Parish president says ‘Preparation is key’
Aimed at unifying River Parishes on addressing catastrophes, St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran said surviving Hurricane Katrina became a lesson on why it was important to unify forces.
“Preparation is the key,” Cochran said Tuesday at the parish’s media event.
Cochran along with Natalie Robottom, St. John the Baptist Parish president, and Timothy Roussel, St. James Parish president, discussed the importance of networking for more effective and consistent emergency response.
They were accompanied by their emergency preparedness directors and public information officers.
“We’re all impacted by certain events and can help each other,” Robottom said. “Every event is different.”
Robottom said it was important for every parish to be ready for emergencies, as well as to contact each other to assist or provide guidance.
“We take what’s out there and make it fit,” she said.Roussel agreed every emergency is different.
“We’ve got to brace ourselves,” he said. “The best medicine is being prepared for the worst.”
Cochran also introduced Ganote as the parish’s newly named emergency preparedness director.
Ganote outlined how the EOC responds to about 120 “unusual events” a year such as tornadoes.
The EOC is activated for alerts, evacuations or road closures, as well as site area emergencies such as for the recent gas leak at a company in the parish. It also responds to general emergencies to address parishwide impact.
Parish spokesman Tristan Babin said the media event was aimed at strengthening media relations in emergencies.
“During events like hurricanes, many of our residents have voiced concerns that St. Charles Parish, due to location, has struggled to receive media coverage from the New Orleans market,” Babin said.
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