[StBernard] Daily Update from Councilman Craig Tafaro

[Westley Annis]

Daily Update

October 14, 2005

By: Councilman Craig Taffaro


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Condemnation Issues 

Inspectors are now into the north part of Arabi.  Inspection reports will
soon be generated and will begin be acted upon as soon as they become
available.  It is anticipated that most of the first reports will not
recommend demolition (these are the houses in the south part of Old Arabi).
The inspectors continue to cover almost 1,000 homes a day and additional
inspectors were requested.

Utility Updates (water/entergy/atmos/mail/phone)

Water:  Water service continues to improve. On Friday, the Meraux water
tower will be filled and the water tower near Torress Dr. should follow.

Entergy:  The ability to get power is improving, although it is primarily
through temporary poles at limited houses.  Businesses should have an
electrical inspection done and have the electrician contact the community
development office to approve entergy powering up the business.

ATMOS:  Atmos has gas to the Domino Sugar Refinery.  Lateral connections to
neighborhoods have been closed and gas is being started through the main
lines along the highway.

Phone:  Bellsouth will begin servicing the government building on Friday.
Bellsouth service to residents is still an undetermined amount of time away.
Cell phone service is improving but is still sketchy at certain times.

Mail:  St. Bernard mail is being sent to the Covington post office.
Residents who did not change their address can still do so and are
encouraged to do so.  We may use the water meter bill addresses to try and
reach people.

Business Development
Dozens of businesses are expressing interest in returning and committing to
do so.  We are working on a data base of returning businesses so please
forward your commitment and time frame for your return.

Local contractors should register through the website under unified recovery
group to be in line for work assignments.  All contractors must emphasize
the use of St. Bernard employees.

A position has been implemented by our project manager to monitor contractor
compliance with the use of St. Bernard residents.

A JOB FAIR is being held at the large white tent just inside and to the
right of the entrance to the port.  This will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  All residents are encouraged to attend.

Debris Removal
Debris removal continues to average somewhere near 4,000 cubic yards a day.
To date, there has been 41,200 cubic yards of debris has been removed.

Debris crews are positioned throughout the parish.  If you have had debris
in front of your house for more than two weeks, please call it in.

Courthouse
The courthouse is open and daily magistrate is functioning.  Phone service
for the duty judge is 504-874-0638.  The Clerk of Court office is 491-5266
and 337-315-5860.

Hazmat Issues
Removal of household hazardous materials will continue.  Residents are asked
to separate their household hazardous materials such as cleaners, paints,
etc. into a separate pile if you are cleaning out your house.  Those
residents who are not cleaning out their house do not need to separate any
hazmat items unless they choose to do so.

Missing Cars/Boats
No change yet with boats and cars.  The EPA and State Police have not
relaxed the no removal rule just yet.

Government Operations
A council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, but it has been
moved to Monday October 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the government complex.

President Rodriguez continues to fight for full funding for the recovery
efforts for the government budget for operations and for the funds that
individuals and businesses can access in the recovery effort.

The parish remains open to all St. Bernard residents and approved
contractors/employees.

Housing
Temporary trailers for residents are now starting to find their way into St.
Bernard.  Residents will have a temporary pole for electricity at the home
site, if the home site has water and sewerage.  We have requested that FEMA
allow trailers to utilize the temporary water supply and sewerage capacity
of the trailer until service can be brought to the home site.  We have not
been granted this exception yet.

The tent city is operational and can be accessed by residents as well as
contractors, first responders, and the military support personnel.

If you have not registered for a trailer, please call FEMA and specifically
request a trailer for temporary housing.  You may also sign up at the FEMA
tent at the Walmart parking lot, if you are in St. Bernard.

Insurance
State Farm has made a commitment to put 100 adjusters in St. Bernard and
will complete the homeowner adjustments in the next couple of weeks.  Marvin
LeBlanc is on the scene at the Walmart site and is the liaison for State
farm and St. Bernard.  Please find him if you have questions.  He states
that many claims are being settled quickly and properly.

No word on the definition of terms suit filed by the Attorney General of
Louisiana.

Remember if you are having difficulty getting your adjuster to adjust your
home, place a call to the insurance commissioner's office at 1-800-259-5300
or 5301.

The insurance grid system will begin Monday for grid one, which is most of
Arabi.  We are waiting to see if this idea will move fast enough to be
satisfactory.  We will monitor how quickly grid one is completed.

Mental Health
We often times forget to count the small "insignificant" things that happen
through the course of a day.  These things can be very important in the
recognition of the true value of our lives.  A small child's smile, or an
elderly person's story, someone letting you into the traffic that you so
despise, even the fulfillment of having a bologna sandwich when you really
wanted a roast beef po-boy.  Any of the seemingly insignificant events of
the day can allow us to be aware of the good that does exist in our lives,
despite the struggles and frustrations that may be all around us.

A silent moment of prayer may be helpful in being aware of some of these
things in our day.