[StBernard] Work Continues in St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

Work Continues in St. Bernard

October 18, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Inspectors complete about 25 percent of structures; travel trailers can be
parked in parish; EPA will collect hazardous waste at homes; military
distributes ice, water and meals in Chalmette.

A team of 25 home inspectors has completed evaluations of nearly one-quarter
of the residences and businesses in St. Bernard Parish to determine
structural integrity, according to the leader of the group.

Jim Wassner, of Northern California who heads the group of inspectors that
are all from California, said about 8,900 structures have been examined as
of Tuesday, Oct. 18.

There are about 40,000 total to be examined and the inspections, which
started more than a week ago, are going at about 1,000 a day, Wassner said.
The work is expected to be completed in about mid-November and will help
determine if owners need to have structures demolished, parish officials
have said.

But results of inspections won't be available to the public until all of the
work is completed in the parish. Parish government will evaluate the results
and announce in the future the means by which property owners can find out
the results of their structure's inspection.

Also, parish officials said residents who will receive travel trailers from
the Federal Emergency Management Agency can now park them in sections that
have electricity, water and sewerage available.

Officials said areas south of Judge Perez Drive from the Orleans Parish line
east to Paul Drive in Meraux are ready for the temporary housing units and
residents can park travel trailers in their driveways.

Mike Hunnicutt, the parish's community development director, said residents
receiving FEMA trailers or have their own can begin contacting Entergy to
have a temporary meter installed. Residents with their own trailers which
have generators and a sewerage disposal can place them on their property
anywhere in the parish.

Permits of all types can be obtained at 278-4310.

Also, the U.S. Environmental protection Agency said that on Wednesday, Oct.
19, it will begin collecting household toxic wastes put out at curbsides in
the parish. Toxics wastes would include vehicle batteries, other types of
batteries, acids, solvents, bleach, cleansers, gasoline and other flammable
liquids, officials said.

Also, the military opened a site Tuesday in the parking lot of Stage
department store for distribution of free ice, bottled water and MRE meals
for the public.