[StBernard] TASK FORCE PELICAN: Update for the week of Monday, October 10, 2005

[Westley Annis]

This is Day 43 since Hurricane Katrina made landfall and Day 16 since
Hurricane Rita made landfall.  

On Thursday, October 6, 2005, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco addressed
participants at the Back to Business Workshop in New Orleans regarding
Louisiana's Economic Development Legislative Package. To view the text of
Governor Blanco's speech, visit the Governor's web site at
www.gov.state.la.us 


 Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco called a special session of the
Louisiana Legislature to consider hurricane recovery measures.
o The Special Session will begin November 6, 2005.

o The 12-day session will be narrowly focused, allowing legislators to
concentrate on urgent matters.

o The Special Session will be convened by a proclamation of the Governor to
begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 6th, and end by 6 p.m. on Friday,
November 18th.


 Governor Blanco also anticipates the need for possibly calling a Special
Session in January 2006.
o It is expected that the revenue estimating conference, which meets later
this year, will identify revenue problems that will need to be addressed
before the 2006 Regular Session. 

o The next regular legislative session is scheduled to convene on March 27,
2006.  


Shelter Populations
Source: FEMA & Department of Social Services

o There are approximately 9,761 Louisiana citizens in out-of-state shelters
throughout the US.  

o There are approximately 17,794 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 for cargo flights and limited
commercial passenger flights.

o The Port of New Orleans is operational. 


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

 I-10 Twin Span 
 Causeway Bridge (except for emergency vehicles)
 US 90 at Pearl River Bridge
 LA 23 Belle Southbound in Plaquemines Parish
 LA 433 at Bayou Liberty Bridge
 LA 611
 LA 182
 Belle Chasse Tunnel

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

Assumption Parish- LA 182
St. Bernard Parish- Residents must take 510 to LA 47
St. Tammany Parish- I-10 w/b @ Oak Harbor, LA 433
Terrebonne- LA 661
 
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 Monday, October 10, 2005 approximately:   
 143,886 Louisianians are without power

 18,971 outages are Rita-related

 124,915 outages are Katrina-related

 341,787 Louisianians are without telephone service
 25,450 Louisianians are without natural gas utilities

Oil Infrastructure
Source: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

o St. Bernard Parish & Plaquemines Parish
 To date, 3 major refineries remain shutdown:
 Chalmette Refining
 Murphy
 ConocoPhillips at Alliance

 To date, 6 major refineries are operating near full to full capacity:
 Motiva (Norco)
 Valero (Norco)
 Marathon
 Motiva (Convent)
 Placid Refinery (Port Allen)
 ExxonMobil (Baton Rouge)


o Lake Charles
 To date, 3 refineries remain shutdown:
 Citgo - due to lack of electricity
 ConocoPhillips - due to lack of electricity
 Calcasieu Refining

 Natural Gas Infrastructure
Source: Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

o Lower St. Bernard Parish & Plaquemines Parish
 To date, 3 key facilities remain shut down:
 Yscloskey
 Toca
 Venice


o Vermilion Parish & Cameron Parish
 To date, 7 critical plants remain shutdown:
 Sea Robin
 Grand Chenier
 Stingray
 Lowry
 Sabine Pass
 Barracuda
 Cow Island

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


o Lake Charles Area
All emergency care services are operational except for Walter Olin Moss
Regional Medical Center and South Cameron Memorial Hospital.

o Greater New Orleans Area
East Jefferson General Hospital; West Jefferson Medical Center; Ochsner
Clinic Foundation; Kenner Regional Medical Center; Lakeside Memorial
Hospital; St. Charles Specialty Hospital; and Touro Infirmary opened with
Strike Team

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

o Other hospital updates:
 Military moved out of Meadowcrest Hospital


Schools Affected By Rita 
Source: Local School Districts

o Calcasieu Parish has asked central office staff, administrators, janitors
and custodians to report back to work Thursday, October 13, 2005.

o The following day, Friday, October 14, 2005, Calcasieu parish will
announce a planned opening date for public schools.

o Cameron Parish has announced that all students will have the opportunity
to complete the 2005-2006 school year, but has not announced a target
opening date.


Schools Affected by Katrina
Source: Local School Districts

o Schools in some of the most damaged school districts have worked around
the clock to reopen.

o The city of Bogalusa, St. Tammany Parish and Jefferson Parish schools
opened their doors to students Monday, October 3, 2005. 

o Employees of Plaquemines Parish have been asked to report back to work
today. Schools are scheduled to reopen Monday, October 17, 2005.

o Orleans Parish is hoping to open some schools in November. 

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. 

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


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 As of Monday, October 10, 2005, 62 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 W! ashington
St. Helena St. John St. Charles
East Feliciana St. Tammany 


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 As of Oct. 6, state officials, working in conjunction with coroners from
local parishes, had recovered 1003 bodies.  This is an increase from 988
recovered bodies on Oct. 5, 2005.

These numbers have been reported to state officials by local coroners. A
breakdown is as follows: 
 810 are at the morgue in St. Gabriel

Parish Coroners:

*	Ascension - 9
*	Assumption - 3
*	East Baton Rouge - 72
*	Iberia - 6
*	Jefferson - 30
*	Lafourche - 2
*	Livingston - 5
*	Plaquemines - 3
*	St. Charles - 8
*	St. Tammany - 7
*	Tangipahoa - 26
*	Terrebonne - 19
*	West Baton Rouge - 3

o A demographic breakdown of bodies in the St. Gabriel morgue is as follows:
African-America - 40.8%, Caucasian - 35.3%, Hispanic - 0.4%, Asian/Pacific -
0.1%, Other - 0.5%, missing information - 22.8%.

o In most cases(62%), an age has not yet been determined, but the following
ages are known: 0-5 - 1.2%, 16-20 - 0.13%, 21-30 - 0.54%, 31-40 - 1.34%,
41-50 - 4.69%, 51-60 - 6.16%, 61-75 - 9.91%, 75+ - 14.32%.

o On Friday, October 7, 2005, DHH revised the number of deceased victims
attributed to Hurricane Katrina to 1,003. DHH also released the name, age,
race and place of residence for the first 73 victims to be released to their
families.

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


Department of Transportation & Development

 Toll collection will resume Monday, Oct. 10 on the Crescent City Connection
bridge and ferries. Tolls will be waived for National Guard and emergency
vehicles.

 New Orleans Public Belt has repaired all rail lines and is back in service.

 As of Oct. 10, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority is operating on 7
routes, using 22 buses. Hours of operation: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., 7 days a week,
which will be adjusted as conditions permit. Additional lines and service
will be added as buses, fueling and maintenance services can be secured.

 On Sunday, Oct. 9, Jefferson Transit (JET) extended its Kenner local bus
from Jefferson Highway to Claiborne at Carrollton and its Airport bus to
Tulane at Carrollton.

 The DOTD Customer Call Service Center has taken 9,731 calls since August
31, 2005.
 

Department of Labor

 In the five-week period since Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Department
of Labor has paid 224,200 new claims, surpassing the 193,000 initial claims
paid all of last year. So far, $133.9 million in Katrina related
Unemployment Insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits have
been paid to claimants for September through the first week of October. By
comparison, the labor paid out $20 million in UI claims during September of
2004.

 Two New Orleans-area LDOL offices have been re-opened:

o West St. Tammany Workforce Center- Covington, LA
o East Jefferson One-Stop- Metairie, LA

 Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available for individuals
living/working in Evangeline, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes.


Department of Social Services

 Louisiana Shelter Information

o There are 218 open general population shelters in Louisiana

o There are 17,794 citizens in Louisiana's general population shelters

o There are 3 open special needs shelter in Louisiana

o There are 255 citizens in Louisiana's special needs shelters

o There are approximately 9,761 Louisiana citizens in out-of-state shelters

 Disaster Food Stamp Program

o Due to Katrina:
 337,408 HH received almost $194 million in benefits

o Due to Rita:
 102,376 HH received almost $42.5 million in benefits

Support Enforcement Services is urging all people who have been affected or
displaced by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita to call the Louisiana
Customer
Service Center toll-free to obtain information on their child support
payments
and other case concerns.

Displaced citizens should call 1-800-256-4650, Monday - Friday from 7 a.m.
to 7
p.m., to receive information about payments that have been made since
Hurricane
Katrina. Operators will also accept address changes for mailing out child
support payments at this number. Those people who have Internet and email
access
are encouraged to send all inquiries to lacsc at dss.state.la.us.

Louisiana Department of Economic Development

According to LED's research, in the 13 parishes severely impacted by Katrina
and Rita, there were 80,850 businesses prior to the storms.  By comparison,
the entire state economy has a total of 197,446 businesses.  

 Although only 13 of 64 parishes were severely impacted, they represent 41
percent of the state's total businesses. An estimated 90 per cent of these
are small businesses.

To date, LED has serviced more than 9,000 businesses with relocation
assistance.

LEDforward campaign has been established to register and provide assistance
to affected businesses, and to provide information about current and future
financial aid programs. Elements of campaign:
 Dedicated website at LEDforward.louisiana.gov; and
 LED Call Center at 866-310-7617
o Both provide access to LED personnel

o At toll-free number, make specific requests that are not addressed online 

o Track emerging / unmet needs

o Allows creation of business database for follow-up on emerging assistance

Businesses interested in subcontracting with FEMA during the recovery
process should visit LEDforward.louisiana.gov or go directly to
accesslouisiana.com to register for consideration.

Business Counseling Centers are set to open soon in locations across Rita
and Katrina zones. These centers will include:
 Federal and State government representatives
 Local economic development organizations and professionals
 Private volunteer consultants

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

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

HUNTING SEASON UPDATE: SEASONAL CHANGES, OPENING DATE DELAYS 

 The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced
that select areas of the state affected by Hurricane Rita will have
additional hunting season closures and that some areas expected to open this
weekend will remain closed.

 LDWF Secretary Dwight Landreneau signed the declaration of emergency on
Oct. 6 with the authority granted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries
Commission.  The details of the directive are as follows:

 Deer and rabbit hunting is closed effective Oct. 7 in that portion of
Iberia Parish, south of LA Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 90, and in that
portion of St. Mary Parish, south of U.S. Highway 90, except, this closure
shall not apply to the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area (however,
the scheduled youth hunt on Oct. 8-9 has been cancelled).  This season
closure will remain in effect until further surveys of the impact to these
two species and their habitats can be conducted.

o Deer, rabbit and squirrel hunting will remain closed in portions of:
o Ascension
o Livingston
o St. John and St. James parishes north and west of U.S. Highway 51 from
U.S. Highway 61 to Frenier Road
o North of Frenier Road to Lake Pontchartrain
o West of Lake Pontchartrain to Pass Manchac
o South of Pass Manchac to Lake Maurepas
o South of Lake Maurepas to the Blind River 
o South of Blind River to the Amite River Diversion Canal
o South of Amite River Diversion Canal to LA Highway 22
o South of LA Highway 22 to LA Highway 70 in Sorrento
o East of LA Highway 70 to LA Highway 3125
o North of LA Highway 3125 to LA Highway 641
o North and west of LA Highway 641 to U.S. Highway 61 
o North of U.S. Highway 61 to U.S. Highway 51  
o The decision to close hunting in this area is based upon the flooding that
has continue! d in this area since Hurricane Rita and utilizing the water
levels documented from past flooding activity.  Water is slowly receding in
this area and this season closure will remain in effect until further
notice.  This area was not opened on Oct. 8, as previously stated in an
earlier Declaration of Emergency.  

 LDWF has no plans to close or alter previously announced migratory bird
seasons, including duck season.  Hunters need to be aware that some
migratory hunting areas may be inaccessible or difficult to access and that
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed their coastal National
Wildlife Refuges for all activities including hunting.

 For hunting season changes, go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov, and click
on 2005-06 Hunting Season Changes under WHAT's NEW. A chart in that file
lists all of the revisions to the previously announced 2005-06 season dates.

LDWF OFFERING FREE ASSISTANCE TO BOAT OWNERS NEEDING DOCUMENTATION FOR
LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES

 The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is working with
vessel owners and their insurance companies to provide assistance with
documentation required to file claims for the loss of boats during
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  

 To assist boat owners who suffered losses, the department will provide free
certified copies of boat registrations and will cancel registration records
for which written documentation is received from the registered owner or the
insurance company for lost, stolen or missing boats.  Along with the written
request for a certified copy or a cancellation, registered owners should
provide a copy of their driver's licenses for identification purposes.  This
information may be faxed to 225-763-5421.

 LDWF is taking a proactive approach to curtail fraud and theft by
scrutinizing ownership documentation for new applications submitted to
register boats that may have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Department will work with the Office of the Attorney General and make
every effort to protect the rights of legitimate boat owners.  Registration
transactions will not be allowed for salvaged, found or abandoned boats.

 Louisiana has several criminal statutes that address theft, fraudulent
applications and related matters.  LDWF agents will investigate and file
charges against anyone attempting an illegal transfer of a motorboat
registration.

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

 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 compiled

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

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.


Department of Health & Hospitals

 After 3 weeks of extensive testing, the boil order in portions of Orleans
Parish was lifted last week. State health officials have worked with the
Orleans Parish Sewerage and Water Board to ensure safe drinking water before
removing the boil order that has been in place since Katrina. The clearance
was given when the system demonstrated the ability to maintain pressure and
proper chlorine disinfectant, thus resulting in no unsafe levels of bacteria
remaining in the water. The cleared portion of the system includes all areas
west of the Industrial Canal.

 The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and New Orleans
based Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) have partnered to provide
Louisiana residents with broad access to critical public health information
during recovery efforts for hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Louisiana focused
public health and safety messages will be coordinated and disseminated by
LPHI, administrator of the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL)
and Step Together New Orleans (STEPS), through a multi-media advertising
campaign including community outreach and a comprehensive, public health
centered website, www.stayhealthyla.org .


Department of Corrections

 DOC is completing the coordination of returning all male inmates from
Calcasieu Parish to their home institution.  Transportation of all male
inmates will be completed today (Monday).  Female inmates from Calcasieu
Parish will remain at their state/local institution until Calcasieu is ready
to accept them.

 In accordance with earlier plans, Jena, which is the most expensive
alternative housing site for the Department to operate, has been closed and
inmates have been transferred to several different state and local
facilities.

 With only a very few exceptions, Orleans Parish Prison misdemeanants
(traffic and other minor municipal and parish offenses) have been released.
Out of a pool of approximately 935 offenders, approximately 750 of those
cleared background checks (no felony or other serious warrants or detainers)
and have been released.

 The October 17th deadline for transitioning the booking and detention
process of post-Katrina arrestees from Corrections to Orleans Parish Prison
remains viable.

 FEMA has closed its distribution site at C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center
in DeQuincy.  Below is a breakdown of operations:

o 9,493 - families received supplies
o 5,814 - vehicles were processed through the distribution center
o appx. 160,320 - bottles of water
o appx.   35,000 - bags of ice
o appx.   84,000 - food packages

 Inmates and staff from Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson continue the
partnership with the Humane Society to house and care for dislocated animals
from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Approximately 150 dogs along with
chickens, ducks and geese get daily TLC from volunteers, DCI staff and
inmates.  

 Washington Correctional Institute in Angie served as a Red Cross
Distribution Center last week for residents of several Louisiana parishes
and Mississippi counties applying for financial assistance as a result of
Hurricane Katrina.

National Guard 

 There are approximately 12,200 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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