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THE PEOPLES POST Hurricane Preparedness – It's Time For the past several months our Office of emergency Preparedness has been holding meetings and conducting drills to ready our community for the upcoming hurricane season. While we all hope and pray that Mother Nature is kind to us and all along the Gulf Coast, it is imperative that each of us take the necessary steps to BE PREPARED in the event we are affected by a tropical cyclone. Advance preparation is the key to your survival in the event we find ourselves in the path of a hurricane. Like you, we are preparing for such an event. We have readied alternate power sources that will allow the government complex the ability to function in the event power is lost. We have made contractual arrangements with areas north of Interstate 12 for the evacuation of our citizens with special medical needs and your pets should the need arise. There will be NO shelter opened in the parish. Trucks and heavy equipment are presently being checked and doubled checked to insure that they will be ready and available for clearing downed trees and impassable roads. Our fleet of high water vehicles and small boats are being readied in the event that their use becomes necessary as well. Essential personnel lists have been established and our legal team has insured that advanced contracts are signed and in place for goods and services to be brought into our community. Now is also the time for YOU to be equally prepared for any emergency. You should develop a plan should the need arise that I must call for an emergency evacuation, both inside and outside the hurricane protection system. If such an order is issued you should be aware of the hurricane evacuation route that you and your family need to utilize as well as a general idea of where you will evacuate to. Make sure that you have fresh batteries for flashlights and portable radios. It would also be a good idea to have a hurricane tracking map at your home. Prepare yourself with non-perishable food items and an adequate supply of water. Again, in the event we sustain a loss of power. Most importantly be prepared to stay tuned to your local leaders for news of impending storms and evacuation orders. Please don't wait until the last minutes to check on any generations that you may utilize and remember should that need arise place them in a well-ventilated area and insure that the electrical connections are in good shape. If there is any assistance you may need from us please feel free to contact our OEP office at 278-4268. Your Parish President and members of your Parish Council will be in St. Bernard ready to serve your needs and maintain our governmental operations should we find ourselves in the path of a storm. God's Speed |