Copyright 2006 Capital City Press
All Rights Reserved
By JOE GYAN JR.
The Advocate
GRETNA, La. — With 16,000 FEMA trailers on the ground in Jefferson Parish, local officials unveiled a plan Wednesday to temporarily shelter some of those residents at two playgrounds - one on each side of the Mississippi River — if a tornado or other extreme weather conditions threaten.
Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard said a separate plan to evacuate and shelter trailer residents if a tropical storm or categories 1 or 2 hurricane approaches will be announced before the June 1 start of this year’s hurricane season. That plan is still being tweaked, he said.
Deano Bonano, the parish’s acting emergency management director, said the 16,000 FEMA trailer figure does not include private trailers and mobile homes or the hundreds — and perhaps thousands — of trailers that individual businesses have placed on their properties.
Broussard said he is “very concerned” about the sizable post-Katrina and Rita travel trailer population in the parish.
“If they don’t have a place to go, we’re trying to remedy that,” he said during a news conference at the Parish Council’s west bank chambers in Gretna.
“What we’re trying to do is provide these families a safe option on a moment’s notice,” Councilwoman Jennifer Sneed added.
Under the tornado or extreme weather plan, FEMA trailer residents can go to Girard Playground at 5300 Irving St. in Metairie or PARD Playground at 5185 Eighty Arpent Road in Marrero. Bonano said the sites can accommodate several hundred people.
Meeting rooms and hallways will be used.
Residents are asked to bring any food, water, clothing or other necessities such as medications that they need.
The plan, which likely would be triggered if winds are expected to top 50 mph, is intended to shelter residents for one to eight hours per weather event, Bonano said.
“This is very short-term. This is not for days,” he said. “The purpose is to save lives.”
Broussard said he does not know how many residents will choose to use the temporary shelters. Once the shelters are used for the first time, he said, the parish will then be able to determine if additional sites are needed.
Bonano said the plan will remain in effect until the Federal Emergency Management Agency terminates its temporary housing program in the parish or when the Parish Council requires the removal of FEMA trailers.
Broussard said the American Red Cross has volunteered to help the parish with an extended shelter operation for trailer residents if a tornado or severe weather damages anyone’s trailer or knocks out power to the area.
If any FEMA trailer residents choose not to go to either playground or do not have time to get there before extreme weather hits, Broussard encouraged them to seek shelter in their gutted homes or other adjacent structures in an interior room away from windows and doors.
Once notified of extreme weather conditions or the threat of tornadoes, the parish will alert the news media by telephone, fax and e-mail that shelters are being opened, Bonano said. The media will be asked to immediately broadcast the information, he said.
Jefferson residents with questions or in need of additional information can call the parish Department of Emergency Management at (504) 340-5360.