[StBernard] Return - Rebuild - Remain

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish Recovery Plan of Action Review

We understand that information has been somewhat of a problem from St.
Bernard and hopefully some of the following issues will be addressed more
promptly than we have done to date.  There is no excuse other than the time
constraints involved in providing information to be circulated.  We have
re-committed ourselves to providing you with as much information as we can.


PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS HELD AND CHERISHED BY US JUST AS IT IS BY
YOU.  IN NO WAY DO WE WISH TO KEEP YOU FROM HAVING WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU
NEED THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO RETURN, REBUILD, AND REMAIN.

The following plan is very fluid and is presented as a template of
activities and not as a firm program.  We will be keep you posted as to the
progress of the many areas of concern and any areas that are not covered,
residents are encouraged to send those information needs to contact at sbpg.net
.

Thank You,
Craig Taffaro 
on behalf of the council members Mark Madary, Judy Hoffmiester, Kenny
Henderson, Chairman Joey DiFatta, and Ricky Melerine; Parish President
Junior Rodriguez and his administration



Condemnation Issues- RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

Building inspectors from FEMA were delayed from starting the inspections
today due to travel related issues.  The inspectors are expected to begin on
Monday.  Environmental issues continue to be in the hands of the individual
property owner based on the guidelines provided by DEQ and EPA.  Be aware
that inspections of the property will result in a structural report and the
council will then make a formal recommendation to the property owner, who
will decide the fate of their property.

Should a recommendation be made to demolish the property, and the property
owner agree, a signed statement by the property owner must be completed in
order to have any demolition work be completed.  Demolition will not be
charged to the property owner.


Utility Updates (Water/Entergy/Atmos/Phone/Cox) RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

Water:  Water service has been sporadic throughout the parish as the water
works continue to be repaired and assessed.  It is loosely anticipated that
water service could be expected in about 30 days along the St. Bernard Hwy.
corridor from Judge Perez to the river in the area from Jean Lafitte Pkwy.
to the Violet Canal.  Residents should expect that some areas within the
above mentioned area will have localized problems such as line breaks and
varying water pressure.

During the next 30 days, the Arabi area from Jean Lafitte Pkwy. to the
parish line, will continue to be assessed and service will be provided as
lines become available and the area from the parish line in Arabi to the
Violet Canal and from Genie and Patricia Streets to the river is expected to
receive water service with some consistency by early November.

Parish wide water service is expected by the end of the year to the first of
2006, excluding the area below Regio.

The above stated schedule is a rough estimate and is subject to change
depending on the condition of lines and connections that may present
unforeseen challenges to the system.  Residents are encouraged not to leave
house connections open when not at the house to avoid a drain to the system.


Entergy:  Entergy has now powered up the Water and Sewer Plant, the Jail,
the Courthouse, the Government Building, the Fazendville Treatment Plant,
the Jean Lafitte Pumping Stations, and one sewer lift station, the Disaster
Relief Center.

Next up will be to power up the St. Bernard Port, the water towers, the
School Board Administration Building, and Fire Stations 1 & 3.

Temporary housing sites such as the Stage parking area, the old Delchamps
parking area, and the area adjacent to Off Track betting in the Meraux
Foundation property will be receiving priority attention as well.

Identified businesses will receive the next level of the power grid and then
a plan to power up certain residential areas to coincide with residential
development will follow.  While it is still too early to give a specific
time frame from Entergy, it is worth mentioning to allow our neighbors to
stay close enough so that they could come back.

Business owners should be prepared to show proof of a post storm electric
inspection before receiving power from Entergy.  Homeowners may have to
provide the same if Entergy requests such.


ATMOS Gas:  ATMOS is currently working in the Arabi area and plans to
continue to work westward.  ATMOS has cautioned us about the time frame
because of the entire system having been shut down, which complicates the
safety of reestablishing service.

Customers are encouraged not to leave gas connections on.


Business Development   RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

Currently the government is encouraging any local businesses, which can
begin operations to do so.  To date we have several service-oriented
businesses attempting to restore operations.  Again, we are requiring houses
and buildings to have an electrical inspection from a licensed electrician.
We are pleased to announce that the Murphy Oil gas station at the Super
Walmart is open for business and several other businesses have expressed a
commitment to open in the near future including Gulf Coast Bank, Jubilee
Grocery and a restaurant inside the building, Chalmette Hardware, Car Craft,
Pakenham Service, SouthLake Food Store, and Vetter Lumber.  While I am sure
that there are others, these are a few that we are aware of.  Others should
contact us at contact at sbpg.net to let us know your plans for opening.

As a reminder, businesses should follow the same SBA Loan procedure as an
individual, but identify the application for business not personal.
Remember that it is imperative that you do not drop out of the application
system-  if you do not fill the paper work out you will not be processed for
other potential assistance.


Debris Removal  RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN 

The removal of Hurricane related debris is taking place in many sections of
the parish.  FEMA has requested an additional form of internal paperwork
regarding the entry to private property request be made.

As of 10/10/05 there has been over 26,000 cubic yards of debris picked up.

Local equipment operators will begin being called on to assist in the
recovery process.  Interested operators and laborers should visit the
employment fair at the former Splash Carwash.


Court House   RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

The court house will begin operations on 10/11/05.  Operations are currently
going to be on a limited basis to handle magistrate court and criminal
issues that must be heard.  Information will be updated as the situation
changes.  Civil matters will be handled as deemed necessary by the court.
There is no phone contact at the courthouse, but cell phone operations for
courthouse activity are anticipated shortly.


HazMat Issues    RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

The removal of household hazmat such as paints, gasoline, oil, cleaners,
refrigerant, coolant, etc. will be removed from your lawn or property in a
different manner than your regular debris.  Please make every effort to
separate your piles if possible when you are cleaning your house out.  If
you do not plan to salvage your home, you are not required to remove the
debris from your home.  If you are able to do so, it is helpful, otherwise
the contractors will handle the hazmat contents according to their
requirements.


Missing Cars/Boats   RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

There has been some confusion about this issue.  The parish as a whole is
not prohibiting any resident to remove his/her automobile or boat.  However,
the state police and EPA have raised concerns about vehicles being
contaminated.  This issue is being addressed at the time of this posting and
we will alert you to the conclusion of such.

Once the contamination issue is resolved, residents should be able to
provide proof of ownership and identification.  If you are picking up a
vehicle as a commercial tow company or if you are picking up a vehicle/boat
for another person, you must have a notarized affidavit with all identifying
information included in the affidavit and appropriate identification as the
person removing the vehicle/boat.
Currently there was no way to load larger boats onto trailers, but soon
there will be an apparatus that will be used to do so.  The owner assumes
the risk for loading the boat onto the trailer.

Cars and boats that have been removed from rights of way or properties have
been stored at the landfill site on Paris Rd.  The sign on the site is TDRS
and is at the former parish collection site.  Once vehicles/boats have been
inventoried and once the contamination issue is cleared up, both
vehicles/boats stored at the landfill site and those on private property
will be allowed to be removed.


Government Operations    RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

Parish Government continues to operate in a somewhat different manner.
Council members who are present have taken on additional roles in the
recovery effort.  Council Chairman Joey DiFatta has reconvened the regularly
scheduled council meetings, with both meetings being held at 11:00 a.m.  The
October 18th meeting is being planned to be held at the newly gutted council
chambers-  this symbolic gesture is meant to be one of many of the Return,
Rebuild, Remain activities to come.

The Parish President has recently joined the Parish Council in contracting a
Recovery Specialist, Col. Dave Dysart.  Col. Dysart has numerous military
honors and most recently was involved in a leadership role in rebuilding
Falajuh, Iraq for the United States Government.  Although the Dysart name is
a recognizable one in St. Bernard Parish, there is no relationship between
the St. Bernard Dysarts and Col. Dave Dysart.  Col. Dysart will be primarily
responsible for the development and implementation of the mid term and long
term recovery plan for St. Bernard Parish, with particular emphasis on the
FEMA process.  He will be accompanied by Maj. Barry Guidry, from Georgia who
will assist in the operations of the EOC.  The state EOC has also loaned St.
Bernard Parish Major Bill Haygood as a consultant to the EOC, the Parish
Council, and the Parish President.

The permitting process will be up and functioning within the very near
future.  Mike Hunnicut is addressing the many needs of the current
unprecedented permitting process.  A complete outline of the repair
registration and the permitting process will be presented shortly.  One
thing is for certain- the permitting process will be more streamlined and
more efficient than ever before in St. Bernard.

The Certified Building Inspectors have arrived in St. Bernard.  The group of
ICC inspectors arrived and met with Mike Hunnicut on Monday, 10/10/05, and
set up their plans for the inspecting process.  As properties are inspected,
both businesses and residences, reports will be generated by the inspectors,
reviewed by the council and administration and recommendations made in order
to facilitate the RETURN, REBUILD, and REMAIN plan.  The time frame for the
inspectors to complete the parish wide inspection process is undetermined as
of yet, but it was indicated that large areas will be able to receive
recommendations as a whole.  These inspectors will not be responsible for
environmental issues.  A general guideline will be used based on information
that will be provided by the LADEQ.

The financial picture of parish government is rather bleak at the moment,
but with every new business and with your help by calling Senator Vitter,
Congressman Melancon, and Senator Landreau every day to ask for support of
disaster funding for St. Bernard, including direct grants for rebuilding
efforts by residents, things will get better.



Housing    RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

St. Bernard continues to wait for residential temporary housing.  Trailers
are being delivered for the governmental operations and workers and are
expected to continue being delivered for residents over the next several
weeks.  Exact time frames are difficult, but our local RV dealer, Steve's RV
has been brought into the process to attempt to help the state assigned
outside contractor figure out what the problem with trailer procurement is
and assist in solving it.

Remember FEMA (sorry to use foul language) will be assigning trailers based
on the registration from residents.  You may register at the DRC site at
Walmart or online at www.FEMA.com or at 1800621FEMA.

There is a tent city that has been established and is now open for
residential sheltering.  The tent city includes hard surfaced flooring in a
dorm style sleeping arrangement; three hot meals a day, showers, bathrooms,
and air conditioning, and entertainment facilities.  If you are in need of
temporary sheltering until your trailer is assigned, please consider this.
It is located just inside the Port property.

FEMA has indicated that when you receive your trailer you may place it in
your driveway or on your property and use a generator for power.  This is a
major change in policy from requiring electricity to the home site.  There
is still a question as to if FEMA will relax the requirement about water and
sewer service.



Insurance    RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN

The insurance adjusters are located in the Walmart Parking lot and will also
begin living in the parish in their own trailer city that they provided.
Hopefully this will assist you in getting them to move quickly on your
claims.  Don't let your guard down when dealing with your adjuster about
homeowners coverage for wind related damage-  keep pushing the issue that
this was a wind driven event and note that the wind occurred first, then the
wind driven water was next.

Also, please check your policies about the additional reimbursement that you
may be eligible for if your house is declared condemned.  It may be a source
of additional reimbursement.

As always, please file a complaint with the Insurance Commissioner of
Louisiana if you feel that your claim is not being handled properly.  It
matters that every complaint is registered.  We will post the number on
subsequent postings.


Mental Health   RETURN - REBUILD - REMAIN 

This postings tidbit is to remember that trauma brings very varied
reactions.  It is helpful to accept that this will take place for a while.
A helpful activity is to take yourself outside of your own suffering and
lend some assistance to someone else, no matter how small it may be.  You
may be amazed at how you suddenly see things from a very different
perspective-  be prepared to return to your own challenges but it is okay to
repeat the stepping outside process as often as necessary.