In light of the start of hurricane season last week, St. Charles Parish has made a major effort to prepare its residents for any potential emergency it may cause.
The parish has been holding its ongoing Hurricane Preparedness Campaign since the beginning of May, which has included a series of meetings between parish officials and the public. The parish has also mailed out a comprehensive hurricane preparedness brochure and engaged with residents about the issue on social media.
Five of six public meetings have been held at different locations on both the parish’s east and west banks, with one more set for July 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center.
Joe Ganote, Director of the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center, said the purpose of the meetings is to reach out into the community and create greater awareness in preparation for this hurricane season.
Though Ganote notes no major hurricane has made landfall in the United States since Hurricane Wilma in October of 2006 and that no hurricane or tropical storm has made landfall in Southeast Louisiana since Isaac in 2012, he cautions that complacency is the enemy.
“It’s important for our residents to remember that we are still vulnerable and if we need them to take protective actions in the form of an evacuation, they should do so,” Ganote said.
Some of the elements discussed have included worst case scenarios pertaining to storm surge, the early predictions for 2017, early preparations and the importance of residents having a plan.
The final meeting will be an informational session that the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program puts on annually.
In addition to the Department of Emergency Preparedness, the session will feature presentations from St. Charles Parish Public Information Officer Tristan Babin, the Animal Control Office and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, the “Be Prepared” brochure covers subjects such as what should be in a disaster supply kit for people and pets, information on evacuation orders and the parish’s assisted evacuation. It also includes information on recovery, debris pickup and where to find the latest hurricane updates.
“The Be Prepared Brochure is designed to be a one-stop shop for all residential hurricane information,” Babin said, also adding that new to the guide this year is a section explaining flood insurance and how to purchase it.
Ganote said this year’s hurricane season projects to have “slightly above normal activity.”
Between 11-17 named storms are projected, including five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes.
“The factors that experts look toward in their predictions are the El Nino, La Nina systems which are strong versus weak winds coming out of the west that can negatively impact or have a neutral effect on the formation of tropical systems,” Ganote said. “Residents should prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted. As we know it only takes one to make for a bad season.”
He added evacuation plans should be set now and not just when a storm is threatening the area.
“Residents should already have all of their plans in place or at least begin updating them for this season,” Ganote said. “My advice for residents is to listen to the emergency managers when a storm appears to be heading for the Gulf. We will have the most accurate information from the experts at the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. When an evacuation is called you should already be prepared to go.
“Emergency managers and experts do their best to build in clearance time to allow residents to get out of harm’s way before the onset of tropical storm force winds. However the longer you wait, the greater risk you have of being caught in traffic during the storm. Also, make sure you have plans for your loved ones and of course your pets.”
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