[StBernard] ST. BERNARD PARISH IS ANTICIPATING CALLING A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR SATURDAY, AUG. 30 AT 4 P.M.

[Westley Annis]

ST. BERNARD PARISH IS ANTICIPATING CALLING A MANDATORY EVACUATION FOR
SATURDAY, AUG. 30 AT 4 P.M.

Resident should expect a 24-hour curfew to be imposed later 

on Saturday, Aug. 30 

 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. said  that he anticipates
calling for a mandatory evacuation for residents parish-wide at 4 p.m. on
Saturday, Aug. 30, based on the current track of Hurricane Gustav.

 

"We are basing this decision on the best possible data," Taffaro said. "The
time frame and effects on St. Bernard have not dramatically changed. We are
forced to respond as part of a coordinated effort with the region."

 

No one will be allowed to enter the parish once the mandatory evacuation
order has been issued, and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office will be
increasing its patrols of neighborhoods to protect property, supplementing
by the National Guard. The parish prison will be closed, and anyone arrested
will be taken directly to Angola Prison. 

 

Taffaro issued a call for a recommended evacuation Friday as of 3 p.m. 

 

"We are encouraging residents with the flexibility to leave to do so at this
time," Taffaro said around 8 p.m. Friday. According to the state and
regional coordinated evacuation plans, St. Bernard residents should begin
evacuating when the storm is about 40 hours from gale force winds hitting
St. Bernard, and officials wanted to call for the mandatory evacuation
during daylight hours. 

 

"At 4 p.m., the borders will be locked down, and no one will be allowed to
re-enter," Taffaro said. "Residents will be allowed to move around within
the parish as they prepare to evacuate," and gas stations and essential
businesses are asked to stay open until curfew. 

 

Also residents should be aware that the state is anticipated to start
contraflow Sunday morning at 4 a.m. 

 

Some time after the mandatory evacuation is in effect, the St. Bernard
Parish Sheriff's Office will enforce a 24-hour curfew where residents will
not be allowed to leave their homes, said Chief Deputy James Pohlmann. 

 

Evacuation for residents with medical needs was completed Friday with the
parish moving 20 residents out by ambulance, addressing the needs of all
those who registered. 

 

Those who are not capable of self-evacuation and who need to use
state-provided transportation will begin the evacuation process Saturday
from 6 a.m. to noon. 

 

Residents who cannot afford to evacuate on their own and will need
transportation to a state-run shelter should show up at one of the
designated pick-up points along the St. Bernard Urban Rapid Transit
Evacuation Route. 

 

There are six pick-up points along Judge Perez Drive. A SBURT bus will come
by every 30 minutes Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon to pick up residents who
lack personal transportation or who cannot self-evacuate. They will be
brought to the staging area where they will be registered and placed on
state busses to be taken to state-run shelters. 

 

Residents who need assistance evacuating should remember to medicines and
prescriptions in their original bottles or packages and bring identification
and important papers. Residents will be allowed only one small carry-on bag
per person, no more than 45-inch total dimensions. Pet carriers, purses and
diaper bags will not count as your one carry-on bag. Pets must be in pet
carriers in order to be evacuated. Vehicles may be left at the pick-up
points below.

 

The pick up points are:

 

Celebration Church, 7500 W. Judge Perez Drive in Arabi 
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, 2320 Paris Road in Chalmette. 
Chalmette High School, 1100 E. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. 
Corinne Missionary Baptist Church, 5620 E. Judge Perez Drive in Violet 
Beauregard Middle School, 1201 Bayou Road in St. Bernard 
Fanz Mobile Home Park, 2100 West Fanz in St. Bernard 
 

Tune to the local media for information. Also, St. Bernard Parish Government
will be issuing updates on its website at www.sbpg.net, on its cable access
station at channel 76 for Cox Communications customers and on its emergency
communications radio station at 1680-AM.