Hurricane Season is less than one month away and Parish President Guy McInnis is urging residents to have a personal plan.
Hurricane Season runs from June 1st thru November 30th and the parish has no shelter of last resort, so residents need to identify a safe place to go in the event of a storm. Here are a few tips to follow:
Personal Readiness
- Put together an emergency kit with a flashlight, batteries, radio, first aid supplies, basic tools, and extra car keys.
- Take Inventory of your valuables, including approximate value and date purchased. Pictures or videos are great.
- Take photos and important documents with you such as mortgage and insurance papers.
- Add your insurance company’s claims number to contacts on your cell phone.
- Read and understand your homeowner and auto insurance policies, especially your deductibles. Talk to an agent to make sure you have the appropriate amount of insurance coverage to protect what matters most to you.
- Keep trees and shrubs trimmed.
- Clear drains, gutters, and downspouts of debris to prevent drains from breaking during heavy rains and water flooding into your home.
- Extend and re-direct the downspouts close to your home to move the water away.
- If storms are forecast, secure lawn furniture and other objects that could be moved by strong winds.
Residents can sign up for Everbridge Emergency Notifications where they can receive notifications of severe weather alerts and other emergencies. Register online at “http://sbpg.net/165/Homeland-Security-Emergency-Preparedness”, residents who need assistance with evacuating should contact the Office of Homeland Security at (504) 278-4268 or download the forms at “http://sbpg.net/165/Homeland-Security-Emergency-Preparedness”.
