St. Charles Parish Emergency Blog

EOC Director Scott Whelchel talks Tropical Storm Lee on The Weather Channel.

2011-09-15T21:59:00.003-05:00

Recorded Sept. 2, 2011.

Tropical Storm Lee parish wrap-up.

2011-09-06T14:09:00.011-05:00

From left, Councilman Shelley Tastet, Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. and Purchasing Officer Bobby Donaldson monitor water flow Sunday from the south at Sellers Canal and Hwy. 90 south of Ama.

Multiple parish government departments contributed to an all-hands-on deck approach to execute pre-storm debris analysis. Parish personnel rode all parish streets to identify trouble spots for Public Works and garbage contractor SDT to correct before they could become a drainage issue.

The Department of Parks and Recreation collaborated with Public Works to increase manpower in the field regarding drainage and debris handling, with field personnel going to A/B shifts early in the week to allow response to occur around the clock.

In addition, flood mitigation efforts and infrastructure improvements since the December 2009 rain event showed their worth. These included – but are not limited to – an additional pump at East Harding (New Sarpy), culvert gates at Prescott Canal (Montz), additional culverts in James Business Park (St. Rose), increased pumping capacity at Almedia / Walker (St. Rose), use of two pumps at Cross Bayou (Destrehan) and several automatic bar screen cleaner installations.

We are grateful to our residents, who heeded our warnings and appeared to have limited travel during dangerous conditions. We also received great assistance from the public in identifying streets with high water and other potentially dangerous situations. Without that help the parish could not have responded as effectively.

We continue to urge residents to be prepared for storm threats, as the 2011 season is just heating up.

PARISH STORM STATS

590 logged entries / actions taken in the Emergency Operations Center
37,590 total notifications made by EOC via Emergency Alert System (text, phone calls, e-mails)
31 streets reported high water
2 houses reported partial flooding (Norco)
5 houses experienced leaking roofs
3 trees damaged homes or cars
20 trees down across roads/power lines
200 power outages at the storm’s peak, most for less than two hours
No outages by Sunday night
10.36" of rain at Hahnville courthouse since Sept. 1
14.33" of rain at Hahnville High School in Boutte since Sept. 1
11.86" of rain at St. Charles Borromeo in Destrehan since Sept. 1.
4 tornado warnings with no damage reported
61.6 million gallons of water pumped by the Wastewater Department at Hahnville, Destrehan and Luling Pond locations

The parish undertakes after action reviews after each emergency incident to review suggestions for improvements and additions to the parish's response planning.

Saturday wrap up and reminders.

2011-09-04T11:15:00.000-05:00

We have a lot of good things to report this morning as well as a few reminders:

The parish did see rain overnight, but nothing along the lines of the squall line we experienced Saturday afternoon. At the peak of the rain Saturday, EOC reported 32 streets barricaded due to high water. There have been reports of 16 downed trees since Friday, and two partially flooded homes in Norco.

PLEASE STAY HOME if at all possible. Road conditions remain hazardous, and we've seen quite a few traffic accidents because of it. If you can stay home, you cut your chances to zero that you'll be involved in a similar situation!

We expect more wind and rain today, and we do expect flooding problems if we have a heavy squall line sit over us for an extended period of time. Again, it all boils down to... 'how much rain, how fast.'

The National Weather Service says there will be a slight increase in the possibility of tornadoes as Lee makes its eastward turn. We are still under a Tropical Storm Warning until 5 a.m. Monday, Tornado Watch until 4 p.m. Sunday, and Flash Flood Watch until Monday evening.

Entergy is reporting no power outages this morning in St. Charles Parish.

Garbage service for Monday, Sept. 5 has been canceled due to weather conditions. Makeup routes will be Sept. 6 and 7. Please secure garbage cans in case of high winds.

Singin' n' sandbaggin'.

2011-09-03T18:03:00.001-05:00

And on the lighter side -- Before the torrential rains and flooding concerns today, we caught up with a gentleman determined to see the brighter side of a (possibly) bad situation while filling sandbags at the East Bank Bridge Park. :)

Cross Bayou pumping station.

2011-09-03T14:46:00.002-05:00

The activation of two of the eight pumps at the still-to-be-completed Cross Bayou pump station in Destrehan is helping keep water off Airline Highway and out of Destrehan neighborhoods. The station is located at the East Bank Hurricane Protection Levee.

Video from this morning in Destrehan.

2011-09-03T14:16:00.002-05:00

We spotted an Entergy worker fixing a power pole and took a look at water draining through the new conspan bridge underneath Ormond Boulevard in Destrehan the morning of Sept. 3.

Some highlights from this morning.

2011-09-03T12:26:00.000-05:00

After a night filled with no less than three tornado warnings, things are looking as well as can be expected in St. Charles Parish. There are no widespread power outages, water in homes or road closures reported. There was some high water in streets in St. Rose, Boutte, Luling and elsewhere, but luckily the break in the rain has allowed much of it drain away. Trees have been reported down in various areas of the parish, and power outages are mostly limited to single streets in Luling, Paradis, Destrehan and Norco.

THIS IS IMPORTANT! The parish is asking residents to refrain from sewer usage, such as clothes washing, dishwashing, etc. THIS IS IMPORTANT! The parish is asking residents to refrain from sewer usage, such as clothes washing, dishwashing, etc. until further notice due to current high demands on the sewer system. In addition, garbage pickup scheduled for Monday (Labor Day) has been canceled.

Look for us to get walloped again this afternoon with more bands of rain from T.S. Lee. Continue to monitor weather reports and be aware of your surroundings as we continue to deal with this weather threat. Don't drive if you don't have to through severe weather. At EOC, we're continuing full steam ahead and staying focused on the worst-case scenario... If Lee decides it's time to quit, then we consider that a bonus!

2011-09-03T11:36:00.000-05:00

We just got some video from the field of workers removing a downed tree from the railroad tracks at Barton Avenue in Luling. Be sure to send your own photos or video of the storm so we can post it here. E-mail it to rsimpson@stcharlesgov.net or post it to our Facebook page.

Some photos from today...

2011-09-02T17:26:00.001-05:00

can be found on the parish's Facebook page. You don't have to have a Facebook account to view the photos.

Bayou Des Allemands as T.S. Lee feeder bands roll through.

Some additional T.S. Lee reminders / info.

2011-09-02T17:09:00.001-05:00

Please remember that if your windshield wipers are on while driving, your headlights should be too. It's the law. While we're encouraging people to stay home these next few days, please be careful should you have to venture out onto the roadways.

For those who need a reminder, here's a chart showing the wind speed designations for tropical storms and the five categories of hurricanes.

Forecasts as of this afternoon state that we in St. Charles Parish won't see tropical storm-force winds finally die down until sometime Monday afternoon. So we're looking at a drawn-out rain AND wind event.

For those interested, here's a list of some local tide gauges.

More quotables from the morning EOC meeting.

2011-09-02T15:04:00.000-05:00

"This will be a marathon, not a sprint."

-- EOC Director Scott Whelchel, describing the slow-moving nature of Tropical Storm Lee and its potential to create a drawn-out emergency situation.

Storm prep in Des Allemands close to completion.

2011-09-02T14:46:00.004-05:00

We made it out to Bayou Des Allemands earlier to video some precautionary flood fighting measures being put up by Public Works. A two-foot berm levee made of visqueen and sand will help prevent any high water that may occur as a result of Tropical Storm Lee through early next week.

Keep in mind that when this was filmed the storm had not been upgraded to a tropical storm. Right after filming, the Des Allemands / Paradis / Luling area got hit with a pretty intense band of rain. Luckily it looks like that has passed.

Public Works crews continue to search for problem spots in the parish's drainage scheme. They're quickly going around from street to street doing last-minute maintenance, so they're hard to keep up with!

If you have photos or video of Tropical Storm Lee prep in your area of the parish, be sure to send to rsimpson@stcharlesgov.net so we can feature it here!

Short EOC update on what is now Tropical Storm Lee.

2011-09-02T14:13:00.000-05:00

If you were signed up for the St. Charles Parish Emergency Alert System, you would have just gotten this update as a text right to your cell phone...

As of 1 p.m., tropical depression #13 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Lee. Winds are currently 40 mph with the system moving northwest at 2 mph.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING remains in effect for St. Charles Parish until 5:15 p.m. Sept. 3.

Tropical Storm Lee is expected to produce rainfall of 10 to 15 inches with 20 inches possible in some localized areas. Extensive flooding is expected especially in urban areas. Isolated tornadoes may effect our area tonight.

NOLA.com reports on St. Charles Parish storm prep.

2011-09-02T14:05:00.002-05:00

St. Charles Parish workers are building sand bag berms in Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands and pumping down canals as they wait for Tropical Depression 13 to come ashore. Residents with shovels and pick-up trucks are stocking up on sandbags.

"We hope it doesn't just sit on us," Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. said.

A new pump station at Cross Bayou in St. Rose will partially operational during the storm, even though the project isn't complete, said Steve Wilson, president of the Pontchartrain Levee District.

Two of the 5 large pumps are working, which should be enough to keep water from ponding on Airline Drive, as it did during heavy rains in December 2009, Wilson said.

"That's 500 cubic feet per second, with is about 10 times the capacity that we had back then," Wilson said.

The station expected to be fully operational in November, but Levee District officials are hoping it will be finished in October.

Wilson said the project's contractor, BLD Construction, worked allowed the district to use the station while it is still under construction. The district will have an engineer on site monitoring the operation to ensure no damage is caused.

St. Pierre said the operating station means the parish won't have to build sandbag berms around I-310 ramps, freeing workers for other jobs.

Parish spokeswoman Renee Allemand Simpson said the parish has declared an emergency for the storm, which is expected to drop between 10 and 15 inches of rain over the area over a three-day period, and be accompanied by high winds that could cause power outages.

Residents lined up with shovels to fill sand bags for use around their homes. The parish on Friday morning expanded the number of sand bag stations to neighhborhood locations.

"One side of my property is low," said Oscar Dorsey of Boutte, as he joined a crowd of residents shoveling sand into parish-supplied bags.

"I'm worried about my sunken living room," said Destrehan resident Brian Taylor said.

SOURCE: http://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2011/09/st_charles_lays_sandbags_crank.html

Tonight's Destrehan HS football game canceled.

2011-09-02T13:36:00.000-05:00

Destrehan High School has canceled tonight's scheduled football game against South Lafourche, according to head coach Chris Stroud.

The game has tentatively been rescheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. But Stroud said officials will meet on Sunday to reassess the situation.

All other football games involving River Parishes teams will go on as scheduled. East St. John will play at Carencro, St. Charles Catholic is at Tate, Fla., and West St. John will travel to St. James.

Hahnville played Jesuit on Thursday, losing 28-13.

SOURCE: http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2011/09/destrehan_cancels_football_gam.html

German Coast Farmers' Market Canceled Saturday

2011-09-02T11:20:00.002-05:00

The German Coast Farmers' Market scheduled for 8 a.m. until noon Sept. 3 at Ormond Plantation in Destrehan has been canceled. For more information visit www.germancoastfarmersmarket.org.

Update from St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office

2011-09-02T11:17:00.001-05:00

As you all know by now, heavy rains and strong gusty winds are expected for the next three days. Beginning this evening, extra patrol deputies will be deployed on each shift. All other enforcment deputies have been placed on standby in the event more are needed.

In light of potential flooding, everyone should be advised to not take to the roads if you do not have to. Please monitor government access channel Cox cable 6 for updates. Otherwise, have a happy labor day weekend.

To sign up for e-mail updates from Sheriff Champagne, visit sheriffgregchampagne.com.

Sandbag locations being stocked around the parish.

2011-09-02T11:05:00.000-05:00

Click here for a list of all the sandbag stations around the parish... there's one in your neck of the woods! Please remember to bring a shovel as these stations are fill-your-own bag. Sand is for St. Charles Parish residents ONLY.

This about sums it up.

2011-09-02T09:46:00.002-05:00

Public Works Director Sam Scholle said this during this morning's executive staff meeting at EOC, and we think it sums up TD 13 well: "It all boils down to how many inches how fast."

Tropical Depression 13 Updates

2011-09-02T09:29:00.001-05:00

Well, here we are again! Welcome back to the St. Charles Parish Emergency Blog. We'll be posting photos, videos and mini-updates here throughout this weather event. Please leave a comment or question should you have any for us.

All our official press release updates can be found on the front page of the parish website, http://stcharlesparish-la.gov. Those are updated at least twice daily.

The parish offers a variety of different ways to receive emergency updates... Be sure to sign up if you haven't already. You can:

Sign up for EOC text, phone and e-mail alerts: https://portal.nticonnectcty.com/welcome.aspx?eiid=1207B6088C3478A36C7B
Sign up for e-newsletters to get the latest press releases: http://www.stcharlesparish-la.gov/index.aspx?page=17
Subscribe to blog updates by clicking on the link on the right of this page.
And don't forget our other communications outlets: Cox Cable Channel 6 in St. Charles Parish, stcharlesparish-la.gov, 1-888-SCP-9EOC, 1370 AM, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Any questions may also be directed to the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center at (985) 783-5050 24 hours a day.

Important FEMA Phone Numbers

2008-10-16T16:06:00.001-05:00

FEMA

1-800-621-3362

Rental Insurance and Travel Trailer Department

1-888-294-2822

Fraud Hotline

1-800-323-8603

Formaldehyde Hotline

1-866-562-2381

Centers for Disease Control

1-800-232-4636

Hurricane Thank You from Parish Council and Parish President

2008-10-14T10:10:00.000-05:00

Videography by Melanie Worrall

Sandbagging Update - Video Archive

2008-10-09T10:33:00.001-05:00

Hurricane Season 2008 Photo Archive

2008-10-08T08:46:00.005-05:00

Photos - Hurricane Ike's Effects on Bayou Gauche, Des Allemands

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/photos-hurricane-ikes-effects-on-bayou.html

Photo slideshow - Gustav Preparations and Damage

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/photo-slideshow-preparation-and-damage.html

Hurricane Season 2008 - St. Charles Parish Video Archive

2008-09-30T14:23:00.005-05:00

Hurricane Thank You From Parish Council and Parish President

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/10/hurricane-thank-you-from-parish-council.html

Hurricane Statistics Video

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/hurricane-statistics-video.html

Thank You Video

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/thank-you.html

Sandbagging Update - Cottage at Beaupre

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/10/sandbagging-update-video-archive.html

High Water at Cajun Paradise, Paradis

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/video-high-water-near-cajun-paradise.html

Willowridge Street Flooding, 9/14/08

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/willowridge-street-flooding-91408.html

Scenes from Hwy. 90, Evangeline Road, Bayou Gauche, Spillway, etc.

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/scenes-from-hwy-90-bayou-gauche-bonnet.html

Hurricane Ike Flooding - Sept. 13

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/hurricane-ike-flooding-sept-13.html

Bayou Gauche / Des Allemands Flooding, Levee Building

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/bayou-gauche-des-allemands-flooding.html

Debris Removal Update

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/debris-removal-update.html

Recovery Assistance Information Video

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/hurricane-gustav-recovery-assistance.html

Gustav West Bank Tour Part II

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/westbank-tour-part-ii.html

Re-Entry Press Conference

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/finally-re-entry-press-conference-video.html

Gustav East Bank Tour

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/east-bank-tour.html

Gustav West Bank Tour

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/west-bank-tour.html

Barge Accident, Water Intake Scenes

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/barge-water-intake-scenes.html

Gustav Hahnville Scenes

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/hahnville-scenes.html

Gustav First Look - Hahnville Courthouse

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/gustav-first-look.html

St. Charles Parish Preparations

http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/08/video-st-charles-parish-preparations.html

Court hearing postponed by the evacuation?

2008-09-26T15:34:00.001-05:00

Any court hearings that were postponed due to the hurricane evacuation will be rescheduled by each judge for his individual division of court. Anyone whose hearing was postponed but has not received notice of a new court date should contact the judge's office for that division of court to be advised of the rescheduled date for his/her hearing.

-- From Judge Robert Chaisson

Hurricane Statistics Video

2008-09-26T13:26:00.001-05:00

Videography by Melanie Worrall

Blue Roof Program will close Sept. 25

2008-09-24T10:47:00.002-05:00

The FEMA Blue Roof Program being operated from the Luling VFW Hall will cease operation at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. This will be the last day to sign up at this location.

Disaster Food Stamps Available through Sept. 26

2008-09-23T10:21:00.005-05:00

Disaster Food Stamps site on Hwy. 90 in Boutte will be open through Friday, Sept. 26, according to a Louisiana Department of Social Services official.

The Council on Aging location in Hahnville will also accept applications from elderly or disabled residents through that date.

Applicants who applied at the Alario Center must call or come into the St. Charles Parish office for assistance if they are experiencing any problems with their EBT Cards. The Alario Center does not have computers to check the system. The local office can handle most DFSP card problems regardless of where the application was submitted. Applicants DO NOT have to travel back to the parish they applied in.

Blue Roof program CLOSED Saturday, Sept. 20

2008-09-19T11:08:00.003-05:00

The Blue Roof Program at the Luling VFW Hall will be CLOSEd this Saturday, Sept. 20 due to a prior booking at the hall. For more information on the program, call 1-888-ROOF-BLU.

Food Stamp Applications at Council on Aging

2008-09-18T09:58:00.004-05:00

St. Charles Council on Aging, Inc. will assist disabled and elderly residents with Disaster Food Stamp Applications at 626 Pine Street, in Hahnville, beginning Friday, Sept. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

THANK YOU.

2008-09-18T09:58:00.001-05:00

Videography by Melanie Worrall

Debris pickup update - Sept. 17

2008-09-17T14:42:00.003-05:00

The second pass of debris removal will begin Monday, Sept. 22, Parish President V.J. St. Pierre said this afternoon.

All residents are asked to place the last of their storm debris curbside before Monday for this final pickup.

Please remember to separate 'green' debris (branches, leaves, etc.) from construction debris such as fencing and roofing materials.

Pickup along state highways should begin on Sept. 18, according DOTD officials.

Video - High Water near Cajun Paradise, Paradis

2008-09-16T14:17:00.001-05:00

Water covers Old Spanish Trail near Cajun Paradise.

High Water Reports for Sept. 16

2008-09-16T12:01:00.004-05:00

The parish is currently monitoring the following areas due to high water. Please be careful as some roads may have standing water. The parish has put out signs alerting drivers to these dangers.

Cajun Paradise and Old Spanish Trail, Boutte. Water is over the road at this intersection. High water from the marsh is coming in underneath a nearby railroad trestle and filling ditches.

Beaupre and Cottage Drive, Luling. Public Works crews have completed sandbagging to control some overtopping of the spoil levee in this area, which is out of sight of residential homes. The water had been going into the Cousins Canal. The overtopping has been stopped, but the parish continues to keep watch. Public Works found the issue early this morning during routine levee monitoring.

Hahnville High School, Boutte. The small spoil levee behind Hahnville High School did experience some overtopping yesterday and this morning. Crews have corrected this with sandbags and clay. They continue to monitor the area for additional failures.

Magnolia Ridge, Boutte. Water here is covering the road at almost 3 feet in places at the southern end of the road. Public Works officials say water levels appear to be static and are expected to begin receding.

Bayou Des Allemands. Crews continue to monitor this area for any overtopping or trouble with the temporary flood control measures placed here, which include flood control tubes and plastic-wrapped sand.

Evangeline Road, Montz. Water continues to cover the road. Motorists are asked to be cautious.

Gustav / Ike disaster-related tax relief

2008-09-15T15:07:00.002-05:00

The IRS and Louisiana Department of Revenue recently announced that local residents and businesses may qualify for disaster-related tax relief. Click below for more information from both agencies:

IRS Tax Relief

La. Department of Revenue Tax Relief

Water finally receding

2008-09-15T10:15:00.002-05:00

Water is receding in Willowridge and other areas this morning. Water has moved off the streets but is still high in ditches. Residents are asked to stay out of flood waters due to snakes and other water-borne dangers.

According to EOC the storm surge associated with Hurricane Ike reached 4.2 feet. Gustav's surge only reached a height of 3.15 feet. A little more than a foot made a big difference in this case, as Bayou Gauche suffered its highest flood levels in decades.

If you or someone you know needs assistance in the aftermath of Ike, please contact EOC at 985-783-5050. An emergency coordinator will direct you to available resources.

SCP Public Schools resume tomorrow

2008-09-14T19:15:00.002-05:00

Classes in St. Charles Parish Public Schools will resume tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.

Willowridge Street Flooding 9/14/08

2008-09-14T16:03:00.001-05:00

Taken at 2 p.m. Sept. 14, 2008. Videography by Melanie Worrall.

Willowridge - Sandbags available

2008-09-14T13:46:00.001-05:00

Sandbags are now available at the corner of Willowridge and Choctaw Drive in Luling.

Levee riding prohibited

2008-09-14T13:21:00.002-05:00

Residents in the Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands are not allowed to ride ATVs on any levees. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office will arrest those who are in violation of this rule.

Willowridge Update

2008-09-14T13:09:00.003-05:00

St. Charles Parish residents who are signed up through EOC's telephone alert system received a message this afternoon regarding rising water in the Willowridge subdivision in Luling:

Water in the Willowridge area is rising and may continue to rise. We expect some possible street flooding due to this, but at this time we don’t anticipate any homes flooding due to the rising water.

The ring levee behind this subdivision has been experiencing seepage since this morning.

A front is now bringing winds out of the southwest, which is preventing quick receding today as had been expected. As water is receding from areas near Hwy. 90, that water is now filling the swamps and marshland behind the subdivisions south of 90 in Luling.

Please check the blog later this afternoon for video of this area.

Water in Ama ditches

2008-09-14T12:55:00.002-05:00

Rising water from the Hwy. 90 area has made its way into Ama drainage ditches this morning. We do not expect water to get high enough in this area to get into homes.

We have had reports that the water does have a smell. Wastewater officials have confirmed to EOC that the smell is from the water itself, and NOT from a sewer lift station overflow.

Morning Update 9/14/08

2008-09-14T09:19:00.007-05:00

Reports from EOC this morning:

Water levels have crested and are beginning to recede, but residents should expect high water conditions for at least the next 72 hours.

There has been some seepage and overtopping of the ring levee behind Luling's Willowridge and Willowdale subdivisions in at least one area. We DO NOT expect this to threaten any homes, but it may begin filling ditches.

The water is receding over Hwy. 90 near the Davis Diversion. It is now passable and down to one lane.

Water levels have risen even more in Bayou Des Allemands. Parish workers are still sandbagging to correct at least one breech of temporary flood fight measures on Up the Bayou Road.

Water is rising in the ditches in Ama.

Scenes from Hwy. 90, Bayou Gauche, Bonnet Carre Spillway, Evangeline Road in Montz

2008-09-13T22:28:00.001-05:00

Videography by Melanie Worrall

Food Stamps CLOSED on Sunday

2008-09-13T21:32:00.001-05:00

Due to problems servicing the port-o-lets at the food stamp location in Boutte, it will be CANCELLED for tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 14. It is expected to re-open Monday.

Hwy. 90 Eastbound now CLOSED

2008-09-13T18:58:00.001-05:00

EOC reports that Hwy. 90 Eastbound is closed between Luling and Avondale due to high water.

Please use Barton Ave. to River Road as a detour.

Entergy Update

2008-09-13T18:23:00.001-05:00

According to Entergy there are 10 customers in St. Charles Parish without power.

Hurricane Ike Flooding - Sept. 13

2008-09-13T16:04:00.002-05:00

See entry below for information on this video. East Bank video coming later this evening...

Afternoon update 9/13/08

2008-09-13T14:55:00.002-05:00

Just got back from a tour of Bayou Gauche, Des Allemands and Willowdale... things are looking good as we start to bid Ike a fond farewell...

While Bayou Gauche Island and other areas outside levee protection have flooded, the levee system surrounding the subdivisions in Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands has kept water out of hundreds of homes. On the island, residents are still sandbagging in an attempt to keep water out of their homes. I would estimate the water is at least a foot and a half deep over most of the island. One resident I talked to said his houseboat had floated and crashed up the bayou, and all the crab traps he set in Lake Salvador are likely destroyed. He is moving to Brookhaven, Miss.

Public Works crews are actively engaged in a flood fight on Up the Bayou Road in Des Allemands. I watched them replenish and build temporary earthen levees along the bayou. There is some water on the road in low areas, but the levees are protecting the houses very well. On Down the Bayou Road, water was splashing over the bulkhead, but not overtopping it. Lafourche residents across the bayou were loading and throwing sandbags to protect their property.

There is still no sign of flooding in Willowdale or other parts of Luling. But water has crept up onto Highway 90 past the Davis Diversion near the St. Charles / Jefferson parish line. This afternoon it was still passable, but down to one lane in two areas. It seemed as if the water was rising a bit still, but it should be receding soon. It was quite an impressive sight; with flooding on both sides of the highway.

Entergy this afternoon says there are about 40 customers without power in St. Charles, in Destrehan, Luling, Norco and Paradis. These outages are due to problems with individual homes, a company spokesperson said.

Pictures and video of all affected areas are coming soon, including Evangeline Road in Montz and footage of the Bonnet Carre Spillway filled with storm surge from the lake.

Reports from this morning 9/13/08

2008-09-13T09:21:00.009-05:00

Temporary levees of sand and plastic are seeping across the roadway in the 200 - 400 block of Up the Bayou Road in Des Allemands. The water height on the road is about 2 inches. Public Works crews are out this morning sandbagging this area.
Bayou Gauche Island is entirely underwater. Public Works is also providing more sandbags in this area.
Water has blocked Hwy. 90 near the Davis Diversion and Jefferson / St. Charles line in at least two separate areas. The highway is down to one lane in these areas. The road is still passable, but vehicles have to drive through high water. However, so far water levels in drainage ditches in the Willowridge / Willowdale area are actually lower than yesterday.
Evangeline Road in Montz has been barricaded. Water is coming over the tracks near Airline Hwy.
Water levels should begin falling early this afternoon.
Entergy reports there are 190 customers still left without power this morning. These are scattered in Luling, Bayou Gauche, Destrehan, and other areas.

STORM SURGE PEAK NEARING

2008-09-13T07:57:00.003-05:00

EOC Director Tab Toxler this morning said he expects water levels to peak early this afternoon. If levels should rise, it would be no more than another 6 inches.

Overnight water overtook the bulkhead along Down the Bayou Road in Des Allemands, but did not spill over the flood control tubes and temporary levees.

Water levels outside the levee protection in Bayou Gauche rose overnight as well, but there are no reported problems otherwise.

More to come...

HHS reschedules football game

2008-09-12T22:11:00.001-05:00

The Hahnville High Fighting Tigers were unable to reschedule the game versus the Baker Buffaloes. They are now scheduled to play South Plaquemines High School Monday, Sept. 15 at Hahnville High School. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

East Bank Farmer's Market closed Saturday

2008-09-12T20:46:00.000-05:00

Due to high winds, the East Bank Farmer's Market will be closed Sept. 13. It will re-open next weekend.

Photos - Hurricane Ike's Effects on Bayou Gauche, Des Allemands

2008-09-12T19:05:00.000-05:00

Bayou Gauche / Des Allemands Flooding, Levees Video

2008-09-12T17:17:00.001-05:00

Videography by Melanie Worrall

Hurricane Ike Statement #4

2008-09-12T16:51:00.009-05:00

ST. CHARLES PARISH WAITING ON RISING WATER;

WASTEWATER SYSTEM GIVEN ALL-CLEAR

Hurricane Ike Update #4 - 5:10 p.m. 9/12/08

Wind-driven water from Hurricane Ike today covered parts of Bayou Gauche Island as St. Charles Parish Public Works crews continue to shore up flood protection around Des Allemands and Paradis.

Flood control tubes and temporary earthen levees made of plastic-wrapped sand lined Bayou Des Allemands, while residents and officials continue to keep a close watch on rising water.

As southerly tropical storm force winds continue to hammer St. Charles Parish, the water is expected to rise, especially in the parish's southernmost areas. There remains the possibility of street flooding in Luling's Willowdale and Willowridge subdivisions, and levees elsewhere could be tested.

The St. Charles Parish Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness continues to ask that residents of Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands remain vigilant in paying attention to water levels. Due to the potential of rising water, isolated evacuations in areas south of Highway 90 may be necessary if conditions exist for an imminent flood.

Officials with the Pontchartrain Levee District, which oversees the hurricane protection levee on the East Bank along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, expects storm surge from the lake to reach the levee itself. But water levels are expected to be relatively low and out of overtopping range.

Entergy reports 445 customers remain without power in St. Charles this evening. These outages will persist overnight. Power restoration crews are standing down because of high winds. The outages are concentrated in Destrehan, Luling, Norco and Paradis.

Department of Wastewater officials this afternoon gave an all-clear with regard to the sewer system. Residents may resume normal water usage.

Sandbags continue to be available at Badeaux Lane in Bayou Gauche and under the bridge in Des Allemands. Please bring your own shovel.

The parish remains under a tropical storm warning, tornado watch and coastal flood warning. Weather conditions related to Ike are expected to subside Saturday evening.

St. Charles Parish residents are urged to stay tuned to Cable Channel 6, http://www.stcharlesgov.net/ and 1370 AM for further updates.

Wastewater system back online

2008-09-12T16:41:00.002-05:00

The St. Charles Parish Department of Wastewater is reporting that residents may begin regular water usage.

Unemployment Assistance CLOSED this weekend

2008-09-12T16:00:00.003-05:00

Unemployment Assistance through the Louisiana Workforce Commission office on Paul Maillard Road in Luling will be closed this weekend due to Hurricane Ike. The program will begin again on Monday.

For more information, visit http://stcharlesgov.blogspot.com/2008/09/disaster-unemployment-assistance.html.

Hurricane Ike Statement #3

2008-09-12T10:21:00.006-05:00

IKE ALREADY CAUSING POWER OUTAGES; RESIDENTS ASKED TO LIMIT WATER USAGE

Hurricane Ike Statement #3 - Noon, Sept. 12, 2008

Tropical Storm force winds from the outer bands of Hurricane Ike are causing power outages across St. Charles Parish, according to Entergy.

Several feeder lines have been damaged, and the outages affect slightly more customers on the West Bank, Entergy spokesperson Doug Rhodes said. There are confirmed outages in Des Allemands and Ama.

Rhodes said Entergy expects to have power restored to pre-Friday morning levels by this evening. Before this latest storm threat, less than 100 customers remained without power from Hurricane Gustav.

The power outages have forced the Department of Wastewater to ask all residents to conserve water usage until power can be restored. Some sewer lift stations have lost power, which is putting pressure on the system.

Winds at the St. Charles Parish Courthouse today reached gusts of 69 mph, with average sustained winds of 18 mph. Weather effects from Ike are expected to lessen by Saturday night, but the threat of flooding will remain all day. As Ike pushes onshore in Texas, winds will shift and come from the south, pushing water into the Barataria Basin.

The St. Charles Parish Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness continues to ask that residents of Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands remain vigilant in paying attention to water levels surrounding the Sunset Drainage District Levees. Due to the potential of rising water, isolated evacuations in areas south of Highway 90 may be necessary if conditions exist for an imminent flood. Residents in the Willowdale and Willowridge areas of Luling could see street flooding similar to that of Tropical Storm Frances in 1998.

Sandbags are available at Badeaux Lane in Bayou Gauche.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the vandalism of flood control water tubes deployed in the Des Allemands area along Bayou Des Allemands. Evidence indicates that approximately $20,000 in U.S. Flood Control Tubes rented by St. Charles Parish to protect Des Allemands residents from flooding have been intentionally damaged. The damage was most likely inflicted by the use of knives.

The St. Charles Parish Public Works Department has already repaired the areas using a combination of visqueen and sand.

Additionally, the Sheriff's Office is asking that local traffic on FRIDAY be restricted to necessary travel only because of dangerous tropical storm force winds.

Storm debris pickup has been suspended today because of high winds, Parish President V.J. St. Pierre announced this morning.

St. Charles Parish residents are urged to stay tuned to Cable Channel 6, http://www.stcharlesgov.net/ and 1370 AM for further updates.

Council on Aging closed Friday, Sept. 12

2008-09-12T07:11:00.000-05:00

All Council on Aging services and centers will be closed Friday, Sept. 12. Employees are asked NOT to report to work.

Public schools closed Friday, Sept. 12

2008-09-11T18:15:00.004-05:00

As Hurricane Ike threatens the Gulf Coast, a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for St. Charles Parish. The area should experience Tropical Storm conditions early Friday morning consisting of sustained winds in excess of 45 mph with stronger gusts, debris in the streets and loss of power.

In order to ensure the safety of students and employees, Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon has made the decision, as recommended by the Department of Emergency Preparedness, to close schools to include Central Office on Friday, Sept. 12.

The football games scheduled for both Hahnville and Destrehan for tomorrow night have been canceled.

Destrehan has rescheduled their game against St. James for Sunday, Sept. 14 at 4 p.m. The game will be played at Destrehan High School.

Debris removal update

2008-09-11T18:01:00.001-05:00

Videography by Melanie Worrall

Hurricane Ike Statement #2

2008-09-11T16:50:00.013-05:00

ST. CHARLES PARISH COULD FACE FLOODING COMPARABLE TO 1998's TROPICAL STORM FRANCES

Hurricane Ike Statement #2 - 5:30 p.m. 9/11/08

Residents of St. Charles Parish should prepare to see flooding similar to that of Tropical Storm Frances in 1998, St. Charles Parish EOC Director Tab Troxler said this afternoon.

Frances pushed 4.5 feet of storm surge into St. Charles Parish, which put water onto streets in Luling's Willowdale Subdivision and tested the levees surrounding the communities of Des Allemands and Bayou Gauche. Frances also made landfall in Texas.

Ike, which is now located 215 miles due south of the mouth of the Mississippi River, could bring 3 to 5 feet of storm surge on the West Bank of St. Charles Parish. Tides have already brought water levels to 2 feet above normal. Winds will push water towards the coast for about 18 to 20 hours in total. Ike's full impact will not be known until early Saturday, Troxler said.

The parish remains under a tropical storm warning and coastal flood warning.

Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. this morning signed an emergency declaration for the parish. St. Pierre and officials with the St. Charles Parish Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness are monitoring Ike's progress, and work has begun to shore up vulnerable areas along the Sunset Drainage District Levee on the West Bank. Flood control tubes remain in place in this area.

Sanbags are now available at Bayou Gauche and under the bridge in Des Allemands. More locations may be opened tomorrow if needed.

Due to the potential of rising water, isolated evacuations in areas south of Highway 90 may be necessary if conditions exist for an imminent flood.

Wind gusts at the St. Charles Parish courthouse today reached 47 mph. The high winds have already caused intermittent power outages in Norco and the Mimosa and Coronado Park areas of Luling. Entergy says power should be restored quickly in these areas.

Winds of over 40 mph will arrive overnight across the parish, with the heaviest winds coming in around daybreak Friday. Rainfall totals are expected to be relatively low, at 1 to 2 inches.

Additionally, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office is asking that unecessary travel be avoided on Friday due to tropical storm force winds.

Bayou Gauche Road on the island has been barricaded by DOTD. Water is already covering the road in some areas. If you do not live along this road, we are recommending that you do NOT travel on it.

St. Charles Parish government offices will open tomorrow for regular hours.

Public Schools in St. Charles Parish have been cancelled Friday.

St. Charles Parish residents are urged to stay tuned to Cable Channel 6, www.stcharlesgov.net and 1370 AM for further updates.

Food Stamps closed Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13

2008-09-11T12:10:00.004-05:00

The food stamp application site on Hwy. 90 in Boutte will be CLOSED Sept. 12 and 13 due to tropical storm force winds and conditions.

The location will now be open through Sept. 23 daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hurricane Ike Statement #1

2008-09-11T11:27:00.007-05:00

HURRICANE IKE PRESENTS STORM SURGE CONCERNS IN ST. CHARLES PARISH

Hurricane Ike Statement #1 - 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11, 2008

Though Hurricane Ike is currently located approximately 220 miles South of the mouth of Mississippi River and projected to make landfall near Houston, Texas, St. Charles Parish is preparing for the threat of storm surge flooding.

St. Charles Parish is now under a tropical storm warning. This means tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 24 hours. A coastal storm surge of 5 to 7 feet is expected on the West Bank, with 1 to 2 inches of rainfall expected across the parish through Sunday evening. Sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph can be expected, as well as gusts of up to 45 mph.

The parish is also under a coastal flood warning until 6 p.m. Friday.

Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. this morning signed an emergency declaration for the parish. St. Pierre and officials with the St. Charles Parish Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness are monitoring Ike's progress, and work has begun to shore up vulnerable areas along the Sunset Drainage District Levee on the West Bank. Flood control tubes remain in place in this area.

Due to the potential of rising water, isolated evacuations in areas south of Highway 90 may be necessary if conditions exist for an imminent flood.

The St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center has been activated under alert status.

Additionally, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office is asking that local traffic on FRIDAY be restricted to necessary travel only because of dangerous tropical storm force winds.

St. Charles Parish residents are urged to stay tuned to Cable Channel 6, www.stcharlesgov.net and 1370 AM for further updates.

Cox Communications Update

2008-09-11T08:55:00.003-05:00

Steve Sawyer of Cox Communications reports that service has been restored to 90 percent of customers on the East Bank and 75 percent on the West Bank.

Also, The St. Charles Parish Service Center on Storehouse Lane in Destrehan has resumed normal operations as of Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The following are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding Cox cable, phone and Internet service.

Residental Customer Care: 504-304-8444

Business Customer Care: 504-304-1700

Some Cox Communications updates pertinent to the greater New Orleans area:

As of 10am, Wednesday, Sept. 10, Cox has 100% of its nodes fully up.
Customers who are not currently receiving services should now contact customer service to report a trouble call. If a residential or business customer, please provide the appropriate customer care numbers above.
There is certainly damage caused by the winds of Gustav that is not readily apparent during a visual inspection of the plant. Cox is actively working to identify and correct as many of those problems as possible, but it will take time.

MANDATORY EVACUATION CREDIT

Credits Statement: "Cox Communications will be giving all residential customers an automatic 4 day mandatory evacuation credit on all monthly recurring charges credited on your October bill. For customers who experienced extended outages, we are reviewing our service outage records and if additional credits are warranted, these credits will also be issued on your October bill. "

Questions and Answers:

Q: What will be credited on my bill?

A: Cox Communications will proactively apply a 4 day mandatory evacuation credit for all monthly recurring charges to all Cox Residential customers. This credit will happen automatically on their October Bill. Monthly recurring charges are the base service charges customers pay for each month; charges such as their Standard Cable Service $49.99 , their Cox High Speed Internet Service $43.99 and Cox Digital Telephone $11.99 will all be covered under this credit. All “per use” charges will not be covered; meaning that Customers will still have to pay for any per use services such as long distance calls, On demand movies, etc.

Q: When will I see this credit?

A: This credit will be applied automatically and proactively so all customers should see this credit on their next October bill.

Q: My service is still out, will my account be credited for those days that I have no service?

A: Yes, although we have 96% of our customers up and running, we do have areas where service has not been restored due to commercial power our downed drops. If your service is still not working, our service outage report will illustrate that and you will be automatically assessed an additional credit for those extended outage days. This additional credit will also be on your October bill.

Q: What will be included in the credit?

A: All monthly recurring services will be credited for the 4 days: For Video: this would cover the monthly cost of your cable including the cost of any premium channels, Digital services even the monthly cost of your converter rental will be credited for those 4 days. The per use charges for PPV or any On Demand services will not be credited. For Cox High Speed Internet: The credit will include the monthly cost of your High Speed internet service as well as premium access pass and Rhapsody subscriptions.

For Cox Digital Telephone: the credit will include the cost of your monthly telephone package (simple line all the way to a connections package such as connection 90). The credit will not include any national and international long distance charges or any other telephone “per use” items such as a la carte features like call forwarding or * 69.

Q: How will customers see this credit?

A: Customers will automatically see this credit on their October bill. There is no need to call us to confirm. Customers who experienced extended outages may also see an additional credit on their October bill if our service outage reports show that services were not rendered. For both credits, customers will see it detailed as “Disaster Recovery Credit” on their October statements.

DEBRIS REMOVAL – COX PEDESTAL ISSUE

Post-Gustav, Cox is working hard to rebuild and restore our network. After Hurricane Katrina, the company’s rebuilding and service restoration struggled due to citizens piling their debris and tree limbs on our service boxes/cylinders (commonly known as pedestals) and when the debris removal trucks came to pickup, they would pull-up the pedestal hidden beneath the debris with their front loaders. The issue happened repeatedly and destroyed our plant equipment and put Cox back even further in restoring services. A pedestal is a green box or narrow stack that sticks out of the ground approximately every 2 to 3 homes located about 6ft off the curb. After Gustav, Cox is being proactive and reaching out to all parishes and municipalities requesting that they stress to their constituents the importance of not stacking their debris and broken limbs on cable or utility pedestals. This affects mainly neighborhoods where their cable and power is delivered underground.

Cox had more post-Katrina damage to our plant/infrastructure due to debris removal/pedestal damage than the company had from the entire Katrina storm alone. As citizens are getting back, Cox is trying to remind them before they begin their cleanup to avoid placing their debris on these pedestals or boxes. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

COX CUSTOMER FAQs

My services are out. What should I do? Cox’s advanced monitoring network allows us to be aware of video, Internet and telephone outages that are being experienced. There is no need for you to call to report an outage. Please know that Cox employees are working around-the-clock in conjunction with the city, parish and electrical utilities to restore your services.
When can I expect my services to be restored? In addition to our monitoring network, Cox had conducted network surveys on the ground where areas are accessible and in the air where they are not. In many cases, we are unable to estimate how long outages may persist until we can physically access equipment and understand when services we depend on, like electricity, will be restored. Please know that Cox employees are working around-the-clock to restore your services as quickly as possible.
What is Cox doing to restore services? Cox Communications has been one of the first organizations to have employees safely re-enter storm-affected areas. They are working to ensure the safety of our customers, repair our network and quickly restore services. Cox has also mobilized forces from other Cox markets that will be traveling to assist in expediting this process.
What should I do if my video/phone/Internet service is out? Cox has been monitoring our network throughout the recovery and we are aware of the video, Internet and telephone outages that are being experienced. There is no need for you to call to report an outage. Please know, Cox employees are working around-the-clock to restore your services as quickly as possible.
Even though I don’t have access to my computer, can I access my Cox High Speed Internet Email? Yes, all email accounts are still active. If you can get web access to the Internet, New Orleans customers may read and send email at no charge via our WebMail site: http://webmail.cox.net
When will the local Cox Service Center be open? All Cox Service Centers reopened and began regular business hours on Saturday, September 6. Destrehan – 4 Storehouse Lane Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Recovery Assistance Video

2008-09-10T16:58:00.004-05:00

Recovery Assistance Update
Videography by Melanie Worrall

Blue Roof Program time changes

2008-09-10T16:34:00.004-05:00

The new hours for FEMA Blue Roof Program registration at the Luling VFW Hall, 160 Angus Drive, are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Registration will NOT be available on Friday, Sept. 12 because of the weather. It will also be closed Saturday, Sept. 13 because of a previously-scheduled function at the VFW Hall.

It will begin again on Sunday.

Note on Food for Seniors program

2008-09-10T16:25:00.002-05:00

Due to Hurricane Gustav, Food for Seniors has been rescheduled.

Distribution Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Council on Aging Parking Lot, Hahnville.

If you are not not currently receiving a food box, call 1-800-522-3333 to sign up.

German Coast Farmer's Market

2008-09-10T16:12:00.002-05:00

The East Bank German Coast Farmer's Market will reopen on Saturday. The market is located on the grounds of Ormond Plantation in Destrehan. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon.

The Web site is germancoastfarmersmarket.org.

Hurricane Gustav Debris Removal Update

2008-09-10T14:34:00.004-05:00

DEBRIS REMOVAL TO BE COMPLETED IN 7-10 DAYS, CONTRACTOR SAYS

St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. and parish officials Wednesday met with contractors to discuss the progress of garbage pickup and debris removal around the parish.

Coastal Waste Services began regular household garbage pickup Sept. 5. District Manager Gus Bordelon reports that all locations in St. Charles Parish have been serviced as of Sept. 9. Because of the high volume of household waste being left curbside, residents can expect at least some delay in service, he said. His company has added two garbage trucks to its usual fleet of six to handle the extra work.

Garbage pickup continues to be completed as closely as possible to the normal schedule.

Debris removal began in earnest on Sept. 9, with 4,058 cubic yards collected on the first day and 5,890 cubic yards collected the next. Bordelon estimates his crews will collect over 100,000 cubic yards of debris in total.

Bordelon expects crews to complete their first sweep of the parish in 7 to 10 days, with a second pass beginning thereafter. Twenty-eight crews are now actively working in all council districts.

Officials are continuing to urge residents to separate 'green' debris (leaves, branches, etc.) from construction debris and household garbage. Bagged leaves are considered storm debris and will be picked up separately from household garbage. Debris must be placed curbside away from ditches in order to be removed. These small steps will save time and help crews complete their tasks more quickly.

Parish officials have been told that FEMA will handle debris removal along Louisiana state highways. State highways in St. Charles Parish include Paul Maillard Road and Barton Ave. in Luling, Apple Street in Norco, Bayou Gauche Road in Bayou Gauche and Old Spanish Trail in Boutte.

Parish Public Works crews will continue to remove hazardous debris in the interest of safety.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has hired Aspundh Tree Service to handle debris removal along these roadways. The estimated time frame for completion is three to four weeks.

Photo slideshow - Preparation and Damage

2008-09-10T14:29:00.004-05:00

Photos by Renee Allemand, Monique Granier and Abel Dufrene

Entergy update 9/9/08

2008-09-09T16:44:00.002-05:00

Entergy estimates there are about 350 customers still remaining without power in St. Charles Parish. A large crew is working in the Des Allemands area to complete the job.

PARISH LISTS DISASTER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

2008-09-09T15:27:00.019-05:00

State, federal and local agencies are gearing up to offer disaster assistance services through offices in St. Charles Parish. The following is an outline of programs available to St. Charles Parish residents who qualify.

UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. Unemployment benefits are available for St. Charles Parish residents whose jobs have been lost or interrupted because of Hurricane Gustav.

Those eligible must have been employed within the last 18 months, including during the storm. This also applies to lost wages due to extended evacuation.

Applications are being taken at the Louisiana Workforce Commission Office (formerly WIA), located at 737 Paul Maillard Road, Suite 2 in Luling. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Walk-ins are preferred.

To receive benefits, individuals must provide their social security number, proof of wages lost and proof of employment, including the name and address of the last employer. Self-employed individuals must provide their business and financial records, including federal income tax returns for 2007. Benefits are available to individuals for weeks of unemployment beginning Sept. 7, 2008 through March 7, 2009 as long as the claimant’s unemployment continues to be a result of Hurricane Gustav.

The deadline to file is Oct 6.

For more information, visit http://emergency.louisiana.gov/Releases/090508DisasterUnemployment.html or call 1-866-783-5567.

FEMA APPLICATIONS. Residents and business owners may apply for FEMA assistance at www.fema.gov or by calling (800) 621-FEMA.

Assistance available includes reimbursement for hotel stays for those who cannot return to their homes because of damage or inaccessibility; reimbursement for generator purchases if needed to power medical equipment; and grants to help cover medical and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.

FEMA officials urge all homeowners and business owners to apply even if they are insured in case they are eligible for assistance.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE. The St. Charles Parish Department of Economic Development is assessing physical and economic losses to businesses and nonprofit organizations in the parish resulting from Hurricane Gustav.

Please e-mail this information to Corey Faucheux, St. Charles Parish Economic Development Director, at cfaucheux@stcharlesgov.net.

Faucheux also urges all businesses experiencing some loss due to the storm to visit the SBA Web site to begin the application process. The address is http://www.sba.gov/hurricanes/index.html.

SBA loans, including physical disaster loans and economic injury loans, are available for those needing financial assistance to rebuild or repair facilities or provide temporary working capital until normal operations resume.

For more information, visit www.sba.gov or call (800) 621-FEMA.

Boutte Christian Academy Re-Opening Wednesday

2008-09-09T09:29:00.001-05:00

Boutte Christian Academy will re-open Wednesday, Sept. 10, school officials said this morning.

Detailed BLUE ROOF PROGRAM information

2008-09-08T16:49:00.001-05:00

From FEMA:

The program is open to those who qualify, as follows:

Have a photo ID such as driver's license or proof of residency at the location.
Know the kind of roof you have. Structures with flat roofs and tile roofs consisting of clay, slate or asbestos (transite) do not qualify. Mobile homes and roofs consisting of metal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The roof must have less than fifty percent structural damage to be eligible for the program.
The structure must be assessed as habitable once the blue roof is installed.
All debris must be removed from the roof for it to qualify.
The applicant has to sign a right-of-entry form.

The following Right of Entry sign-up collection sites are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Assumption Parish, Assumption Police Station, 4813 Hwy 1, Napoleonville 70390
Iberville Parish, Iberville Council on Aging, 58105 Court St., Plaquemine 70764
LaFourche Parish, LaFourche Crossing Fire Dep't, 691 Hwy 308, Thibodauex 70301
St. Charles Parish, VFW, 140 Angus Drive, Luling 70070
St. James Parish, Vacherie Volunteer Fire Dep't, 2433 LA 18, Vacherie 70090
St. John the Baptist Parish Sherriff's Office, 1801 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 70068
St. Martin Parish, Fire Station, 1011 Main St. Parks 70582
West Baton Rouge Parish, Old Train Depot, Hwy LA 1, Port Allen 70767

The Corps is working with the other five eligible parishes - Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Terrebone and St. Mary - to establish a Right of Entry sign-up collection site in these parishes. Residents of those parishes can call a toll-free telephone number, 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258), to find out the location of the Blue Roof Right of Entry collection sites in their parish.

A temporary Blue Roof is generally good for 30 days.

The program is run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisiana Recovery Field Office, in Baton Rouge, as assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Reminder about service pedestals

2008-09-08T15:48:00.003-05:00

As you continue to stack up and remove debris, please be mindful of the Cox / AT&T / Entergy pedestals found in some yards. These can be damaged during debris cleanup.

If damaged, they will set back power restoration and recovery.

St. Charles Community Health Center

2008-09-08T15:24:00.001-05:00

The St. Charles Community Health Center is now OPEN for urgent and routine medical care Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The address is 843 Milling Ave. in Luling, behind the St. Charles Parish Hospital.

Wastewater Update

2008-09-08T11:16:00.005-05:00

Wastewater Director Sammy Accardo reports that there are no issues with the sewer system in St. Charles Parish at this time.

Power has been restored to 97 percent of the parish, and with that, lift stations have come online. Those lift stations that remain without power are being operated via generator. All lift stations are operational as of this morning.

Residents are urged to report any other sewer problems by calling 985-783-5100.

Recreation Department Update

2008-09-08T10:27:00.001-05:00

As of September 8, 2008 all of St. Charles Parish Parks and Recreation activities will be postponed until next week, depending on Hurricane Ike. If you have any questions please call the office at 985-783-5090.

FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE

2008-09-08T10:22:00.005-05:00

FEMA is now providing assistance for housing and other needs not covered by a homeowner's insurance policy. Officials are asking all homeowners to register for assistance in the event insurance does not cover all losses.

For more information on what is available and to sign up, visit http://www.fema.gov/assistance/process/assistance.shtm

FEMA's number is 1-800-621-FEMA.

You may also sign up in person at the St. Charles Parish Community Services Department,Community Services Office at 14564 River Road / Hwy. 48, New Sarpy. Regular business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is (985) 764-7944.

Entergy update 9/8/08

2008-09-08T09:14:00.006-05:00

Entergy now estimates there are about 500 customers in St. Charles Parish left without power today. That is down from a high of 30,000 customers without power at the beginning of this event on Monday, spokesman Doug Rhodes said this morning.

97 percent of customers in St. Charles now have electricity.

Most of the outages are concentrated in the Des Allemands area, and crews are working to get this last area complete. The area has been a challenge because it is rural and full of downed trees and power lines. Willowdale and Willowridge customers should be powered up.

Rhodes is urging those who are still without power to call Entergy at 1-800-9-OUTAGE to report their address. They can also visit the Entergy office at 413 Paul Maillard Road in Luling from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Crews will be riding to these locations, especially if a given house is surrounded by power. That could indicate a problem with the individual feed to the building.

Council on Aging Information

2008-09-07T13:04:00.002-05:00

The St. Charles Parish Council on Aging will resume regular operations, including meals, transportation and senior center activities, on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

All COA employees are asked to call in by noon on Monday to either Margaret or April, 985-306-0353 or 985-764-7738.

For more information on the Council on Aging, visit their Web page at http://www.stcharlesgov.net/departments/aging.htm.

Libraries Re-Opening

2008-09-07T12:42:00.001-05:00

All St. Charles Parish libraries will re-open at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8, according to Librarian Vicky Nesting.

Entergy update 9/7/08

2008-09-07T11:08:00.002-05:00

Entergy crews today are working on...

According to Entergy spokesman Doug Rhodes, we are still at about 45% without power in St. Charles Parish.
Taft and Killona continue to be a focus because of a critical substation near Oxy Chem and LA 3142. This substation powers most areas down River Road to the Courthouse. Rhodes reports that as crews think they have areas done, they find other problems, so this continues to be a tough situation.
Crews are also working in Paradis, Des Allemands, Norco and St. Rose. You should see the evidence with a lot of power trucks on the road.

Outage update from Entergy.com

2008-09-06T16:50:00.002-05:00

Entergy.com has an interactive map online showing where significant outages are occurring across the state of Louisiana.

To view it, visit http://www.entergy.com/storm_center/outages.aspx

TRASH BURNING ORDINANCE

2008-09-06T13:40:00.004-05:00

The Fire Department is reporting at least 30 calls this morning related to trash burning in the parish.

St. Charles Parish burning ordinances require that all burn sites be at least 1,000 feet from any residence. Additionally, you are REQUIRED to obtain a permit from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, and there is a 14-day waiting period before you can start burning.

For more information please contact the Sheriff's Office at 985-783-6807.

From St. Charles Parish Public Schools

2008-09-06T13:33:00.001-05:00

Regarding the school re-opening Wednesday:

If students are not in school Wednesday it will be considered an excused absence. The student will be allowed to make up his/her work. However, the absence will count against perfect attendance. If you have any further questions please contact Rochelle Cancienne-Touchard at 985-785-7222 or email at rcanciennetouchard@stcharles.k12.la.us.

Blue Roof Program up and running

2008-09-06T12:38:00.008-05:00

Those in need of a FEMA blue roof will be able to sign up daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Luling VFW Hall, 140 Angus Drive in Luling.

No tarps will be given away.

For more information, please call 985-783-5050.

Food Stamp Information

2008-09-06T12:27:00.014-05:00

The following location in St. Charles Parish will be accepting applications beginning Thursday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. THIS LOCATION WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, SEPT. 12, SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 AND SUNDAY, SEPT. 14 DUE TO TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS. IT WILL BE OPEN DAILY UNTIL SEPT. 26.

St. Charles Parish Office of Family Services

14401 Hwy. 90, Boutte

You can also call 1-888-524-3578 (1-888-LAHELPU) and press option 3 to hear the specific site locations. Because this is a state program, you may go to any location in any parish to apply.

For full information on the Disaster Food Stamp Program, please visit

http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/dss/Disaster_Food_Stamp_Program_.html

The disaster benefit period for Hurricane Gustav is August 29, 2008 through September 27, 2008.

To determine your potential eligibility:

Add your total combined income expected to be received from August 29, 2008 – September 27, 2008 to your available resources (cash on hand and all accessible bank accounts).

If the total is at or below the “Disaster Income Limit” listed below for your household size, you may be eligible for Disaster Food Stamps.

Household size	Disaster Income Limit	Maximum Allotment
1	2,079	162
2	2,707	298
3	3,108	426
4	3,663	542
5	4,033	643
6	4,504	772
7	4,770	853
8	5,183	975
Each Additional Household Member	413	122

Click here for the Informational Flyer containing Elgibility Information

What are the Basic Eligibility Requirements?

You and your family must have been living in one of the parishes included in the DFSP Disaster Area on August 29, 2008. St. Charles is one of these parishes.
Your household must meet the income limits to qualify to receive benefits from the DFSP.
Your household must have experienced one or more of the following as a direct result of Hurricane Gustav:
- Loss of Food;
- Damage to, or destruction of, your home or self-employment business;
- Disaster-related expenses for which you do not expect to be reimbursed during the disaster benefit period; or
- Loss or inaccessibility of income, including reduction or termination of income, or a significant delay in receipt of income due to the disaster.

What to expect from the application process?

There will probably be lines. Households are encouraged to send their healthiest member.
You will be interviewed by an agency representative who will determine if you and your family qualify to receive Disaster Food Stamps.
If found eligible, you will be provided an EBT card and benefits will be loaded on the card within 72 hours.

At the application interview you will be expected to provide:

Verification of identify of the head of the household and that of an authorized representative who is applying on behalf of the head of household. You can provide a driver's license, picture ID, work or school ID, voter registration card, pay stubs, birth certificate, an ID for health benefits or another assistance or social services program.
Names and Social Security Numbers of all persons residing in your household on 8/29/08.
Verification of you and your household's residence on 8/29/08.
Information regarding income and bank accounts for all members in your houshold. It would be helpful if you could provide pay stubs, pay statements, and/or bank statements.

The following is the official DFSP Application Form and may be downloaded and printed. You may be able to expedite the interview process if you complete the application prior to coming to one of the application processing locations.

DO NOT FAX THE DISASTER FOOD STAMP APPLICATION FORM TO DSS - A FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW IS REQUIRED. YOU MAY BRING THE COMPLETED APPLICATION TO THE FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW AT THE SITE LOCATION.

Disaster Food Stamp Assistance Application Form

SBA business assistance

2008-09-06T12:05:00.006-05:00

The St. Charles Parish Department of Economic Development is assessing the physical and economic losses resulting from Hurricane Gustav.

Please e-mail this information to Mr. Corey Faucheux, St. Charles Parish Economic Development Director, at cfaucheux@stcharlesgov.net.

Mr. Faucheux also urges all businesses experiencing economic and physical damages to visit the SBA Web site, http://www.sba.gov/hurricanes/index.html, and begin the application process if you need financial assistance to rebuild/repair you facilities or if you need temporary working capital until normal operations resume after the disaster.

Entergy Update 9/6/08

2008-09-06T11:56:00.003-05:00

We have these updates to report:

Crews are working in Hahnville today on the main feeder running from the Courthouse upriver. Once those repairs are completed, most, but not all, of Hahnville should be energized.
There is power in parts of St. Rose, and Entergy continues to work in that area today. They are reporting numerous problems, though.
While the front section of Ashton Plantation has power, crews are continuing to work to complete the entire area. When Ashton gets power, the rest of Gassen Street should light up as well.
A crew is working on Courthouse Lane in Hahnville today.
Still nothing to report on Magnolia Ridge, Paradis or Des Allemands, but hopefully we will hear something by our next update.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

2008-09-06T11:20:00.005-05:00

BATON ROUGE, La. (September 5, 2008) - People whose jobs have been lost or interrupted because of the disaster in the 36 parishes eligible for individual disaster assistance as a result of Hurricane Gustav also are eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), the Louisiana Workforce Commission announced today.

Those parishes are Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

Those eligible must file DUA applications within 30 days of this announcement. The deadline to file is Oct 6, 2008. Applications submitted later may be denied.

Gov. Bobby Jindal requested the disaster declaration for 54 parishes on Sept. 2, 2008, after determining that the incident was of such severity and magnitude that effective response was beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments. President Bush signed the federal disaster declaration, resulting in the authorization of federal assistance for 34 parishes. Gov. Jindal sent a request asking for the addition of the other 20 parishes included in his initial request. St. Tammany and Tangipahoa were added to the declaration on Sept. 4.

The DUA program, administered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, is now accepting claims and will continue until the end of the 30-day filing period.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission's administration building and Unemployment Insurance call center are experiencing power outages as a result of Hurricane Gustav. The outages prevented the Commission from accepting Unemployment Insurance claims. However, the Commission has implemented a plan to transfer certain operations to alternate sites, which allows the call center to begin taking new Disaster Unemployment Assistance claims today.

Those filing new Disaster Unemployment Assistance claims should call 1-866-783-5567. The call center will operate from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice.

The LWC's Business and Career Solutions Centers also can help people file claims. Centers in central and north Louisiana are open and will be staffed seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist job seekers and employers.

In the southern part of the state, centers are open in Bogalusa, Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles and DeRidder. These centers also will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The Luling location is 737 Paul Maillard Road, Suite 2A. This center will be closed Sept. 13 and 14 due to Hurricane Ike.

Centers in other damaged areas will reopen as soon as electricity and Internet service are restored.

Mobile units, including four from Texas, are being sent to high-volume areas throughout south Louisiana to assist citizens with job needs. The first of these units is in Baton Rouge today at the Business and Career Solutions Center on Wooddale Boulevard. A schedule of additional locations will be issued on Monday, Sept. 8.

To receive DUA benefits, individuals must provide their social security number, proof of wages, and proof of employment, including the name and address of the last employer. Proof of employment must be received within 21 days from the filing date of the claim. Self-employed individuals must provide their business and financial records, including federal income tax returns for 2007.

DUA is available to individuals for weeks of unemployment beginning Sept. 7, 2008, through March 7, 2009, as long as the claimant's unemployment continues to be a result of Hurricane Gustav. DUA benefits will not be paid for any period of unemployment before or after these dates.

DUA provides benefits to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster. Before an individual can be determined eligible for DUA, it must be established that the individual is not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits (under any state or federal law).

DUA is available to unemployed U.S. nationals and qualified aliens who worked or were self-employed if they:

Worked or were self employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self employment in an area declared as a federal disaster area.

Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster.

Establish that the work or self employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.

Do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state.

Cannot perform work or self employment because of an injury or because they were incapacitated as a direct result of the disaster.

Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household.

Cannot work or perform self employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.

Lose a majority of income or revenue because the employer or self-employed business was damaged, destroyed, or closed by the federal government. Suffering a monetary loss due to damage of property or crops does not automatically entitle an individual to Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

For the latest on Hurricane Gustav, you can visit emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date information

Church updates - 9/6/08

2008-09-06T11:09:00.003-05:00

First Baptist Church Norco will have a Celebration Service on Sunday at 10:30. It will be held inside if the church has power, if not it will be outside on the front lawn under the oak trees. Chairs will be provided. Any questions contact Pastor Ken Tew, 601-447-8533.

Also, Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hahnville will hold regular masses this weekend.

Boutte Assembly of God will be having a 10 a.m. service, but no Sunday School or Sunday evening service. The church does have power.

Free hot food, water this morning in St. Rose

2008-09-06T10:36:00.001-05:00

The First Baptist Church of St. Rose and the Salvation Army are sponsoring free hot food and water at the chuch, 627 St. Rose Ave., at 10 a.m. today, Sept. 6.

The service is for St. Charles Parish residents only and is being offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Jim Louviere at 504-202-8334.

Curfew no longer in effect

2008-09-06T10:34:00.002-05:00

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's office has announced that the curfew is no longer in effect. Alcohol sales are now authorized.

However, the Sheriff's Office is still operating with double the manpower. Deputies are being augmented by personnel from other agencies, including the National Guard. Heightened patrols are still being completed, especially in areas without power.

Wastewater Update

2008-09-05T17:36:00.003-05:00

According to wastewater officials this morning, 32 percent of the parish's lift stations are now runing on electricity. The rest are still being pumped down via generator power. Still continue to use sparingly as we are not completely up and running just yet.

Pontchartrain Levee Riding Prohibited

2008-09-05T17:09:00.002-05:00

The Pontchartrain Levee District is asking residents to avoid riding ANY vehicles on the East Bank hurricane protection levee. The only vehicles allowed on the levee are levee district officials, engineers or St. Charles Parish Public Works personnel.

With the threat of hurricane Ike, the integrity of this levee is paramount.

Farmer's Market, Recycling Drop-Offs Cancelled

2008-09-05T17:06:00.002-05:00

Both the East Bank Farmer's Market and the Recycling Drop-Off events scheduled to take place in Luling and New Sarpy this weekend are cancelled.

The Farmer's Market will resume next Saturday, and the next drop-off event is scheduled for Nov. 1.