISH PRESIDENT OF JEFFERSON PARISH.WE ARE HERE AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IN GRETNA TO TALK ABOUT PREPARATIONS FOR TROPICAL STORM FRANCINE.
SO I WANNA THANK SHARI IN OUR THEME WITH THE DEAF ACTION CENTER FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY.
I DO HAVE ALSO SHERIFF JOSEPH LIP PINTO, UM, COUNCIL CHAIRMAN SCOTT WALKER, WHO'S GONNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS DR.
UH, JAMES GRAY AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER PATRICK JENKINS.
UM, COUNCILMAN AT LARGE DIVISION A JENNIFER VAN RANKIN IS HERE.
UM, AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN FROM DISTRICT THREE.
BYRON LEE AND COUNCILMAN FROM DISTRICT FIVE HANS BURG.
AND THANK YOU SENATOR PAT CONNICK FOR ALSO BEING HERE.
AND I'M GONNA END COUNCILWOMAN ON TIME, JUST ON TIME WITH A GREAT ENTRANCE.
UM, COUNCILMAN ARE BOHANNAN FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, AND THEN I HAVE MANY MORE SPEAKERS THAT THEY'LL INTRODUCE.
I'LL INTRODUCE, UM, THEM BEFORE THEY COME UP.
I WILL SIGN A DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY TODAY IN PREPARATION FOR THIS, UM, FRANCINE THAT'S COMING UP.
WE WILL ALSO BE CALLING FOR A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR ALL AREAS OUTSIDE THE LEVEE PROTECTION SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRAND DIAL, LA FEE, ARIA, CROWN POINT, LOWER LAFITTE, UM, DUE TO THE LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE THAT WE'RE EXPECTING, UM, WITH THIS STORM EVENT, IF HERE AT THE EOC WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS EOC PARTIALLY ACTIVATED TONIGHT, AND BY TOMORROW, WE WILL HAVE A FULL ACTIVATION OF OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, UH, CENTER AS WELL AS THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND, AND UNTIL NECESSARY.
SO WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 50 TRAILERS THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON PARISH THAT WERE A RESULT OF IDA.
UM, THOSE TRAILERS AND THOSE MOBILE HOMES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE KIND OF WINDS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING FOR THIS STORM.
SO WE'RE GONNA OPEN A PRE-STORM SHELTER THAT'S GONNA BE AVAILABLE AT TERRYTOWN PLAYGROUND 6 41 HERITAGE AVENUE IN TARRYTOWN.
AND THAT WILL BE OPEN PRE-STORM.
FOR ANYBODY WHO'S CURRENTLY LIVING IN A MOBILE HOME OR A TRAILER.
UM, RESIDENTS NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN FOOD AND WATER.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, IT'S GONNA BE BASIC.
IT'S GONNA BE A STURDY SHELTER FOR YOU TO RIDE OUT THE STORM AND WE'LL HAVE COTS, BUT YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND SHELTER.
UM, WE WANNA ADVISE EVERYBODY TO STAY OFF THE ROADS.
I LISTENED TO A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BRIEFING TODAY.
REALLY, EVERYBODY SHOULD JUST BE IN PLACE BY TUESDAY NIGHT.
LIKE, JUST STAY HOME, SHELTER IN PLACE TUESDAY NIGHT.
REMEMBER, UM, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
SO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM ONLY WORKS IF IT'S WORKING AS IT SHOULD.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCH BASINS.
SO DO YOUR NEIGHBORS A FAVOR AND SOMEBODY BE THE LEADER ON YOUR STREET AND GO CLEAR OUT THOSE CATCH BASINS.
DO NOT PUSH THE STUFF DOWN INTO THIS DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
TAKE IT OUT AND REMOVE IT, AND IT GOES IN THE GARBAGE.
WE GO THROUGH THIS ALL THE TIME.
GETTING YOUR FAMILY PLAN IN PLACE.
YOU SHOULD BE GETTING YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED, HAVING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, WATER, YOUR FLASHLIGHTS, YOUR BATTERIES, ALL THOSE THINGS.
YOU WANNA GO INTO THE STORM WITH ALL YOUR DEVICES CHARGED.
UM, REMOVE YOUR OUTDOOR FURNITURE OR ANYTHING THAT COULD BE USED AS THE, THE STORM COULD USE IT AS A PROJECTILE.
AND SPECIFICALLY IN JEFFERSON PARISH, WE HAVE OPEN CANALS THAT I'M ALWAYS SO VERY WORRIED ABOUT BECAUSE I PERSONALLY KNOW WHAT LITTLE WATER IT TAKES FOR YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR CAR.
IT'S NOT THAT MUCH WATER AND YOUR CAR IS OFF THE GROUND AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
AND THAT NEXT TO A A OVERFILLED OPEN CANAL IS A FATAL SITUATION.
I'M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT OUR OPEN CANALS.
SO IF WE HAVE FLOODING, PUT IT IN YOUR HEAD.
NOW, IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE DRIVING IN FLOODED ROADS, ESPECIALLY IN JEFFERSON PARISH WITH OUR OPEN CANALS.
AND WE DO NOT WANT, WE WANNA BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND WE DO NOT WANNA DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED STREETS AND PUSH WATER INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES WHEN THE STORM DIDN'T PUSH IT INTO THEIR HOMES.
BUT WE DID BECAUSE WE WENT TOO FAST DOWN THE STREET.
SO WE HAVE TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS ABOUT THAT.
UM, WE, WE HAVE THE RISK THAT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ALL DAY LONG, HIGH WINDS, RAIN POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING AND POWER OUTAGES.
HE'LL BE HERE TO DISCUSS THE PREPARATIONS, BUT WE KNOW NOT ONLY IS IT A STORM EVENT FOR US, BUT WE HAVE WATER SYSTEM, SEWER SYSTEM, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF NO ELECTRICITY.
OKAY? REMEMBER THE GROUND IS VERY SATURATED FROM LAST WEEK'S, UM, THE HEAVY RAIN EVENTS THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK, WHICH MAY MEAN THAT MORE TREES MIGHT FALL QUICKER.
POWER LINES MIGHT, YOU KNOW, UM, GET OUT OF THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION.
BUT WE ARE GOING INTO THE STORM WITH SATURATED GROUNDS, OKAY? FOR PARISH OPERATIONS.
I WANNA SAY THAT TOMORROW WILL BE OPEN FOR, UH, GOVERNMENT OFFICES ARE GONNA BE OPEN TOMORROW, HOWEVER, SO OUR DEPARTMENTS CAN FOCUS ON STORM PREP.
WE'RE CANCELING ALL THE PROGRAMMING.
SO THE EMPLOYEES ARE GONNA BE THERE, THE BUILDINGS ARE GONNA BE OPEN, BUT I DON'T WANT OUR EMPLOYEES ALSO HAVING TO DO A REGULAR DAY IN THE YOGA CLASS, OR I THINK THERE WAS A COCKTAIL EVENT AT A LIBRARY.
ALL OF THOSE EXTRA PROGRAMMING IS GOING TO, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE IT.
[00:05:01]
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW, OKAY? UM, AND THE, AND THE BUILDINGS WILL BE OPEN.HOWEVER, WEDNESDAY JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT WILL BE CLOSED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING THE STORM TO OUR CITIZENS JEFFERSON PARISH OFFICES.
AND THE REGULAR STUFF THAT WE DO EVERY DAY IS GONNA BE CLOSED.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SMALL TEAM FROM OUR ANIMAL WELFARE, UM, ANIMAL, UH, THE J PAWS TEAM.
THE ANIMAL SHELTER, UH, WILL BE STAYING IN TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR ANIMALS.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE HOUSED THERE.
THE SHELTER'S GONNA BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY, AND WE'LL ONLY BE ADDRESSING, ADDRESSING THE EMERGENCIES.
ALRIGHT? THERE'LL BE NO GARBAGE COLLECTION ON WEDNESDAY, AND THE LANDFILL'S ALSO GONNA BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY.
UM, SO AFTER YOUR REGULAR GARBAGE PICKUP, REMEMBER WE WANT YOU TO QUICKLY PUT, SECURE THOSE GARBAGE BINS.
DON'T LEAVE THEM OUT ON THE STREET, PICK THEM UP AND, UH, PUT THEM NEXT TO YOUR HIGH SQUARE, IT BELONGS.
AND THEN TRANSIT'S GONNA OPERATE ON A NORMAL SCHEDULE UNTIL THE WINDS REACHES SUSTAINED 35 MILES PER HOUR OR GREATER.
AND THAT TIME, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO STOP SERVICE ON ELEVATED ROADS AND BRIDGES.
SO AS USUAL, TRANSIT TRIES TO STAY OUT AS LONG AS THEY CAN BY THEIR RULES.
AND, UH, THEN THEY HAVE TO COME IN.
SO OUR PHONE NUMBER AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE IT, IS 5 0 4 3 4 9 54 60, A TRUE LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY CALL 9 1 1.
BUT IF SOMETHING'S BLOCKING A ROAD OR A TREE'S DOWN, YOU WANNA LET US KNOW.
YOU WANNA MAKE SURE WE KNOW ABOUT THAT.
GIVE US A CALL AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, 5 0 4 3 4 9 54 60.
AND REMEMBER, NOW IS THE TIME IF YOU HAVEN'T JOINED OUR TEXT.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE ARE GONNA SEND OUT IMPORTANT MESSAGES DUE TO TEXT.
JP ALERT TO 8 8 8 7 7 7 OR FOR OUR SPANISH SPEAKING CITIZENS, JP NO TCS TO 8 8 8 7 7 7.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS WITH A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
SO FIRST UP, I'LL CALL UP OUR SHERIFF OF JEFFERSON PARISH, JOSEPH LATO, SHERIFF.
UH, WE HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING WITH OUR STAFF.
UH, WE ARE READY AS ALWAYS TO ASSIST.
UH, 9 1 1 IS UP AND OPERATIONAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THROUGHOUT THE STORM AND JEFFERSON PARISH MEMBER EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY.
IF YOU NEED POLICE, FIRE, OR MEDICAL, UH, WE ASK ANYBODY TO CALL.
UH, WE'LL BE UP AND, UH, RUNNING THE ENTIRE TIME.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT IS UP AND OPERATIONAL, UH, WHETHER WE NEED IT HERE FOR CITIZENS IN JEFFERS PARISH OR IF WE NEED TO ASSIST ANY OF OUR OTHER, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE REAL BRIEF UNLESS Y'ALL HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
IF, UH, STORM CONTINUES TO COME OUR WAY, I'M SURE Y'ALL SEE A LOT OF ME BEFORE THEN, BUT AS ALWAYS, JPSO IS HERE TO HELP YOU OUT WITH ANYTHING Y'ALL NEED.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEVEN COUNCIL OFFICES WHO HAVE VERY ACTIVE STAFF DURING THIS TIME, DURING STORMS, AND THEY'RE OUT QUICKLY DRIVING THROUGH THEIR DISTRICTS.
I WANNA ASK OUR CHAIRMAN, SCOTT WALKER, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CHAIRMAN WALKER.
THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER, A FEW IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
UH, THIS ISN'T OUR FIRST RODEO AND WE'RE READY FOR WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A CLICHE, BUT YOU PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND YOU HOPE FOR THE BEST.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT DURING AN EVENT LIKE THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM RELIABLE NEWS SOURCES.
AND DON'T BELIEVE EVERY FACEBOOK METEOROLOGIST OUT THERE AND FALL FOR OLD MAPS OR OLD SPAGHETTI PLOTS OR OLD FORECASTS FROM WHENEVER IT HAPPENS, EVERY HURRICANE.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEE ALL THE TIME, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO DIFFUSE RUMORS TO GO ALONG WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PUT OUT.
SO MAKE SURE YOU GET THAT INFORMATION FROM RELIABLE SOURCES, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON US AND THE MEDIA OUTLETS THAT ARE HERE RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT.
UM, ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE PATIENTS DURING AN EVENT LIKE THIS, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
NOTHING WILL BE HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT I STOPPED AT SAM'S EARLIER TODAY AND PEOPLE ARE, ARE ALREADY, UM, AT THEIR WIT'S END AND THEY'RE FIGHTING IN THE PARKING LOT, HONKING AT EACH OTHER.
AND, UM, IT WASN'T A PRETTY SCENE.
AND WE'RE ONLY IN CROWDS RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE WEATHER TO TALK ABOUT.
SO, UH, GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA, UM, PATIENCE AS YOU'RE DEALING WITH WHATEVER YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT, UM, STAY CALM, DON'T FREAK OUT.
KEEP PEOPLE CALM AROUND YOU AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE, AND WE'LL BE GOOD ON THE OTHER END OF THIS.
BUT, UH, RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, WE PREPARE FOR THE WORST HOPE FOR THE BEST.
ALL OF OUR COUNCIL OFFICES HERE HAVE STAFFS THAT ARE ON THE STANDBY AND READY TO ASSIST IN THEIR DISTRICTS ARE ACROSS THE PARISH, THE OFFICES, THE, THE PARISH OFFICES MAY BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY AND MAYBE BEYOND, BUT WE ARE MONITORING EMAILS ALL THE TIME.
WE'RE MONITORING PHONE MESSAGES ALL THE TIME.
SO PLEASE REACH OUT SHOULD YOU NEED ANYTHING.
WE ARE A CONDUIT TO THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED.
WE CAN GET DIRECTLY IN TOUCH WITH ENTERGY.
WE CAN GET DIRECTLY IN TOUCH WITH AT AND T COX, WHOMEVER IT MAY BE, WHEREVER YOU MAY NEED HELP.
UH, WE CAN HOPEFULLY SPEED UP THAT PROCESS A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU.
SO IF YOU NEED US, WE ARE HERE, PLEASE REACH OUT.
AND WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW, UH, AT 10:00 AM IT'S
[00:10:01]
NOT OUR USUAL COUNCIL MEETING SET UP.UM, THIS MEETING WAS MOVED TO A TUESDAY, NOT 'CAUSE OF THE STORM, BUT IT'S SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW AT 10:00 AM UH, AT THE, ANY BUILDING ON THE EAST BANK.
SO THAT MEETING IS GONNA GO ON A SCHEDULE.
OKAY, NEXT, OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, JOE VALIENTE.
THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT, AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
SO, AS, AS THE PARISH PRESIDENT, UH, INDICATED, WE ARE GONNA GO TO PARTIAL ACTIVATION TONIGHT.
SO WE'LL HAVE SOME COORDINATORS HERE LOOKING AT THE 10:00 PM AND THE 4:00 AM ADVISORIES AND FOR THAT MATTER.
AND THAT WAY WE WILL HAVE SOME GOOD SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WHEN WE COME AND START THE MORNING.
WE'LL GO TO FULL ACTIVATION TOMORROW AFTERNOON, AND THE EOC WILL BE COMPLETELY UP.
BOTH TEAMS A AND B TEAMS WILL BE HERE.
UM, TODAY WE SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY IN YESTERDAY, WE CONDUCTED OUR CRISIS ACTION TEAM CALL YESTERDAY, AND THAT'S, THAT IS SELECT, UH, PARISH LEADERS THAT ARE PART OF THAT WITH THE PARISH PRESIDENT.
AND WE BASICALLY LAID OUT WHAT OUR BATTLE RHYTHM, BATTLE RHYTHM WAS GONNA BE FOR TODAY.
UH, WE SPOKE WITH THE MAYORS, UH, WE SPOKE WITH THE COUNCIL AND WE HAD OUR JP LEADERSHIP CALL, WHICH IS, UH, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES.
AND THAT CALL HAS OVER A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS ON IT.
AND BASICALLY WE'VE JUST GIVEN THEM WHAT THE UPDATE WAS, THE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE, AND WHAT DIRECTION THE PARISH WAS GOING IN.
ALSO, WE NOTIFIED ALL PARISH DIRECTORS AND THEY ARE NOTIFIED AND ON STANDBY, AND THEIR ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED.
SO THEY HAVE SPECIFIC TASKS THAT THEY HAVE TO PERFORM AND THE PRE HURRICANE MODE, AND WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE ON TASK WITH THAT.
WE ALSO SPOKE WITH THE LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD, AND THEY ARE ON STANDBY ACTIVATED AND STANDBY IN ABBEY.
SO THERE'S JUST ONE PHONE CALL AWAY.
SO WE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR MANPOWER AND THEIR RESOURCES IF WE NEED IT.
TYPICALLY, GRAND ISLAND LAFITTE GETS THE LINE SHARE THOSE TYPE OF RESOURCES AND THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
BUT, UH, WE ALSO SPOKE, I, I THINK I MENTIONED, BUT WE ALSO SPOKE WITH THE MAYORS INDIVIDUALLY AND WE UNDERSTAND THEIR, WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE.
AND WE'VE ALREADY ACTUALLY PUSHED, UH, RESOURCES TO LAFITTE SO THEY CAN GET READY FOR THE RISE AND WALK.
WE SPOKE AT ATMOS ENERGY AND THE EAST AND WEST LEVY PROTECTION OFFICIALS.
THEY'RE ALL ON BOARD, THEY'RE ALL IN THE, THEY ARE ALL ON THE, UH, PRE HURRICANE PREP MODE.
UM, ONE MESSAGE I WANNA LEAVE WITH EVERYONE IS, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A MAJOR STORM, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A HEAVY RAIN AND IT'S GONNA BE A WIND EVENT.
SO TAKE THE TIME THIS EVENING AND TOMORROW TO HURRICANE YOUR PROOF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
HURRICANE YOUR HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
MAKE SURE YOU GOT A FULL TANK OF GAS WHEN YOU START THAT.
IT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT WE'RE GONNA LOSE POWER FOR WEDNESDAY AND PROBABLY EVEN INTO THURSDAY, DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF DAMAGE THAT'S SUSTAINED FROM THE STORM.
SO YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET GAS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER, YOU CALL US HERE AT DEOC 5 0 4 3 4 9 53 60.
NEXT WE HAVE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SARAH BABCOCK.
AS THE PARISH PRESIDENT MENTIONED, WE WILL BE OPENING TERRYTOWN RECREATION CENTER AS A SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE STABLE HOUSING, SUCH AS A MOBILE HOME OR TRAILER, AND NEED A SAFE PLACE TO RIDE OUT THE STORM.
SO THAT LOCATION WILL BE OPEN AT FOUR O'CLOCK TOMORROW, ON TUESDAY.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED, WE'LL PROVIDE COTS, RES AND WATER, UM, NO ADDITIONAL SERVICES UNTIL POST STORM IF THEY BECOME NECESSARY.
AND SO PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING, UM, THEIR OWN SUPPLIES FOR THAT TIME PERIOD.
THEY ARE ALL, YOU ARE WELCOME TO BRING PETS, UM, IF NEEDED, IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS AND ARE GOING TO REQUIRE EXTRA ASSISTANCE FROM THE PARISH.
WE DO STILL HAVE A MEDICAL NEEDS REGISTRY THAT YOU CAN ENROLL ON ONLINE BY GOING TO JEFF PARISH.GOV/JP AWARE OR BY CALLING 5 0 4 3 2 3 18 18.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN COMMUNICATION ALL DAY WITH ALL OF OUR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND PARTNERS, SO OUR HOSPITALS, OUR NURSING HOMES, OUR DIALYSIS FACILITIES.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS, UM, THAT YOU MAKE SURE ANY ELECTRICALLY DEPENDENT MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IS CHARGED AND READY TO GO.
UM, TONIGHT, TOMORROW MORNING, YOU SHOULD REFILL MEDICATIONS, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED, AND IF YOU ARE ON DIALYSIS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE IN CONTACT WITH YOUR PROVIDER BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE CLINICS MAY NEED TO CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.
SO MAKE SURE YOU TALK TO YOUR PROVIDER TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET TREATMENT, UH, TOMORROW OR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
[00:15:01]
THE STORM.OKAY, NEXT FROM OUR JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, DR. JAMES GRAY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH OUR TEAMS THE PAST FEW DAYS, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GONNA NAVIGATE THIS, UH, THIS PROCESS ONCE AGAIN.
UH, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR TEAMS OUT TO TRY TO SECURE CAMPUSES AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER, BUT WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH IDLE REPAIRS, UH, AND REMEDIATION.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SECURE EVERYTHING DOWN.
OUR PLANT MANAGERS ARE GETTING OUT TO SCHOOLS, ASSESSING EVERYTHING, LOCKING EVERYTHING DOWN.
PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE, UH, WORKING ON OUR BUILDINGS ARE DOING THE SAME.
UH, AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC TRULY UNDERSTANDS THAT IT TAKES A COUPLE OF DAYS SOMETIMES FOR US TO KIND OF GET UP AND RUNNING BECAUSE OUR AVERAGE AGE OF OUR BUILDING IS LIKE 60 YEARS OLD.
SO ON NORMAL WEATHER EVENTS, WE LOSE ELECTRICITY AND SOMETIMES PLUMBING OR WATER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE EXPECTING, UH, POSSIBLY TO BE DEALING WITH SOME OF THE SAME.
SO AS A RESULT, UH, IS GONNA BE TWO PHASES OF, OF, OF THIS, THESE CLOSURES.
THE FIRST IS GOING TO BE, UH, LOWER JEFFERSON WITH, UH, THE TWO SCHOOLS IN LA FTE, KERNER, AND FISHER HIGH AND GRAND EYE WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY, AND ALL THE REMAINING SCHOOLS IN JEFFERSON PARISH WILL BE CLOSED FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.
AND WHAT WE WANNA DO IS JUST MAKE SURE THAT AFTER STORM WE CAN GET TO OUR BUILDINGS, ASSESS THE TYPE OF DAMAGE THAT WE HAVE, AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET OUR KIDS BACK IN OUR BUILDINGS AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AGAIN, THIS IS FLUID INFORMATION.
ANYTHING CAN CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PAY ATTENTION TO OUR WEBSITES, UH, THE NEWS, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND WE'LL KEEP, UH, PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY UPDATED AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO ALL OF OUR 43 DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN BUSY TODAY, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO CALL UP OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WHO OVERSEE SO MANY OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, WATER, SEWER, ROADS, TRAFFIC, UH, MARKERS.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY TESTED ALL OUR EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES ALL OUR BACKUP GENERATORS, SO WE'RE READY TO GO.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET THAT WE HAVE IS THE ABILITY TO ACTIVATE 700 PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES TO RESPOND TO THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.
MOST, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL STORMS. UH, WITH REGARD TO EACH DEPARTMENT, WE'LL START WITH WATER.
UH, OUR EAST AND WEST BANK PLANTS HAVE SAFE HOUSES, UH, WHERE THE EMPLOYEES CAN GO SO THEY CAN, THEY CAN OPERATE THE SYSTEM DURING THE STORM AND AFTER THE STORM.
IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE A FIVE DAY SUPPLY OF FUEL ON HAND, UH, FOR THEIR BACKUP GENERATOR, SO WE CAN SURVIVE AN EXTENDED ENERGY OUTAGE.
OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS HAVE THAT SAME FIVE DAY SUPPLY OF FUEL, UH, TO SURVIVE AN EXTENDED OUTAGE.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE PORTABLE GENERATORS AND PORTABLE PUMPS READY TO GO, UH, TO PUT OUT IN THE FIELD WHERE WE HAVE OUR LIFT STATIONS OUT IN THE FIELD, UH, FOR ANY OUTAGES, UH, TO KEEP THAT SYSTEM IN OPERATION.
AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING IN VACUUM TRUCKS AS NECESSARY.
UH, WITH REGARD TO STREETS ENGINEERING PARKWAYS, UH, WE'LL BE READY AFTER THE STORM.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL GO OUT, DO RECONNAISSANCE, AND WE'LL IMMEDIATELY START CLEARING ROADWAYS.
UH, WE CAN CUT TREES AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT TANGLED UP IN ENERGY, POWER LINES, UH, AND WE CAN START RESTORING TRAFFIC SIGNALS IF THEY'RE DAMAGED.
UH, WITH REGARD TO DRAINAGE, WE HAVE 192 OUT OF OUR 194 PUMPS IN OPERATION.
WE HAVE ONE PUMP THAT'S OUT AND IT'S ON ORDER FOR A NEW PUMP DOWN ON LA FEET AT OAK STREET PUMP STATION.
BUT WE HAVE A TEMPORARY PUMP IN PLACE, SO THE CAPACITY IS STILL UP TO PAR.
UH, THE OTHER PUMP THAT IS OUT IS THE FALCON STREET PUMP STATION THAT PUMPS INTO
WE ARE TRYING TO REPAIR THAT ONE AND GET IT DONE BEFORE THE STORM, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A TEMPORARY PUMP IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN STILL PUMP, UH, IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED TO.
UH, WE ALSO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ALL OF MY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE ABILITY, IF NECESSARY TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL FORCES.
WE HAVE CONTRACTS IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN UP THAT MANPOWER IF NECESSARY.
WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS WITH US, AND WE KNOW FOR YOU TO GET YOUR LIFE BACK TO NORMAL POST STORM, IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST THE GOVERNMENT.
SO WE HAVE WITH US REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR UTILITIES COMPANIES, ENERGY CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER, JIMMY AIKEN IS HERE, AS WELL AS ATMOS ENERGY PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER, LEAH OBIE.
SO I WANNA INVITE BOTH OF THEM UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
UM, ENTERGY IS CLOSELY MONITORING, DEVELOPS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GULF, AND WE STAND READY TO RESPOND.
THIS IS AN EVENT THAT WE PREPARE FOR YEAR ROUND, AND OUR CREWS ARE READY TO RESTORE SERVICE AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE ONCE THE STORM PASSES.
WE WANT OUR CUSTOMERS TO STAY PREPARED, STAY SAFE, AND STAY IN TOUCH.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET READY FOR
[00:20:01]
THIS STORM.WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET YOUR EMERGENCY KITS AND SUPPLIES IN PLACE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S A PROLONGED OUTAGE, UM, UH, POWER OUTAGE.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH US, WITH US THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE STORM.
UH, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE ENERGY APP, YOU CAN USE THE APP TO REPORT OUTAGES AND CHECK ON THE STATUS OF POWER AT YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE IN THE APP, UM, AND THAT IT'S IT'S ACCURATELY ENTERED WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION TO THE APP, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA VIA FACEBOOK AT ENTERGY, LOUISIANA, AND TWITTER OR ACCESS ENTERGY LA.
REMEMBER, THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM IS AFTER IT'S PASSED.
PLEASE STAY CLEAR OF ANY AND ALL DOWN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ENCOUNTER OUR CREWS WORKING.
PLEASE KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM NOT ONLY YOUR SAFETY, BUT FOR OUR CREW SAFETY AS WELL.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH JEFFERSON PARISH THROUGHOUT THE EVENT AND PROVIDE UPDATES AS NEEDED.
WE HOPE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE DURING THIS TIME.
AT ATMOS ENERGY, WE PREPARE YEAR ROUND FOR WEATHER EVENTS.
WE DO HAVE CREWS ON STANDBY AND WILLING TO RESPOND WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON SAFETY.
UM, IF YOU SUSPECT A NATURAL GAS LEAK OR SMELL NATURAL GAS INSIDE THE HOME OR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, PLEASE ACT FAST.
LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AND FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, CALL 9 1 1 AND THE AT ENERGY EMERGENCY NUMBER, WHICH IS 1 8 6 6 3 2 2 8 6 6 7.
ENERGY SERVICE TECHNICIANS ARE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO ENSURE THE SAFE OPERATION OF ITS SYSTEM PERFORMING ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY RULES AND REGULATIONS.
IF ANY CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCE AND INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE ATMOS ENERGY, ESSENTIAL WORKERS WILL RESTORE SERVICE.
ONCE LOCAL CONDITIONS ARE DEEMED SAFE, WHETHER IT IS A STORM OR FLOODING OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, PLEASE OBSERVE THESE TIPS TO STAY SAFE DURING A NATURAL DISASTER OR SEVERE WEATHER EVENT.
DO NOT TURN OFF NATURAL GAS AT THE METER, EVEN IF EVACUATIONS ARE ISSUED.
IF YOU SMELL GAS, IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE AFFECTED AREA AND FROM A SAFE DISTANCE, CALL 9 1 1 OR AT MS. ENERGY'S 24 HOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE LINE.
AND THAT NUMBER IS 1 8 6 6 3 2 2 8 6 6 7.
NEVER TRY TO FIND THE SOURCE OF A GAS LEAK.
DO NOT USE A MOBILE PHONE OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT CAUSE A SPARK SUCH AS A GENERATOR.
FLOODING OCCURS AT A RESIDENCE OR A BUSINESS, AND THE GAS APPLIANCES ARE UNDERWATER.
DO NOT TRY TO OPERATE THE APPLIANCES INSTEAD CONTACT AT ENERGY OR A QUALIFIED SERVICE PROFESSIONAL TO CONDUCT A SAFETY INSPECTION.
IF A NATURAL GAS METER IS DAMAGED OR A GAS LINE IS EXPOSED, IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE AREA AND CALL THE ATMO ENERGY 24 HOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE LINE.
AND THAT NUMBER AGAIN IS 1 8 6 6 3 2 2 8 6 6 7.
KNOW WHERE YOUR NATURAL GAS METER IS LOCATED, MAKE SURE IT'S VISIBLE AND FREE OF TRASH AND DEBRIS.
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT USED TO CLEAN UP AFTER A STORM MAY DAMAGE THE METER IF IT IS HIDDEN.
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES ARE MOSTLY UNDERGROUND, BUT CAN BE DAMAGED BY UPROOTED TREES AND SHIFTED FOUNDATIONS.
AFTER A STORM, PLEASE CALL 8 1 1 TO HAVE THE LOCATION OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINES MARKED AS GAS SERVICE LINES COULD BECOME TANGLED ATMOS ENERGY.
CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING A NATURAL GAS OUTAGE OR OTHER SERVICE INTERRUPTION SHOULD CONTACT THE COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER.
AGAIN, THAT'S 1 8 8 8 2 8 6 6 7 0 0.
CUSTOMERS WILL BE RESTORED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ONCE THE AREA IS DEEMED SAFE.
SOMETIMES IT'S THE POST STORM THAT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS.
WE CERTAINLY SAW THAT FOR IDA.
UM, AND NOBODY KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN OUR FIRST RESPONDER.
SO OUR DIRECTOR OF WEST BANK FIRE SERVICES, CHIEF DON ROBERTSON, AND OUR DIRECTOR OF EAST BANK CONSOLIDATED FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF CHARLIE HUDSON.
AS WE SAID, CHIEF SHERIFF LATO SAID THAT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN JEFFERSON PARISH ARE PREPARED.
WE HAVE STAGE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.
CHIEF HAS NO SPEECH ABOUT THAT AFTERWARDS.
AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF JEFFERSON PARISH.
AS THE PARISH PRESIDENT JUST SAID, WE ALWAYS DO WELL DURING THE STORM.
IT'S ALWAYS POST STORM THAT WE HAVE OUR PROBLEMS. NOW POWER LINES FLOODED STREETS, AND WHEN A POWER GOES OUT, PEOPLE WANT TO USE GENERATORS.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE A GENERATOR, MAKE SURE IT IS AT LEAST 15 FEET FROM YOUR RESIDENCE, NOT BY ANY OPEN WINDOWS, NOT BY ANY OPEN DOORS, NOT IN
[00:25:01]
YOUR GARAGE.PLEASE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE YOUR GENERATOR, HAVE A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR THAT WORKS IN YOUR HOUSE.
CARBON MONOXIDE IS ODORS, IT'S COLORS, IT COLORS, AND IT IS THE SOLID KILLER.
PLEASE BE SAFE IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE A GENERATOR.
UH, YOUR EAST BAY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN BUSY STARTING OFF AT SEVEN O'CLOCK THIS MORNING, GETTING OUR EQUIPMENT READY AND PUT IN PLACE.
WE'VE GOT SOME HIGH WATER ASSETS THAT WERE NEW FOR THIS THIS YEAR THANKS TO THE SHERIFF.
WE HAD SOME BIG VEHICLES THAT WE ABLE TO USE TO FLOODED EVENTS AND, UH, BE ABLE TO RESCUE PEOPLE IF IT COMES TO THAT.
WE'VE GOT SOME BOAT RESOURCES.
WE PLAY STRATEGICALLY THROUGHOUT OUR AREA SO WE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY.
UM, ALSO WHAT, AS HE'S TALKING ABOUT ELECTRICAL LINES, WE WANT TO TREAT ALL POWER LINES AS THEIR HOT LINES.
DON'T GUESS, DON'T QUESTION IT.
IF SOMETHING'S DOWN, TREAT IT AS A HOT POWER LINE AND REPORT THAT TO 9 1 1 IMMEDIATELY SO WE COULD RESPOND AND MAKE THAT A ISOLATED AREA.
UH, THE STORM COULD BE A VERY, UM, DEADLY EVENT BECAUSE OF THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS.
SO LET'S BE READY, LET'S REPORT THINGS AND LET'S GET OUR RESPONDERS OUT THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS WE'RE FORTUNATE TO BE PROTECTED, UM, LIKE I SAY, OUR PERIMETER PROTECTION, BUT IT'S REALLY REGIONAL PROTECTION.
SO I WANNA THANK, UM, THEM FOR BEING HERE AND, AND DISCUSSING ALL THEIR PREPARATIONS THAT THEY'VE BEEN BUSY WITH.
SO THE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY, WEST JESSE NOEL AND THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING FOR FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY, EAST CHRIS HUMPHREYS.
THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY WEST IS PREPARED AND STANDS READY TO OPERATE THE FLOOD PROTECTION SYSTEM.
UH, ALL OF OUR SERVICE SYSTEMS ARE WORKING AS DESIGNED AND WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR SYSTEM.
WE EXPECT TO START CLOSING NON-ESSENTIAL FLOODGATES ON PETERS ROAD TOMORROW MORNING AND HOPE TO HAVE THE REMAINDER OF THIS, OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM CLOSED AS SOON AS 8:00 PM TOMORROW NIGHT BASED ON THE CURRENT FORECAST.
THIS INCLUDES THE SECTOR GATE AT THE HARVEY CANAL, THE SECTOR GATE ON BAYOU NET AND THE HIGHWAY 45 FLOODGATE.
WE ASK CITIZENS TO PAY ATTENTION TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND HEED THEIR WARNINGS AND TO STAY OFF LEVEES AND WATERWAYS WHERE WE ARE WORKING.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, WE DO NOT INTEND BASED ON THE CURRENT FORECAST TO OPERATE THE WEST CLOSURE COMPLEX.
UH, BUT THAT CAN CHANGE WITH THE SHIFT IN TRAJECTORY.
UH, FOR INFORMATION ON GATE CLOSURES, FOLLOW THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY WEST ON FACEBOOK AND X OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE@SSLPAW.ORG.
THE FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY EAST HAS BEEN BUSY ALL DAY PLANNING GATE CLOSURES AND EXECUTING SOME IN ORLEANS PARISH.
GOOD NEWS IS WE DO NOT SEE THE LEVELS IN THE LAKE COMING, UH, TO A LEVEL THAT WOULD REQUIRE ANY ROADWAY GATE CLOSURES IN JEFFERSON PARISH.
UH, WE WILL MANAGE THE UH, PCCP PUMP STATION AS NEEDED.
WE ANTICIPATE HAVING TO CLOSE THOSE GATES AND PUMP DOWN 17TH STREET CANAL WHEN IT'S NEEDED.
UH, IN THE MEANTIME, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CALL OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, (504) 286-3140.
WE WILL STAND UP OUR EOC TOMORROW AND MAINTAIN IT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE STORM, AT LEAST THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.
SO, UM, WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS, BUT JUST I WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY.
WE WILL BE GIVING BRIEFINGS TOMORROW.
AGAIN, UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS.
SO JUST STAY IN TOUCH WITH US, UH, FOR THE NEXT BRIEFING THAT WE'LL HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF OUR SPEAKERS? YES.
THIS MAYBE OBVIOUS, BUT I ASSUME THAT THE REASON THE MEETING WAS MOVED TO TUESDAY WAS THIS TRIP TO DC.
UM, I ASSUME YOU AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE LIKELY NOT GOING ANYMORE, OR CURIOUS SORT OF THAT STILL WAS TALKING ABOUT THE COUNSELING MEETING.
I WAS TALKING, I WAS, I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A TRIP TO DC PLANNED FOR SOME LOBBYING.
YEAH, THE CHAMBER FLY IN IS PLANNED.
UM, I WAS NOT GOING ON THE TRIP.
I WAS NOT ATTENDING, SO I'M NOT GOING, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING IS.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SPEAK ON THAT, I THINK IT'S INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS.
WELL I WILL BE STAYING AND
SO I KNOW YOUR, UM, SHELTER IS GONNA BE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILE HOMES.
WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS POPULATION? ARE THEY ABLE TO COME TO THE SHELTER? I'LL LET SARAH WITH, WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT AND WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY, BUT I'LL LET SARAH GIVE MORE UPDATE ON THAT.
SO THE JEFFERSON PARISH HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY WILL BE GOING OUT TOMORROW MORNING, UM, TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS AND MAYBE ON
[00:30:01]
THE STREETS.BUT, UM, YES, IF YOU ARE HOMELESS AND NEED A PLACE TO STAY, YOU CAN ALSO COME TO THE, UH, TARRYTOWN PLAYGROUND SITE.
UM, AND ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT SITE CAN ALSO CALL OUR EOC AT 5 0 4 3 4 9 53 60.
SEE, AND WE DO PROACTIVELY GO OUT AND LOOK FOR PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE REQUIRE THEM TO CALL.
I MEAN, HUMAN SERVICES AUTHORITY HAS STAFF.
THEY, THEY KNOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE.
THEY KNOW WHERE THEY STAY, SO THEY PROACTIVELY GO OUT AND TRY TO FIND THEM, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY, OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.