[StBernard] UPDATE: TASK FORCE PELICAN

[Westley Annis]

UPDATE: TASK FORCE PELICAN

Update for the week of:

Monday - October 3, 2005


Overview

.	This is Day 34 since Hurricane Katrina made landfall and Day 9 since
Hurricane Rita made landfall.  

.	Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, local leaders call for Federal
action to provide funds for critical local government services.
o	Governor Blanco will hold a press conference with a group of mayors,
parish presidents, police jurors, sheriffs and other public safety personnel
regarding Federal funds for critical local government services
o	Monday, October 3rd at  2 pm CT
o	Governor's Press Room, Louisiana State Capitol
o	The press conference will be open to the media

.	Governor Blanco issued the following Executive Orders:
o	EO NO. KBB 2005-51- to amend Executive Order NO. KBB 2005-24
regarding an emergency occupation of hotel and Motel Rooms due to Hurricanes
Katrina & Rita; 

o	EO NO. KBB 2005-52- pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and
Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., declares an
emergency suspension of certain workers' compensation laws;  

o	EO NO. KBB 2005-54- which delays the October 15, 2005 and November
12, 2005 elections in the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu,
Jefferson Davis and Vermillion; 

o	EO NO. KBB 2005- 53- which declares an emergency suspension of time
limitations applicable to benefits, emoluments, entitlements, and
opportunities available to public employees. 

o	The full texts of Executive Orders are available online at
http://www.gov.state.la.us/2005excecutiveorders.asp. 

.	State Housing Update
Source: FEMA, USDA Rural Development Office, Governor's Hurricane Housing
Task Force
            and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development

o	The state of Louisiana has identified approximately 53,000 acres of
state land, 1600 RV sites, 6,000 group sites and 230 cabins.
	Louisiana provides an updated list of properties to FEMA on
a regular basis for assessment for temporary housing. 

o	The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Housing program reports that 646 families have been placed in multi-family
housing complexes financed by USDA Rural Development in Louisiana.  
	According to USDA, this assistance has resulted in placement
of approximately 2,261 displaced Louisianians in multi family housing units.

 


.	State Housing Update (continued) 
Source: FEMA, USDA Rural Development Office, Governor's Hurricane Housing
Task Force
            and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development

o	FEMA has assigned housing contractors exclusive parishes in order to
streamline the housing process.  
	Orleans parish will be served by multiple contractors
serving different areas of the parish.   

o	Individual home, general population group sites and workforce
housing sites are being assessed by FEMA contractors throughout the affected
parishes for placement of mobile homes and travel trailers.  
	According to FEMA, the Groom Road Emergency Group Site is
scheduled for completion sometime this week.  

o	The Governor's Hurricane Housing Task Force is also assessing the
housing requirements from Hurricane Rita.  

o	FEMA has established a new worker/ employee housing program, at
Governor Blanco's request.  
	LED has worked with FEMA to coordinate site selection &
delivery for 2064 mobile housing units.   The units will house displaced
employees so that businesses can continue and/or expand operations.  

	Over 200 businesses have received temporary housing for
employees

	LED continues to work with FEMA to deploy additional
requested units on an ongoing basis.

.	Shelter Populations
Source: FEMA & Department of Social Services

o	There are approximately 30,000 Louisiana citizens in out-of -state
shelters throughout the US.  

o	There are approximately 39,401 Louisiana citizens in shelters
throughout Louisiana.  
*These numbers are in constant flux as citizens displaced due to Rita and
Katrina attempt to return to their homes. 

.	Ports & Airports
Source: Louisiana Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

o	New Orleans International Airport is open to cargo flights and
limited passenger flights.

o	Lake Charles Regional Airport plans to resume operation on October
8, 2005. 

o	Ports: 
	Port of New Orleans: access available; U.S. Department of
Transportation Maritime has made ships available to house displaced
port-related workers. 

	Port of Lake Charles: wind/flood damage; no electrical
power. NOAA has moved a survey boat to survey the ship channel. 

	Port of Iberia: extensive flooding from Rita. Office has one
foot of water and no power. 

Overview (continued)


.	Main Road/ Bridge Closures
Source: Louisiana Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

.	I-10 Twin Span 
.	US 90 at Pearl Bridge
.	LA 23 Belle Southbound in Plaquemines Parish
.	LA 433 at Bayou Liberty Bridge
.	Belle Chasse Tunnel

.	Road Closures by Parish
Source: Louisiana Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

Acadia Parish- LA 91 @ the Pontoon Bridge 
Assumption Parish- LA 182
Clacasieu Parish- Interstate 210
Cameron Parish- LA 27 from I-10 to LA 14, LA 82 from Deep Bayou Road to Teal
Street, LA 27 South of Sweet Lake at Gift Town Bridge
Iberia Parish- (EAST of LA 89) - High Water 
Jefferson Parish- Barriers in place on US 61 @ Orleans/Jefferson Parish line
(No traffic allowed thru), National Guard checkpoint on River Road at the
Orleans Parish line and at US 90 at the Orleans Parish line, US 61 n/b & s/b
at LA 3046
Orleans Parish- US 11 is passable and opened to eastbound traffic only.
Plaquemines Parish- RE-ENTRY suspended-only emergency vehicles allowed south
of the Alliance Refinery on LA 23.
St. Benard Parish- Claiborne Ave & W Judge Perez from Central St. to
Packenham Dr. still flooded, LA 39 (W. Judge Perez) n/b/ & s/b at Orleans
Parish Line, St. Bernard residents must take 510 to LA 47.
St. John Parish- US 51 n/b & s/b at m/p 8.0 (Ruddock exit)
St. Landry Parish- Hwy 742, ½ mile south of Hwy 190- Tree down, I-49 NB exit
ramp @ Harry Guilbeau Rd. - Stop sign down, LA 3277 north of LA 757, poles
are blocking the roadway.
St. Martin Parish- LA 92 between LA 31 & LA 347- Bridge handles are broken
St. Mary Parish- LA 317 south of the Intracoastal Waterway is only open to
residents during the day; LA 319 south of LA 83 is open to residents during
the day only.
St. Tammany Parish- I-10 w/b @ Oak Harbor, LA 433
Vermillion Parish- LA 82 from LA 27 to LA 3147, LA 333 is closed from LA 82
to Intracoastal City, LA 82 from the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge to the
Cameron Parish line is closed.




Overview (continued)

.	Power & Communication Utilities
Source: Louisiana Public Service Commission

o	Local, state and federal agencies are working with utility providers
to restore power and communications.  
o	As of Sunday, October 2, 2005 approximately:   
	259,310 Louisianianas are without power

.	91,725 outages are Rita-related

.	167,585 outages are Katrina-related

	438,131 Louisianians are without telephone service
	25,450 Louisianians are without natural gas utilities

.	Oil & Gas Infrastructure
Source: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

o	To date, Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) is operating at 100%.

o	To date, 6 of 12 major refineries in south Louisiana are operating
at near capacity. 
	These refineries include: ExxonMobil (Baton Rouge), Placid
Refining Company (Port Allen), Motiva (Convent), Motiva (Norco), Marathon
Ashland Petroleum (Garyville), Valero (Norco) 

o	To date, 6 of 12 major refineries in south Louisiana are currently
shut-down. 
	These refineries include: Chalmette Refining (Chalmette)
Murphy Oil (Chalmette), ConocoPhillips (Alliance), Valero (Krotz Springs),
CITGO (Lake Charles), and ConocoPhillips (Lake Charles).  

o	6 of 6 natural gas processing plants in Louisiana are currently shut
down.
	3 plants are waiting on power.  These plants are: ExxonMobil
(Garden City), Marathon ( Burns Point), and ExxonMobil  (Grand Isle).  
	3 are assessing and/ or reparing damages.  These plants are:
Dynegy (Yscloskey), Dynegy (Venice) and Enterprise Products (Toca).

o	Several pipelines shut down their systems as a result of Hurricane
Rita. 

.	Hospitals
Source: Louisiana Hospital Association
     
All hospitals are operational, except some hospitals in mandatory evacuation
areas.

o	Throughout the various stages of recovery, primary emergency room
services are being provided by the following hospitals in the affected
regions:

Lake Charles Area
West Calcasieu- Cameron Hospital & CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital of Lake
Charles

Greater New Orleans Area
East Jefferson General Hospital; West Jefferson Medical Center; Ochsner
Clinic Foundation; Kenner Regional Medical Center; Lakeside Memorial
Hospital; and
Temporary Field House Hospital at the Convention Center

Overview (continued)

.	Hospitals (continued)
Source: Louisiana Hospital Association

Lafayette Area
ALL emergency care services in the Lafayette area are operational.  

o	Other hospital updates:
.	Lake Charles Memorial Hospital plans to come back up Saturday or
Sunday - with ER, ICU services and approximately 15-20 beds.  
.	The Gauthier campus of LCMH will re-open on Sun with approximately
15 beds.  They do not have ER services, but will provide walk in services.
.	Kenner Regional opens today with 20 beds and their ER is functional.

.	Touro Infirmary re-opened their ER yesterday at 7am with a Strike
team.  They currently have limited ER capability. 
.	Lakeside Hospital in Metairie is scheduled to open this Friday with
ER services, 20 beds and limited inpatient/medical surgery capabilities.  
.	River Oaks Psychiatric Hospital in the Greater New Orleans area met
with officials from DHH & the Fire Marshal's Office on Friday, with plans to
re-open upon approval.  
.	The Gautier Campus of LCMH will not open on Sunday, paperwork
submitted to DHH & Fire Marshal for request to open on Monday.  

	
.	Schools Affected By Rita 
Source: Local School Districts

.	Calcasieu Parish placed updated information on the department's
website, www.louisianaschools.net, for employees concerning their paychecks
and direct deposit.  

.	Schools in Beauregard Parish will re-open community by community as
electric power is restored and an adequate supply of fuel is available to
sustain operation.
o	Electric power has already been restored to all DeRidder schools and
to the East Beauregard schools; however, fuel remains in short supply.
o	School officials will assess the situation throughout the weekend to
determine if schools with electric power will be able to re-open sometime
later next week. That announcement will be made on Monday.
o	Beauregard students should NOT enroll in another school system.
Beauregard Parish schools will be opened as soon as services are available
to ensure the continuation of classes. Beauregard administrators are working
with the state to allow a shorter school year.
o	BPSB paychecks are available at the central office. All direct
deposits have been converted to regular paychecks. A photo I.D. will be
required. If a designee picks up multiple checks, all applicable photo I.D.s
will be required to release the checks.

o	Cameron Parish reports all students will have the opportunity to
complete the 2005-2006 school year as Cameron Parish students; the school
calendar will be adjusted as needed due to the "Hurricane Rita" disruption

o	Vermilion Parish schools are closed until further notice.  

o	Terrebonne Parish reports that 11 schools will be closed through at
least October 4th.  

o	St. Landry Parish, Lafourche Parish and Iberia Parish schools have
re-opened.
Overview (continued)

.	Schools Affected by Katrina
Source: Local School Districts

o	Plaquemines Parish reports it will reopen schools in Belle Chase on
October 17, 2005 to all students of Plaquemines Parish.

o	New Orleans Public Schools officials have begun laying out the
framework for a plan to re-open schools that will be based on the expressed
intent among NOPS parents to return to New Orleans and enroll their children
in school. 
	NOPS is urging parents and employees to notify the district
of their intent to return to New Orleans by logging on to
www.alvarezandmarsalnops.com or by calling 877 771-5800. 
	District officials are developing plans to repair and reopen
a number of schools in November, subject to all environmental, health and
safety issues being properly addressed. 
	These schools are located in the West Bank/Algiers area and
include elementary and high schools. 
	Student demand will determine how many schools are
re-opened, making it essential for parents to inform the district of their
intent to return. Each re-opened school will operate as a citywide school
and will serve students throughout the city. 

o	The St. Bernard Parish School System is closed until further notice.

o	Bogalousa City Schools, St. Tammany Parish schools, Jefferson Parish
Public schools are scheduled to re-open today.  

o	Washington Parish schools have re-opened.


.	Mandatory Evacuation Orders- Rita
Source: Louisiana Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

     Mandatory Evacuation Orders are still in effect for 10 Southwest
Louisiana Parishes. 
o	These parishes include:
	ALL of Calcasieu Parish
	ALL of Cameron Parish
	ALL of Jefferson Davis Parish 
	PARTS of Vermilion Parish (low lying areas south of LA 14)
	PARTS of St. Mary Parish (below the Intercoastal Waterway)
	PARTS of Acadia Parish (South of LA 92)
	PARTS of Iberia Parish (below US Highway 90)
	PARTS of Iberville Parish (mobile homes only)
	PARTS of Jefferson Parish (Lafite, Crown Port, Barrataria &
Grand Isle)
	PARTS of Lafourche Parish (South of Leon Theriot flood
gates)

o	A curfew is in effect for Calcasieu Parish from 6pm-6am.  

o	A curfew is in effect for Jefferson Davis from 7am-7pm.






Overview (continued)

.	As of Monday, October 3, 2005, 60 parishes had declared States of
Emergency due to effects of Hurricane Rita. 
 
Acadia 	Franklin 	Rapides
Allen	Grant	Red River 
Ascension	Iberia 	Richland 
Avoyelles	Iberville	Sabine
Beauregard	Jackson 	St James
Bienville	Jefferson 	St. Landry
Bossier	Jefferson Davis	St. Martin 
Caddo	Lafayette 	St. Mary
Calcasieu 	Lafourche	Tangipahoa
Caldwell 	LaSalle	Tensas 
Cameron	Livingston 	Terrebonne
Catahoula	Madison 	Union 
Claiborne	Morehouse	Vermillion
Concordia	Natchitoches 	Vernon 
Desoto	Orleans 	West Baton Rouge 
East Baton Rouge 	Ouachita	West Carroll
East Carroll	Plaquemines	West Feliciana 
Evangeline	Pointe Coupee	Winn
Lincoln	Assumption	Washington
St. Helena	St. John	St. Charles


.	Mandatory Evacuation Orders- Katrina
Source: Louisiana Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

Mandatory Evacuation Orders are still in effect for 4 Southeast Louisiana
Parishes.
o	A curfew is in effect from 6 pm- 6 am for areas where residents are
being allowed to return.
o	Residents are urged to monitor the local media for guidance from
their local officials for information about returning home.  
o	These parishes include:
	PARTS of Orleans Parish (low lying areas)
	PARTS of Jefferson Parish (low lying areas)
	PARTS of Plaquemines Parish (low lying areas)
	PARTS of St. Bernard Parish (low lying areas)

64 parishes have declared States of Emergency due to the effects of
Hurricane Katrina.  

.	Fatalities*
Source: Department of Health & Hospitals & Louisiana State Police

o	To date, the number of Katrina- related fatalities is 932. 

o	To date, there are no confirmed Rita-related fatalities.







Department of Transportation & Development

.	As of yesterday, I-10 was fully open with access to the CBD from the
West Bank available during daylight hours. 

.	Current New Orleans traffic issues: 
o	The lack of capacity on the Huey P. Long Bridge 
o	The Crescent City Connection is in limited service due to access
restrictions into Orleans Parish 
o	The continued closure of U.S. 90 and U.S. 61 into the city on the
East Bank. 

.	Percentage of traffic signals operational by parish:
o	Jefferson-90% 
o	Orleans-5% 
o	Plaquemines-86%
o	St. Bernard-0% 
o	St. Charles-100% 

.	All navigation restrictions have been lifted for the Mississippi
River Ship Channel. 

.	The DOTD Customer Call Center has taken 8,975 calls since August 31,
2005.



Department of Labor

.	About $1 billion of the state's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
will be used by August 6, 2006 mostly to pay benefits to people left jobless
because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Trust Fund now stands at $1.5
billion.

.	The Labor Department has paid 188,488 Katrina-related benefit
claims. Of that total 135,547 were Unemployment Insurance claims and another
52,941 were Disaster Unemployment Assistance payments.




Department of Social Services

.	From Sept. 2 - Sept. 29, the Office of Family Support has issued
nearly $114 million in Disaster Food Stamp Program benefits to nearly
315,000 households as a result of Hurricane Katrina. 

.	OFS began issuing Disaster Food Stamp benefits to the victims of
Hurricane Rita on Sept. 27.
o	During the first 7-hour period, $2 million in benefits were awarded
to 5,523 households.

o	Beginning Sept. 30, OFS will be able to issue benefits to residents
of 9 Texas counties who were impacted by Hurricane Rita and have evacuated
to shelters in Louisiana. 

.	Displaced citizens may use Disaster Food Stamp Benefits in any state
in the nation. 
o	For more information about the program and other social services
needs, DSS is offers a toll-free hotline at 1 (888) LA HELP U.

.	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. 

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

.	The Louisiana Economic Development Recovery Team has been
established by Governor Blanco and is being led by LED Secretary Michael
Olivier and Department of Labor Secretary John Smith.  The team will address
economic development and workforce efforts.

.	Last week, LED launched the LEDforward campaign to register and
provide assistance to affected businesses, and to provide information about
current and future financial aid programs. 
o	The campaign features a dedicated website (LEDforward.louisiana.gov)
and toll-free number (866-310-7617) linking businesses with economic
development professionals.  

.	LED has worked with FEMA to coordinate site selection & delivery for
2064 mobile housing units.   
o	The units will house displaced employees so that businesses can
continue and/or expand operations.  
o	Over 200 businesses have received temporary housing for employees
o	LED continues to work with FEMA to deploy additional requested units
on an ongoing basis.

.	The following business recovery programs are being proposed and/or
created:
o	Short-term bridge loans
o	Federal business grants
o	Incentives for individuals and businesses to return to affected
regions
o	Tax exempt private activity Hurricane Recovery Bonds
o	Unemployment compensation assistance

Division of Administration

.	Commissioner of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc testified today,
September 30, 2005, before the Joint Legislative Budget Committee that the
state is looking for a qualified accounting firm to provide oversight over
money received from the federal government in order to rebuild the state of
Louisiana in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

.	Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco recently announced her commitment
to provide careful monitoring of those funds in order to insure fiscal
propriety and care in applying them to the rebuilding needs of the state.   

.	The solicitation for offers has been sent to firms which must meet
rigorous criteria in order to respond in order to insure the integrity of
all financial processes related to the use of those federal funds.  

.	Firms that submit offers must have experience in presidential
declared natural disasters, experience in dealing with state governments and
matters relating to fraud and misconduct prevention, investigation and
detection.  

.	Additionally, firms which respond must have a national presence and
what the solicitation terms, a multidisciplinary experience.  

.	The offers from qualified firms will be evaluated by a team
consisting of the State Treasurer, the Commissioner of Administration, and
representatives of several national organizations involved in governmental
accounting services.  

.	A copy of the solicitation can be reviewed at:
http://wwwsrch2.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/AGENCY/PDF/01862900.pdf

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

.	Initial 'Wildlife' Impacts Assessment
o	White-tailed Deer
	In the coastal areas, initial deer mortality may not be as
great as that which may occur in the next few months.  Currently, deer have
concentrated on the higher ridges. The availability of food could become
limiting in some areas because of the combination of prolonged flooding and
saltwater scalding.  This could be offset to some degree by new vegetative
growth that occurs as the water recedes.  In the hardwood areas of
southeastern Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Katrina, new growth has been
observed on many of the tree and browse plants.  There are still another
couple of months for new browse production to occur.

o	Rabbit
	In many respects, the rabbit situation in coastal habitats
is similar to that of deer.  However, even within the immediate surge area,
considerable debris was available to offer temporary refuge from
floodwaters.  As early as a day after the storm, potential refuge areas in
the form of Roseau cane and bulrush stands were available.  It is expected
that many rabbits used these types of areas and higher ridges as they became
available.

o	Waterfowl
	Waterfowl currently in the state are primarily migrant
blue-winged teal and resident mottled ducks and black-bellied whistling
ducks. It is unlikely that these species experienced significant direct
mortality.  However, marsh waterfowl habitat has been severely impacted by
extensive saltwater scalding and prolonged flooding.  These factors will
reduce availability of submergent and emergent vegetation that are important
waterfowl foods.

o	Forested Habitats
	As Hurricane Rita moved inland, it continued to impact
wildlife habitat.  However, unlike coastal areas where flooding had the
greatest impact, the impact further inland was the result of high wind.
Timber damage in many areas along the path of the storm was significant.
Although there was immediate loss of habitat for some species such as
squirrels and cavity nesting birds, the impacts on wildlife due to timber
damage may not be readily apparent.  In the future, wildlife will be
impacted in areas of heavy wind damage by loss of mast producing hardwoods
as well as the limited use of prescribed burning and a general change in
forest structure.  Populations of some species will benefit from these
changes while others will be hurt.

o	Fur & Refuge Division Report
	ALLIGATOR SEASON EXTENDED, NUISANCE GATOR ASSISTANCE
AVAILABLE 
.	The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has
announced that the 2005 alligator season will be extended until Oct. 30 due
to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
.	This extension is an effort to help the many alligator hunters in
the hurricane damaged areas who have been displaced and have had alligator
harvest efforts delayed.  
.	Hunters are reminded to coordinate their harvest activity with their
local alligator buyers or processors as they may have been affected by the
hurricanes as well.
.	Anyone wishing to have an alligator removed from private property,
can call 337-373-0032 for assistance. The New Iberia Fur and Refuge Division
office will dispatch personnel to relocate nuisance alligators that may have
been displaced by storm activity. 



Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (continued) 

.	Enforcement Division Search and Rescue (SAR) Missions
o	Rita
	LDWF has responded to 215 rescue requests 

	A LDWF task force will remain in Abbeville with a second
dispatch point in Lake Charles to support SAR efforts in Calcasieu and
Cameron parishes. 

	LDWF personnel are also staged in Westwego to respond to
needs in the southeastern parishes. 

	Total persons rescued through SAR - still to be compiled.


o	Katrina
	LDWF estimates more than 21,000 lives were saved through
LDWF coordinated search and rescue operations in the aftermath of Katrina

o	The overall rescue effort was a cooperative air and water approach
involving: U.S. Coast Guard, La. National Guard, 82nd Airborne, local
Sheriff's Offices, Parish OEP's and civilian volunteers, as well as LDWF
enforcement division, fisheries division and wildlife division personnel.

.	Additional hunting season closures and opening date postponements:

o	Deer and rabbit hunting is closed in all of Cameron Parish and in
parts of Vermilion, Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu Parishes.  

o	Deer, rabbit, and squirrel hunting is closed in portions of
Ascension, Livingston, St. John, and St. James Parishes.  

o	Deer and rabbit hunting is closed in those portions of Terrebonne,
Lafourche, and Jefferson parishes south of the Intracoastal Waterway.  

o	Deer and rabbit hunting is closed in Plaquemines and St. Bernard
parishes due to Hurricane Katrina damage to wildlife habitat. 

o	The decision to close these seasons is based upon the flooding that
has occurred since Hurricanes Katrina or Rita.  These areas should be
reopened for hunting shortly, as soon as water levels return to normal and
the stress to these populations due to flooding is removed.  A special
announcement pertaining to this opening will be made.  

o	The first Youth Lottery Deer Hunt on Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife
Management Area scheduled for October 8-9, 2005 is cancelled.

o	Additionally, the U.S. Army has closed all hunting seasons on the
weekend of October 1 and 2, 2005 at Fort Polk and Peason Ridge wildlife
management areas. 
	Those WMAs encompass acreage in Vernon, Sabine and
Natchitoches parishes. 
	Hunters utilizing those WMAs are advised to contact the Fort
Polk Game Warden Office at 337-531-5715 for information on when these areas
will be opened after October 2.

o	For more information on 2005-06 hunting season changes and updates,
visit the LDWF web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.


Department of Health & Hospitals

.	The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries are working together to ensure the quality of seafood in the
Hurricane Katrina-effected area, including Lake Pontchartrain, is
satisfactory and safe for consumption.

.	Data obtained on the quality of flood waters discharged to Lake
Pontchartrain and from the estuary surrounding the lake show no levels of
toxic chemicals above concern that would warrant fish consumption advisories
at this time.

.	Plans for comprehensive seafood tissue sampling are being developed
to ensure the safety of seafood caught in the effected areas. These plans
will be implemented within two weeks.

.	High bacteria levels have been noted in flood waters that are pumped
back into Lake Pontchartrain and some localized areas of bacteria
contamination have been observed. However, state health officials note that
this is not uncommon after a hurricane.

.	Consuming raw seafood always poses a potential risk from bacterial
contamination, but the thorough cooking of any fish or shellfish caught in
Lake Pontchartrain will eliminate the threat of food poisoning.


Department of Corrections

.	The New Orleans West Probation and Parole District has re-opened.
All four districts in Region 1 (NO - West, NO - East, St. Bernard and
Jefferson) will operate out of the NO - West Office for now.

.	Offenders under probation or parole supervision in those districts
should call 504-568-4956 to report if they have not already done so.
1-800-869-2029 is still operational, but callers will be referred to the NO
- West number.

.	The Department continues to monitor progress in the return of
inmates from South Louisiana who had to be evacuated due to Hurricane Rita.
Terrebonne Parish inmates returned Friday and Saturday.  Other parishes will
hopefully be able to return this week.
o	Washington Correctional Institute in Angie, LA will be a staging
area for approximately 100 travel trailers provided by FEMA.  WCI provides a
secure location for the trailers until they can be moved to specific
locations.
o	Electricity has been restored to both C. Paul Phelps Correctional
Center in DeQuincy and Allen Correctional Center in Kinder.

.	Phelps Correctional Center and Washington Correctional Institute
continue important operations as FEMA distribution sites for food, water and
ice.  Both facilities are also in talks to become debit card distribution
points for the Red Cross.

.	Many of our state institutions are supporting relief and recovery
efforts in their communities.
o	Allen Correctional Center is preparing meals for Allen Parish's Meal
on Wheels program.
o	Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson is partnering with the
Humane Society to take care of displaced animals.  Volunteers and inmates
are feeding, walking and providing medical care for dozens of dogs.
Chickens, ducks and geese are also being sheltered.  
o	Several facilities are providing inmate work crews to help with a
variety of assignments in their communities.
Department of Corrections (continued) 

.	Probation and Parole officers continue to assist with security
patrols at the following locations:
o	Moss Regional Hospital in Lake Charles
o	Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office
o	Jennings Police Department
o	Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office


National Guard 

.	There are approximately 17,000 National Guard soldiers on the ground
under the command of Governor Blanco. 
o	To date, approximately 4,000 National Guard troops have been
dedicated to Task Force Rita.  
o	In the aftermath of Rita, the National Guard rescued approximately
2,000 citizens and delivered more than 1,400,000 MREs, 1,600,000 bottles of
water, and 415,000 bags of ice to citizens in need.  
o	In the aftermath of Katrina, the National Guard rescued more than
4,200 citizens and delivered more than 5,000,000 meals, 6,000,000 liters of
water, and 12,000,000 pounds of ice to citizens in need.  


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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Louisiana's fund for
Louisiana's people, has been established by Governor Kathleen Babineaux
Blanco in order to support long-term family restoration and recovery and
help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of
Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies.

877.HELPLA1 (877.435-7521)
www.louisianahelp.org