St. Bernard Parish special needs residents are eligible for assistance with evacuation

DSC05573St. Bernard Parish residents with Special Needs are eligible for assistance in evacuating should a mandatory evacuation be called, either due to a hurricane or another type of emergency which might arise in the parish.  Parish President Guy McInnis urges those who need help evacuating to register with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness by calling 278-4268.  We will send you the necessary forms which must be completed and returned to the office.

We also have our Special Needs Forms and instructions on our website, http://www.sbpg.net on the Homeland Security Page.  Click on the Evacuation Assistance Button on the right side of the screen, then click print.  Read and follow the instructions carefully when filling out the form.  Incomplete forms will not be accepted.

In order to be eligible for this program you must process a valid ID or driver’s license. If you do not have a valid ID or driver’s license you will be processed by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs’ Office for identification purposes.

Forms are held for one year, from hurricane season to hurricane season.  If it has been a year since you filled out a form, it is your responsibility to fill out a current form and return it to us.  Also, if your contact information changes (address and telephone number) or if your circumstances have changed since you last filled out a form, please fill out  a new form and forward to the following address:

St. Bernard Parish Government
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
8201 W. Judge Perez Dr.
Chalmette, LA 70043
ATTN: CTN Program Manager

Those with Special Needs would include two categories:

1.  Residents who require a degree of medical care that exceeds that of general population, such as the disabled, the infirmed or those who are electrically dependent.
2.  Residents who do not otherwise have transportation to get them to a bus pick-up area where they would be taken to a shelter outside of St. Bernard Parish.

It is important that Special Needs residents pre-register with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to insure transportation. “If you do not have transportation, we need to know about it,” McInnis said.

Residents who register with the program would be evacuated in the time period of 60-54 hours before tropical force winds make landfall on the Louisiana coastline, according to the St. Bernard Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

It is your responsibility to listen to the public service announcements which will give you specific directions, as the hurricane approaches.

Once we hit the 50 hour mark prior to landfall, the parish will not be able to provide transportation and residents will have to find another means of getting out of the parish.  This is why we are getting the word out early.

Community and civic organizations interested in meeting with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness concerning this program are welcomed to call our office at
504-278-4268 to set up a time when we can meet with your group.

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