[StBernard] UPDATE: TASK FORCE PELICAN

[Westley Annis]

UPDATE: TASK FORCE PELICAN

Saturday, September 24, 2005
12:00 p.m. 

State of Louisiana

This is Day 25 since Hurricane Katrina hit.

.	The State of Louisiana and the National Guard continue to monitor
Hurricane Rita.  

o	Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco sent a letter to President Bush
requesting an expedited major disaster declaration for the State of
Louisiana due to Hurricane Rita.  

o	The full text of the letter is available online at
www.gov.state.la.us

.	To date, there are approximately 16,000 National Guard soldiers on
the ground under the command of Governor Blanco.

.	Approximately 4,000 of National Guard troops have been dedicated to
Task Force Rita.  

.	In addition to the current troops on the ground, Governor Blanco has
requested up to:
o	15,000 National Guard troops deploy to Louisiana and 
o	15,000 Federal troops be prepared to deploy to Louisiana

.	National Guard primary missions continue to be: saving lives
(including providing meals, water, and ice to personnel), enforcing
security, evacuating residents, and supporting existing critical
infrastructures

.	Louisiana Shelters: To date, there are more than 47,000 evacuees in
more than 300 shelters in Louisiana.

.	Out of State Shelters: To date, there are more than 31,000 evacuees
in more than 350 shelters throughout the United States.  



Louisiana Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

.	As of 9:00 am today, 44 parishes have declared States of Emergency
due to effects of Hurricane Rita.

.	These parishes include: 

Vermillion; Jefferson Davis; Tensas; Lafayette; Cameron; St James; Iberia;
Sabine; Calcasieu; Vernon; Natchitoches; St. Mary; Caddo; Bossier; Ouachita;
Jefferson; Acadia; Allen; East Baton Rouge; Franklin; St. Landry;
Tangipahoa; Rapides; Livingston; Allen; Terrebonne; Evangeline; Beauregard;
Richland; West Baton Rouge; Plaquemines; Winn; Morehouse; Avoyelles;
Iberville; Concordia; East Carroll; West Feliciana; Union; West Carroll;
Pointe Coupee; Jackson; Madison; Red River

.	LOHSEP ongoing operations include:	
o	Search and Rescue Operations
o	Commodities Support (MRE, water & Ice)
o	Generator Support 
o	Re-Fueling Support
o	Engineer Team Deployment

.	Later today, with the aid of the National Guard, LOHSEP will begin
preliminary disaster assessments. 
 
.	Calcasieu Parish OEP officials have advised Calcasieu residents NOT
to return to their homes until at least Monday, September 26, 2005.
o	They have also asked residents to monitor local media outlets for
further updates.  



Department of Health & Hospitals

.	An updated number of fatalities has been announced at 841. This
number will be updated as often as possible when deaths are determined to be
storm-related.

.	A national toll-free number is available for families whose loved
ones may have perished during Hurricane Katrina. 
.	Concerned relatives, who are unable to find a missing loved one and
fear the worst, should call the Find Family National Call Center at
1-866-326-9393. 
.	This is the nationwide collection point and official coordination
center for information on persons missing from the storm.  
.	Family members can phone this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
.	Officials remind callers this number is specifically for those
concerned that a loved one may be deceased. 
.	Callers will be asked a series of questions that are solely for the
purpose of identifying and reuniting family members.

.	The following breakdown highlights the activities at the call center
as of Sept. 22:
- 4,588 individuals are reported as missing, but their exact fate is
unknown. They could be alive or may have perished.
- 759 individuals have been located alive
	
.	The Department of Health and Hospitals requests that clergy members
in Louisiana who are willing to offer their pastoral counseling services
immediately contact the Find Family Call Center at 225-709-7870.

.	DHH has included flu vaccine in its shelter vaccination campaign. 
o	To date, the agency has vaccinated over 6,000 shelter
residents/workers. 
o	Flu vaccination acceptance has been very high, reaching over 70%in
some shelters.



Department of Social Services

.	From Sept. 2 - 23, the Office of Family Support has certified
307,000 households (with an average of 3 family members per HH) for total
Disaster Food Stamp benefits of more than $111.4 million. 

.	Residents of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and St.
Tammany parishes may continue to apply for emergency food stamp benefits
through Sept. 29, 2005.
o	 Applicants from these parishes, as well as Washington Parish, who
already have emergency food stamp benefits, will continue to receive
benefits through the month of October. 

.	Shelters housing more than 25 displaced citizens and not currently
registered with the parish Office of Emergency Preparedness should call
(866) 310-7617 or in Baton Rouge, 925-1938. 



Department of Labor

.	DOL has planned for possible benefits claims in the coming days and
weeks ahead from people who will be out of work temporarily or permanently
due to Hurricane Rita.

.	DOL has taken 178,807 Katrina-related claims for Unemployment
Insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits. At least 157,937
were determined to be eligible.


Department of Transportation & Development

.	10 handheld radios have been delivered to the Emergency Operations
Center in preparation of Hurricane Rita.

.	DOTD is working with FEMA to help coordinate bus transportation for
Katrina evacuees who are in shelter areas and must be evacuated because of
Hurricane Rita.

.	Two FHWA Asset Teams will return to Orleans Parish Monday, Sept. 26,
to assess the non-DOTD Local Federal Aid Roads (i.e. Urban system). 

.	DOTD has issued a freeze on new hires and non-Katrina related travel
expenditures. 

.	The Belle Chasse tunnel re-opened on Wednesday, September 21, 2005.

.	DOTD Customer Service Center - Number of Calls since August 31, 2005
= 6,706



Louisiana Department of Education

.	DOE continues its efforts to assist school districts impacted by
Hurricane Katrina and is also preparing to assist any school district
impacted by Hurricane Rita.

.	DOE is coordinating and scheduling staff for the Education desk at
the state Office of Emergency Preparedness 24 hours, 7 days a week, until
otherwise notified.

.	Every school district in the state was assigned a cabinet level
contact person within the Department of Education after Hurricane Katrina,
and we will attempt to remain in contact with our "buddy districts" for as
long as possible as Hurricane Rita makes landfall.  

.	The Department of Education will assess the impact of Hurricane Rita
on our local districts as soon as the storm passes and communication can be
established.  



Board of Regents 

.	Board of Regents and management system representatives met to
discuss and implement campus preparations for Hurricane Rita. All systems
and affected campuses have taken or are taking the following precautions: 
.	Backup of all critical records
.	Adequate security in place on campuses
.	Safe harbors identified on affected campuses to shelter students who
might not be able to evacuate in time
.	Campus shelters across the state currently in use for Katrina
evacuees shall remain functional for evacuees potentially displaced by
Hurricane Rita

.	Contact numbers for system information: 
              --  LCTCS: 1-866-310-1586      		 --  LSU System:
(225) 578-2111
   --  SU System: (225) 771-4500		 --  UL System: (225) 342-
6950                    



Division of Administration

.	State offices in 44 parishes have been closed in preparation for
Hurricane Rita.
o	These parishes include: Ascension, Avoyelles, DeSoto, East Baton
Rouge, Grant, Pointe Coupee, Red River, West Baton Rouge, Jefferson,
Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John,
Assumption, Evangeline, Iberville, Lafourche, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine,
St. Landry, Terrebonne, Vernon, Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu,
Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lower St. Martin, Upper St.
Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, St.
Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and West Feliciana 

.	Essential personnel should report to work as directed by their
supervisors.

.	Affected state employees are urged to monitor local media and stay
updated by calling on the state office work status hotlines. The work status
hotline numbers are: 1-800-360-9660 and 225-342-0498. 



Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

.	Facilities Secured and Personnel Evacuated
o	All LDWF coastal facilities in the path of Hurricane Katrina have
been secured and staff evacuated. Moveable equipment, including computers,
boats and trailerable earth moving equipment have all been taken to higher
inland areas.

.	Search and Rescue Personnel and Watercraft Staged for Response After
Storm
o	Enforcement Division: 135 boats and 135 personnel staged and ready
to go into rescue area Saturday following passage of storm

o	Office of Wildlife / Office of Fisheries: 110 boats and 123
personnel ready to follow initial wave as needed



Department of Natural Resources

.	DNR has facilitated assessment, access, and security with emergency
personnel addressing critical energy infrastructure needs in Louisiana, as
well as assisting facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina recover.  

.	DNR is working with the oil and gas industry to facilitate the
security needs of refining assets in Lake Charles (CITGO and
ConocoPhillips), which have been shut down.  
o	DNR will continue to work with industry contacts to facilitate the
re-starting of these assets ASAP after the passage of Hurricane Rita.

.	Secretary Angelle has initiated reconnaissance flights over the
parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Orleans, and Jefferson and worked with
energy industry personnel to facilitate the reconstruction of damaged
facilities.  

.	Three major natural gas processing plants remain shut down in St.
Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes (Toca, Yscloskey, and Venice).  
o	Shell Oil Company has essentially re-located its One Shell Square
Louisiana HQ in a training facility in Robert, Louisiana.  

.	Three major refineries in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes
remain off-line.  These are: Chalmette Refining, Murphy, and ConocoPhillips
at Alliance

.	Six major refineries are operating at near full to full capacity.
These are: Motiva Norco, Valero Norco, Marathon, Motiva Convent, and
ExxonMobil Baton Rouge.  

.	The American Petroleum Institute is reporting that 18 of 26
refineries along the Gulf Coast have been shut-down as a result of Katrina
and the anticipation of Rita.  



Department of Corrections

.	Preliminary damage assessments at state institutions from Hurricane
Katrina appear to be minimal at this time.  However, further assessment will
be conducted once winds and rain subside later today.

.	Several state correctional facilities are without power this
morning:  C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center in DeQuincy, Allen Correctional
Center in Kinder, Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport and J. Levy
Dabadie Correctional Center in Pineville.  Above mentioned facilities are
operating on emergency generator power.

.	The Department is gathering information on the safety of employees
in Hurricane Rita's path and scope of property damage.  DOC is ready to
assist with supplies and money to help with immediate needs thanks to
correctional systems across the country.

.	Terrebonne Parish is evacuating its prison facility due to flooding
concerns.  Approximately 550 inmates will be transported to 3 different
state facilities in Louisiana today.


.	A breakdown of inmate evacuees to date:

o	Katrina evacuees:	2,466 inmates in local facilities
3,503 inmates in state facilities
920 inmates at Florida federal facility

o	Rita evacuees:	706 inmates in local facilities
1,042 inmates in state facilities
550 inmates from Terrebonne Parish to state facilities today

.	The Department will reassess placement of evacuated inmates Sunday
evening/Monday morning, once a clearer picture of damage and/or flooding to
these evacuated local facilities develops.

.	"Camp Amtrak" operations in New Orleans remain stable.  No flooding
reported as of Saturday morning at the booking, processing and temporary
detention facility.


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