2017 Hurricane Guide by Houma Today

2017HURRICANE

GUIDE THE OFFICIAL HURRICANE GUIDE FOR T E R R E B O N N E & L A F O U R C H E PA R I S H E S GET AROUND THE CLOCK COVERAGE AT: &

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HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 3

Typical season ahead Forecasters at Colorado State University predict a below average number of named storms for the Atlantic region.

Likelihood that a hurricane will hit

Name that storm 2017 storm names

Chance of a major hurricane (Category 3-5) making landfall

East Coast

U.S.

Gulf Coast

Atlantic Ocean

42 Caribbean

34 Cuba

Mexico

Caribbean Sea

How 2017 compares Prediction: Named storms

11 Hurricanes 4 Major hurricanes ÂŠ 2017 MCT

Annual average, 1966-2015 Named storms

12 2

Hurricanes

Major hurricanes

Arlene Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irma Jose Katia Lee Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rina Sean Tammy Vince Whitney Source: University of Colorado, National Hurricane Center

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

WHAT’S INSIDE

Here’s what to know if you live in Lafourche Parish

14 17 18 20 25 26 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 42

Sandbags - How to use and find them Heed the call to evacuate

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6 7 Are you ready for a storm? 9 Be wary of these storm surge maps you live in Terrebonne, here’s 10 Ifwhat to do Here are the odds a hurricane will hit us this season

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10 ways to prepare Flood insurance may never be cheaper for your home Lose an important document? Gustav and Ike: the last major hits How storms form Prepare a grab-and-go box Know your storm vocabulary Separating fact from fiction How to cope with flooding Use a power generator safely

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Storms pose multiple dangers How to board up your home Where to find the latest news online Don’t give in to stress; deal with it Be careful coming home Safeguard your boat Use technology to stay connected

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Thursday, May 25, 2017 5

The key to hurricane safety is being prepared BEFORE the start of hurricane season. • Know your area’s storm history and elevation of your area. • Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a hurricane. • Prepare a kit of emergency supplies and prepare a portable kit in case you have to evacuate. Store all items in waterproof containers. • Familiarize yourself with safe evacuation routes and contraflow evacuation maps. • Learn locations of official shelters of last resort. • Learn about sandbag locations: North Lafourche Area Thibodaux Field Office 2565 Veterans Blvd, Thibodaux 985.446.0335

Central Lafourche Area Raceland Field Office 129 Texas St, Raceland 985.537.3390

Choctaw Field Office Lockport Field Office 122 Choctaw Barn Road, Thibodaux 6236 Hwy 308, Lockport 985.633.2410 985.532.6474

South Lafourche Area Galliano/Cut Off Field Office 128 West 97th St., Cut Off 985.632.5670 Bayou Blue Field Office 104 Myrtle Place, Houma 985.876.5503

• Review needs and working condition of emergency equipment, such as flashlights, battery powered radios, etc. • Ensure you have enough non-perishable food and water supplies on hand to last for at least two weeks. • Obtain and store materials, such as plywood, straps, tarps and mounting hardware, necessary to properly secure your home. • Check home for loose or clogged rain gutters and downspouts. • Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Cut weak branches and trees that could fall or bump against the house. • When trimming, try to create a channel through the foliage to the center of the tree to allow for air flow. • Determine where to move your boat in an emergency. • Review your insurance policy to ensure it provides adequate coverage. STAYING INFORMED: Sign-up for Lafourche Parish Government’s eNotification service to have the latest news and updates emailed directly to you. For additional information about shelters, sandbag locations, evacuation details, important numbers and what to do with your animals, visit the Emergency Preparedness page at lafourchegov.org.

985.537.7603

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Here are the odds a hurricane will hit us this season By Keith Magill Executive Editor

Forecasters predict a below-average hurricane season this year, with 11 named storms along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, including two major hurricanes. Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project says there’s a 24 percent chance a major hurricane, Category 3 or stronger, will hit somewhere along the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Brownsville, Texas. The average odds over the past century are 30 percent. At least four of the 11 named storms will reach hurricane strength, with sustained winds of at least 74 mph, the forecasters, led by Philip J. Klotzbach and Michael M. Bell, say in their report. Two of the hurricanes will reach Category 3, with winds of 111-129 mph, or stronger. A typical year, based on records dating back to 1966, brings 12 tropical storms. Of those, six are hurricanes and two are Category 3 or greater, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. About two hurricanes hit the U.S. during a typical season. The forecast, released in April, followed a similar one by the commercial weather agency Ac-

Donald Nixon stands amid the remains of his carport on Isabel Street in Houma on Sept. 2, 2008, a day after Hurricane Gustav hit Terrebonne Parish. The Courier and Daily Comet/File

cuweather. Collaborative research by the Colorado State team and the GeoGraphics Laboratory at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts uses records for the entire 20th century along with expected weather conditions to predict the chance a hurricane will hit a given state, parish or county during the coming hurricane season, June 1 through Nov. 30. Their predictions: Louisiana: The state has 26 percent chance of being hit by one or more hurricanes and a 10 percent chance of being struck by a Category 3 or or higher. Terrebonne: There’s a 4.8 percent chance a hurricane will make landfall in the parish,

2.2 percent for a major one. Lafourche: The parish has a 2 percent chance of a hurricane landfall, 0.8 percent for a major one. All of those odds slightly below average. The odds are nearly 1 in 3 that tropicalstorm-force winds of 39-73 mph will impact either parish, the research shows. And long-term data put the chance a hurricane will make landfall over a 50year period at 65 percent for Lafourche and 95 percent for Terrebonne. Colorado State’s reasoning is similar to Accuweather’s: A weak to moderate El Niño, characterized by warmer-than-normal waters in the Pacific near the equator, will develop by the peak of the Atlan-

tic hurricane season in mid-summer. It typically causes episodes of strong westerly winds in the tropical Atlantic, which inhibit storms’ development. Experts acknowledge that forecasting the number, severity or location of hurricanes before a season begins is an inexact science. Most use historical data and seasonal weather conditions to make an educated guess. “Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them,” Klotzbach and Bell say in their report, “and they need to prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted.”

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 7

Are you ready for a storm? Take this quiz and find out The LSU AgCenter has compiled a list of 20 questions to help you and your family determine whether you are truly prepared for a storm. “Having the right answers before a storm comes your way can help you be prepared if a hurricane strikes,” says LSU AgCenter housing specialist Claudette Reichel. “Even if you’ve been through a hurricane before, it’s easy to forget some of the preparations that can protect your property and family. If you answer “no” or “I don’t know” to any question, then now is the time to take action. 1. Do you have a disaster survival plan? 2. Have you planned an evacuation route and destination? 3. Do you have an emergency communication plan for staying in touch or getting messages to friends and family? 4. Is your homeowners’ and flood insurance coverage up to date and sufficient to replace your home and belongings if they are damaged or destroyed? 5. Do you have an inven-

tory of your property and belongings? 6. Do you have copies of your policies, inventory, other important papers and valuable in a safe place -- one that’s waterproof and fireproof? Have you put them on a USB drive you can take with you if you evacuate or stored them in the cloud? 7. Do you know how to turn off your electricity,

gas and water? 8. Do you have a plan and supplies on hand to protect and secure your home, outdoor items, boat, pool and so forth? 9. Has your roof been inspected within the past six months? 10. Have you trimmed the trees and shrubs around your house? 11. Has your car been maintained, and are the tires, including the

spare, in good condition? 12. Do you have a plan of what to do with food in your refrigerator and freezer in the event of a possible power outage? 13. Is your emergency phone list up to date and handy? 14. Do you have emergency survival supplies such as batteries, a battery operated radio, flashlights, lanterns, fuel, nonperishable food for three days, water jugs, manual can opener, medicines, traveler’s checks or cash, and so forth on hand? 15. Do you have an emergency supply kit for your car? 16. Do you have a plan of how to take care of family members with special needs, including infants, the elderly or those with disabilities? 17. Have you decided what you will do with your animals if you must evacuate? 18. Have you budgeted for the added expenses to protect your home, buy supplies, evacuate, clean up and recover? 19. Have you discussed your emergency plans, duties and rules with your family? 20. Do you know that the LSU AgCenter offers publications and other free information on disaster cleanup and recovery on its website, www.lsuagcenter.com?

Thursday, May 25, 2017

hurricane guide 2015

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Thursday, May 25, 2017 9

Be wary of these storm surge maps Residents should be wary of a relatively new addition to the forecasts they will see if a storm threatens Terrebonne or Lafourche. The National Hurricane Center began during the 2015 season issuing maps showing how high the storm surge is likely to get as it makes landfall. But local and state officials have said the maps will be almost useless in Terrebonne, Lafourche and across south Louisiana because they fail to account for levees and other obstructions that might block the wall of water as it sweeps in from the Gulf of Mexico. Failure to account for levees means the maps could greatly overestimate the chance of flooding in communities throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche. For instance, 10-foot levees — part of the interim Morganza-totheGulf hurricane protection system — now buffer much of Terrebonne from the Gulf. If a 6-foot storm surge threatens, those levees, at least in theory, could hold back most or all of the floodwaters. The maps, however, could predict that many communities will flood, even if they stay high and dry. In previous interviews, local officials told The Courier and Daily

A map showing the projected storm surge for a Category 3 hurricane puts almost all of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, with the exception of inside the south Lafourche levee system, under several feet of water. However, the map does not take into account other levees and obstructions that could prevent or lessen the flooding. NOAA

Comet that the models don’t take into account some levees that were decertified by the Army Corps of Engineers under new federal elevation standards after Hurricane Katrina. They include south Lafourche’s hurricane protection levees. In addition, the NOAA maps represent a worstcase scenario of each category of storm, with prevailing winds bringing the maximum amount of sea water rushing toward the coast. State and local officials also have cited other problems with the maps. Among them: The

new maps may overestimate the protection some levees provide, giving residents within them a false sense of security. State officials have said the maps are almost meaningless to residents of southeast Louisiana. And that’s not because the project is flawed but because the region’s landscape and demographics demand a longer lead time to evacuate than other coasts. For instance, the map showing storm surge with high confidence level comes out after the storm is within 48 hours of the coast. That might be plenty of time for

people living in Florida or North Carolina because they just have to drive 10- 15 miles to be safe. But in south Louisiana, you might have to drive 100 miles to find high ground safe from the surge. The bottom line: Nobody should use these maps and ignore local officials, who have a much better handle on what the real threat may be. As always, follow local media and heed evacuation orders and other advice given by local officials as a storm threatens. -- The Courier and Daily Comet

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

If you live in Terrebonne, here’s what to do

In front of the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, evacuees wait to board buses that would take them to storm shelters across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas before as Hurricane Gustav approaches on Aug. 30, 2008. Locals who boarded the buses were not told where they were going, and some took lengthy, circuitous trips to their final destinations after being turned away from shelters that were already filled. The Courier and Daily Comet/File

By Dan Boudreaux Staff Writer

Terrebonne Parish has specific plans in place to help residents weather a storm. One of the best tools to have before, during and after a hurricane is to be informed and prepared. To make sure you’re getting accurate and reliable information, connect to the Terrebonne Office of Homeland Security and and Emergency Preparedness’ Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @ TOHSEP and connect with Terrebonne Parish 911’s Facebook page as well. Mark Boudreaux, executive director Terrebonne Parish 911, said dispelling rumors during a storm is one of the

important services the agency can provides on its Facebook page. Parish officials will provide up-to-theminute information and updates in the event of a storm. The parish will also issue severe-weather and evacuation alerts to cellphones. To register for alerts, visit www.tcpg.org or www. tohsep.com. Both Terrebonne and Lafourche residents can create free online profiles so first responders can help them in an emergency. Visit smart911.com for information. Name, phone number and email address are required to create a profile, but users can add other information, such as age, floor plans and a list of family members.

When a person dials 911, information from the profile appears on the call-taker’s screen. What happens in evacuation As a named storm enters the Gulf of Mexico, a unified command, including Parish President Gordy Dove, Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, Terrebonne Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Earl Eues and the Terrebonne Parish School Board, begin monitoring. The group will decide on closures and evacuations and works with emergency officials to prepare for problems. Eues said residents should develop a personal evacuation plan and remember that traffic across the state will change in the event of large-scale evacuations.

Families should decide ahead of time an evacuation route and a place where they can meet if they should get separated. Locals should also bring important documents and financial records if there is an evacuation and should have a web-based national email account through a service like Yahoo or Google in case local computer servers are disabled by the storm. For storms weaker than a Category 2 hurricane, the local unified command will decide whether to open shelters in Terrebonne Parish. Among possible shelters are the Gibson and Schriever recreation centers, Schriever Elementary, Dumas Auditorium and Evergreen Junior High.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 11

Gustav sent a tree crashing across the yard of a home in Gray. The Courier and Daily Comet/File

Help with evacuations If the parish is being evacuated for a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane, a parishwide pickup point will be established at H.L. Bourgeois High School, 1 Reservation Court in Gray. Residents who need transportation to safety can either drive there or they can be picked up by buses throughout the major streets in Terrebonne Parish. Once there, residents and their domesticated pets will be registered into the parishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evacuation registration system and bused to the Monroe Civic Center, 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway, Monroe, where they will be housed in the shelter. No prior sign up is required. Residents requiring assistance getting to the pickup point are asked to register in advance with the Terrebonne Council

on Aging at 868-8411.

early entry passes are ish officials deem it safe usually not permitted to reenter. The parish Returning home to return into the par- president has the final ish until evacuation or- authority to make that Business owners ders are lifted and par- call. seeking to return home after the storm to assess damage and make repairs require an early reentry permit. Permits are issued by the Office of Emergency Preparedness. To register, visit www.parishreentry. com and select Terrebonne. For more information, residents can also call 873-6357. A storm that causes major damage can mean residents may not be allowed to return for several days or weeks. Among reasons: Downed powerlines and debris can make roads impassable and dangerous. Water service may 60 MONTHS FINANCING AVAILABLE ON SELECT QUALIFYING HIGH not be available or water EFFICIENCY SYSTEMS OR UP TO $1,000 REBATE. may be unsafe to drink. Widespread power outages can make living conditions difficult. Residents without

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Here’s what to know if you live in Lafourche Parish

Members of the Louisiana National Guard pass food to Lafourche residents in Raceland on Sept. 3, 2008, after Hurricane Gustav. The Courier/Daily Comet File

By Bridget Mire Staff Writer

Lafourche Parish’s plan for hurricanes has remained pretty much the same over the last several years. Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The Lafourche Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Pre-

paredness has primary responsibility for public information during emergencies. The following also provide information: Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, city of Thibodaux and its Police Department, towns of Lockport and Golden Meadow and their police departments, Greater Lafourche Port Commis-

sion and Harbor Police, local emergency medical services and hospitals, and local fire departments. “We meet with the different agencies and look at all our plans, make sure everything’s in place and we’re all on the same page,” said Chris Boudreaux, Lafourche’s emergency preparedness director.

After the storm, workers are clearing roads, checking on damage, getting critical infrastructure back running, and working with state and federal agencies. Boudreaux said officials will send out press releases and communicate with residents through news media and social media.

HURRICANE GUIDE

For storms weaker Boudreaux said registhan a Category 3, resi- tration will occur when dents can take shelter in the storm approaches. the following places: The parish will put everyone bused out of •Central Lafourche town into a statewide High School, 4820 LA. system that puts out 1, Raceland. spreadsheets regarding •Lafourche Parish who’s on which bus. Recreation Center, 241 Arrangements will be Recreation Drive, Race- made for pets if a storm land. approaches, Boudreaux •Larose Civic Center, said. 307 E. Fifth St. Boudreaux said the •Thibodaux High decision on when resiSchool, 1355 Tiger Drive. dents are allowed to return to the parish deIf people without pends on the amount of transportation need to damage. get out of the parish for ”We make sure the a stronger storm, they’ll roads are clear, the be bused to the Mon- powerlines,” he said. roe Civic Center, 401 “We want to make sure Lea Joyner Memorial it’s safe for the citizens’ Expressway, Monroe. return. That’s the start.

We can look at the water, food. There’s a lot of things that should be in place before they return.” To register for the parish’s reentry system, visit parishreentry. com/Lafourche. Both Lafourche and Terrebonne residents can create free online profiles so first responders can help them in an emergency. Visit smart911.com for more information. Name, phone number and email address are required to create a profile, but users can add other information such as age, floor plans and a list of family members. When a person dials 911,

Thursday, May 25, 2017 13

information from the profile appears on the call-taker’s screen. Boudreaux said people with special needs should call the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at 537-7603 so officials can know the resources needed. Residents can get information on road closures by calling Louisiana State Police at 1-800-469-4828. For more information, visit lafourchegov. org/prepare. To sign up for emergency notifications, go to that web address and click “Emergency Alert Notifications” on the left side of the page.

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Sandbags - How to use and find them

Lafourche Parish supervisor Bobby Chiasson (far right) watches as jail trusties fill and sack sandbags June 24, 2012, as Tropical Storm Debby threatened. The Courier and Daily Comet/File

Staff Writer

information. Terrebonne

Adding sandbags to your property is one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to prepare your home against flooding. Terrebonne and Lafourche parish governments make sandbags available to residents before storms hit. Below are the locations that usually offer sandbags. Additional temporary locations may be added as needed. Residents may have to fill their own sandbags, so you may have to bring your own shovel to sandbag locations. Not all locations will have sandbags for every storm, so check with The Courier and Daily Comet if a storm approaches for up-to-date

•Montegut Fire Station, 1105 La. 55. •Little Caillou Fire Station, 5016 La. 56. •Willie Bonvillain Ashland North Fire Station, La. 2671 Grand Caillou Road. •Houma Airbase Adult Softball Complex parking lot, 9544 East Main St. •Upper Bayou Dularge Fire Station, 1767 Bayou Dularge Road. •Houma-Terrebonne Civiv Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd. •Cannata’s, 6307 West Park Ave., Houma. •Schriever Fire Station, 1529 West Park Ave. •Donner Community Center, 361 Azalea Drive. •Devon Keller Memo-

By Dan Boudreaux

rial Center, 5575 Bayou open and one to fill. Black Drive, Gibson. •Sand is abrasive; wear gloves. Lafourche •It isn’t necessary to tie the end of the bag. •Thibodaux Field Of•Remove any debris fice, 2565 Veterans Blvd. from the area there the •Choctaw Field Of- bags are to be placed. fice, 122 Choctaw Barn •Lift the sandbags Road. from their neck, place •Raceland Field Of- the half-filled bags fice, 129 Texas St. lengthways across the •Lockport Field Of- doorway and parallel to fice, 6236 La. 308. the direction of the wa•Bayou Blue Field Of- ter flow. Tuck the open fice, 104 Myrtle Place. end under the filled half •Galliano/Cut Off of the bag and position it Field Office, 128 W. pointing into the water 97th St. flow. Ensure it is bedded in against the door How to fill a sandbag frame. The Terrebonne •Place bags in layers. Readiness and Assis- Like a brick wall, make tance Coalition, a non- sure that in the next layprofit comprised of er, each bag overlaps the groups in Terrebonne one below by half. and Lafourche, suggest •Stamp bags firmly these tips: into place to eliminate •It’s a two-person gaps and create a tight job, one to hold the bag seal.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Strengthening your house Securing key components of the structure can reduce your house's vulnerability to hurricanes. A good time to retrofit your house is when you are making other improvements. While you can make some of them yourself, other projects may require a building contractor or someone with an engineering background.

Hurricane straps Hurricane straps are designed to hold the roof to the wall. Made from galvanized steel, each strap is wrapped around a truss and nailed in place.

Hurricane winds can cause uplift forces Wind that can take the roof off your house, pressure especially if wind

Hurricane straps used with a concrete block house Installing straps requires removing sheathing around the perimeter of the roof to reveal the top of the wall, or you may also remove the soffit to gain access.

Concrete-block house

Truss

The Roof

Wood-frame house

Buildings with gabled roofs need to be braced against the force of the wind generated by a hurricane.

A gabled roof should be braced using 2x4s in an "X" pattern from the top center of the gable to the bottom center brace of the fourth truss, and from the bottom center of the gable to the top center brace of the fourth truss.

Thursday, May 25, 2017 15

Wind pressure

2x4 braces

SOURCES: Institute for Business and Home Safety, FEMA

Attic floor

Wall to foundation Strap

Truss bracing consists of 2x4s that run the length of the roof. These braces should be installed 18 inches from the ridge, in the center span, and at the base, with 8 to 10 feet between the braces.

Trusses

Block wall

Exterior walls should be anchored to the foundation. Metal clips are available at building suppy stores. Drill holes through the existing sill plate into the concrete foundation to install anchor bolts.

Hurricane straps used with a wood-frame house

2x4 horizonta l braces

Attic floor

The hurricane strap is wrapped around the truss and nailed to the wall stud.

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE GRAPHIC

Thursday, May 2017 16 16Thursday, May 26,25, 2016 |

HURRICANE GUIDE HURRICANE GUIDE

Louisiana emergency evacuation map Arkansas

Shreveport

STOP HERE FOR INFORMATION State officials have established a network of sites along major highways across Louisiana that will guide evacuating motorists to shelter, food, gas and other services. This list corresponds with the numbers on the map. 1. Tourist welcome center at the reentry from Mississippi on U.S. 64 and 84. Address: 1401 Carter St. (U.S. 184), Vidalia. 2. Tourist welcome center at the reentry from Mississippi on I-10. Address 836 I-20 West, Tallulah. 3. Paragon Casino, for evacuees headed from the southeast area on La. 1. Address: 711 Paragon Place, Marksville. 4. Sammy’s Truck Stop, from the southeast and central areas on I-49. Address: Take I-49 to Exit 53. 3601 La. 115 West, Bunkie. 5. Med Express Office, from the southeast and central areas on U.S. 71. Address: 7525 U.S. 71, Alexandria. 6. P.E. Gym, LSU-Shreveport, from the southeast, southwest and central areas on U.S. 171 and I-19. Address: 1 University Place, Shreveport. 7. Pickering High School, from the southwest areas on U.S. 171. Address: 180 Lebleu Road, Leesville. 8. Tourist information center, from the southwest and central areas on U.S. 165. Address: 8904 U.S. 165, Oberlin. 9. Maddie’s Truck Plaza, 15972, La. 1, Simmesport.

165

Monroe

167 49

LOUISIANA 71

Mississippi

1 84

Alexandria

Texas

TEXAS

8 171

Baton Rouge

190

Lake Charles

Intercoastal waterway

Lafayette 10

New Orleans

Houma

10 miles Louisiana

EVACUATION PHASES During the threat of a hurricane, a phased evacuation will be based on geographic location and time in which tropical storm winds are forecasted to reach the affected areas. Phase I: 50 hours before onset of tropical-storm winds. Includes areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway. These areas are outside any levee-protection system and are vulnerable to Category 1 and 2 storms. These areas are depicted in red on the Evacuation map. During Phase 1 there are no route restrictions.

Phase II: 40 hours before onset of tropical-storm winds. Includes areas south of the Mississippi River which are levee protected but remain vulnerable to Category 2 or higher storms. These areas are depicted in orange on the Evacuation Map. During Phase II there are no route restrictions. Phase III: 30 hours before onset of tropical-storm winds. Includes areas on the East bank of the Mississippi River in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area which are in the levee-protection system but remain vulnerable to a

slow-moving Category 3 or any Category 4 or 5 hurricane. These areas are depicted in brown on the Evacuation Map. During Phase III, certain routes will be directed and the Contraflow Plan will be implemented. ■ Phased evacuation procedures are for traffic management purposes only. Consult your local Office of Emergency Preparedness for further evacuation information. Source: Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness Source: ????maps4news.com/©HERE GATEHOUSE MEDIA

HURRICANE GUIDE MayMay 25, 26, 2017 | Thursday, 201617 17 HURRICANE GUIDE Thursday,

Don’t get arrogant. Don’t assume that just because you survived the last storm, means you’re going to survive this one. Officials say their biggest concern during hurricane season are the residents who don’t listen when the parish and the state call for them to move to safety. In fact, officials encourage residents to anticipate the call for evacuation and be ready to move immediately. Waiting too late will clog the few roads out of Terrebonne and Lafourche, officials said. Major evacuation routes such as La. 1 or U.S. 90 west may become severely congested, preventing people from getting out in time and potentially putting them in the storm’s path. State Police suggest taking La. 20 north to Vacherie to I-10; taking La. 1 to I-10 or La. 70 east; or taking U.S. 90 west. State officials advise residents to leave before contraflow, which is when traffic on Louisiana and some Mississippi interstates are ordered to only flow in one direction, away from the storm’s path. State officials usually

work with parish governments to determine a contraflow strategy depending on the hurricane’s speed, size and direction, as well as the traffic situation at the time. Reasons abound as to why residents might stay behind despite a mandatory order. For instance, employers might refuse to let off their employees too early, though, in many cases, residents simply remain skeptical about the storm’s severity. Residents who choose to say during mandatory evacuation put themselves and their families at risk during a time where emergency responders might not be readily available. Typically, a voluntary evacuation for low-lying areas is issued when it comes to Category 1 or 2 hurricanes. Above that, the order becomes mandatory for the entire parish. The last evacuation called for both parishes was in 2008 for Hurricane Gustav. Officials said most Lafourche residents heeded warnings and left. In Terrebonne, an estimated 95 percent to 97 percent evacuated.

i ppi

Donaldsonville

Lake Pontchartrain

10 Riv

Laplace

Heed the call to evacuate

Hurricane evacuation routes ss issi

A sign along U.S. 90 guides residents as they evacuate during a storm.

ST. JAMES PARISH

3127

1 ASSUMPTION PARISH

ST. JOHN PARISH

Thibodaux

ST. CHARLES PARISH

Raceland

Morgan City

310

LAFOURCHE PARISH

182

Larose

Houma

TERREBONNE PARISH

315

Cut Off

Dulac

Chauvin

Gulf of Mexico

5 miles

POWER ABOVE WATER

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Ways to Prepare How to protect your family, pets and property Preparation is crucial when it comes to hurricane season, which runs June 1 through Nov. 30. Follow these 10 tips, and you’ll go a long way toward ensuring you and your loved ones stay safe and your property is as secure as possible. 1. Make a plan now

Mariah Jade Chauvin unloads her freezer in Chauvin in preparation for Hurricane Gustav, which hit Terrebonne and Lafourche on Sept. 1, 2008. Chauvin and most of her family evacuated to Tennessee. The Courier/Daily Comet FIle

Traveling to a friend or family member’s home usually is the best plan if their homes are structurally safe and outside the risk area. As a last resort, go to a designated shelter.

2. Buy flood insurance and review your homeOfficials from both owner’s policy parishes maintain the most important thing You can buy a Naresidents can do to ease tional Flood Insurance stress during a storm is policy through most loto have a plan. cal insurance agents. Start by visiting www. Officials say many resigetagameplan.org, run dents are unaware that by the state Office of flood insurance isn’t auEmergency Prepared- tomatically included in a ness. homeowner’s policy. Determine where you Because there’s a and your family will go, 30-day waiting period what you will bring, before flood insurance how you’ll get there and takes effect, officials what you will do with recommend buying it as elderly or special-needs soon as possible. Keep family members as well an electronic copy that as pets. can be accessed easily, Keep phone num- either on a USB drive bers for hotels on hand you can take with you if to check rates and book an evacuation is ordered rooms in advance. or stored in the cloud

with a service like Dropbox or Google Drive. Review your homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure it offers adequate coverage against wind damage and hail. Like flood insurance, that coverage might not be included in your homeowner’s policy and may have to be purchased separately. Other tips are to save your insurance agent’s number in your mobile phone and use a video or camera to document everything in your house so you can use to file damage claims. 3. Prepare a disaster kit now Keep documents, keepsakes, clothing, medicine, food and a first-aid kit in an easyaccess storage area so when it’s time to pack, they’re ready to go. Keep copies of prescriptions and, if possible,

have your doctor supply additional refills ahead of time. Also, make sure to stock up on water. 4. Leave early and stay tuned Leaving before state officials enact contraflow, routing interstate one way, away from the storm, will make it easier to find safety. Make sure you have enough fuel and other supplies for a lengthy time on the road. Also, make sure your vehicle is in safe condition. Check your tires and spares and keep a jack in the car. Monitor local television and radio stations to stay current on evacuation routes, traffic and storm conditions. The Courier and Daily Comet’s websites, www.houmatoday. com and www. dailycomet. com, also provide a good source of information.

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Thursday, May 25, 2017 19

5. Plan for special needs Check with elderly family members to find out their disaster plans and prepare places for them to go ahead of time. If you have a family member in a nursing home or hospital, ask now about that facility’s plans for a hurricane -- whether it plans to evacuate patients or residents, how it plans to evacuate them, where it will take them and other specific questions. Make sure special needs family members have medicine, prescription refills, any special foods they require, health insurance policy information and phone numbers for local Councils on Aging, 8688401 in Terrebonne and 537-3446 in Lafourche. 6. Plan for pets Have at least five days’ worth of food, water, treats and medications for each pet. Keep up-to-date medical records, including vaccinations, as well as an ID collar, pet carrier or cage, leash, a favorite toy, trash bags, food and water bowls, kitty litter and a current photo of the pet. Plan now to keep your pet with you or board the pet in kennels or at the home of a friend or relative out of harm’s way. For information on planning for pets, call the Terrebonne Animal

An elevated building in Dulac stands high above floodwaters Aug. 30, 2012, after Hurricane Isaac passed over Terrebonne and Lafourche. The Courier/Daily Comet File

Shelter at 873- 6709 or means setting aside a the Lafourche Shelter at little at a time. Saving a 446-3532. dollar every day will give you $365 in one year, 7. Protect your valuables enough for gas and a few nights stay at a hotel. Keeping copies of imIf a storm doesn’t portant documents is happen during the year, key. Scan documents keep the savings going. into your computer and That will leave you more keep digital copies on a prepared next season. USB drive or backed up Estimate what you on online services such need to secure your as Dropbox, Google home and valuables plus Drive or Amazon Cloud the cost of five to seven Drive. days’ worth of food and Keep your Social Se- supplies and travel excurity cards, birth cer- penses. tificates, marriage and Buy plywood, storm death records, driver’s shutters, water, nonlicense, cash, credit perishable food, genercards, bank account in- ators and other supplies formation, wills, insur- now so you won’t face ance policies, deeds, long lines or empty store mortgages, contracts, shelves later. stocks, bonds, cameras, watches, jewelry, com- 9. Prepare your home puter backups and photos and videos in waNow is the time to terproof containers or survey your yard for plastic bags. any rotting or precarious trees, branches or 8. Save money shrubs and remove them. The costs of evacuPlan for how you will ating can pile up. Start secure items in your saving now, even if it yard, such as playhous-

es, so they don’t become projectiles. Using tape on windows is not recommended. Instead, make hurricane shutters now so you don’t waste valuable time later. 10. Plan for family communication Make sure each member of your family is clear on what the emergency plan is, then share that plan with a family member or friend out of state. That person should become a point of contact for you and other family members to relay your locations as well as other information should you become separated. Also, prepare for phone lines to be down. Cellphone service can also be disrupted. If a family member plans to evacuate on a government bus, buy that person a prepaid cell phone, such as a GoPhone, if you can.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Flood insurance may never be cheaper for your home It’s possible there will be no better time than right now to purchase flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program is the only place you can get it, and it takes effect 30 days after you buy a policy. Though the program has been the source much debate in recent years, a measure approved by Congress in 2014 keeps rates mostly affordable for private homeowners, local officials say. Most residents should buy flood insurance because it protects their largest investment, their home and its contents, which could otherwise be lost to a hurricane’s flooding and strong winds, officials say. Another reason to buy flood insurance now: Changes as early as this summer could make it more expensive. Recent changes have allowed homeowners to keep something close to their existing costs as FEMA updates its maps used to calculate risk. These maps show what elevation a home will need to be at to survive a benchmark storm. Homes built above that prescribed elevation pay less; homes below pay so-called “pu-

nitive” rates. Historically, FEMA has allowed homeowners to keep flood insurance costs tied to the prescribed elevation in use when the home was built, even though updated maps may reflect greater risk. This socalled grandfathering of rates was the center of a yearlong struggle to reform the program, which is an estimated $24 billion in debt after catastrophic storms starting with Katrina in 2005. Eventually, local interests won out, and grandfathering persists. But as FEMA continues its long process of updating its risk maps, local officials suggest homeowners enroll now and build as high as possible. The congressional battle over the program left most historic costs for primary homeowners intact, but businesses and secondary properties will see steady increases, especially after new maps are approved. Terrebonne and Lafourche’s maps are tied up in appeals, and parish officials have said they are uncertain when they will be available for final review and approval by their respective parish councils. Both parishes

are trying to persuade FEMA to include levees and other flood protection measures not certified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers into the maps, which could result in lower insurance costs. Meanwhile, national debate has already begun as Congress prepares to re-authorize the flood insurance program before it expires Sept. 1. Critics are pushing to end taxpayer subsidies they say keep flood insurance costs artificially low and encourage people to build and live in harm’s way. They are continuing

efforts that for years have sought to bring insurance costs more in line with the actual risk of flooding. But local officials and others counter that would make insurance unaffordable for almost everyone in places like Terrebonne, Lafourche and coastal Louisiana, wrecking lives and decimating economies. To buy flood insurance, visit or call your homeowner’s insurance agent. You can learn more at the National Flood Insurance Program’s website, floodsmart.com, which includes a calculator to estimate your cost.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 21

TERREBONNE PARISH

OHSEP

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE PUBLIC SHELTER INFORMATION Shelters are operated by trained individuals and ensure that the safety, security, and basic needs of its residents are met. What to bring to a shelter? • Change of clothing, blanket, and pillow for each family member. • Your disaster supply kit, including food, medications, comfort items, and special items for infant or elderly family members.

WHAT NOT TO BRING? • There are no weapons, drugs or alcohol allowed.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PATIENTS “THE FIRST 72 HOURS ARE ON YOU” During a storm, services may not be available, transportation may be cut off and roads may be inaccessible. In some cases, you may be forced to evacuate. Be ready to respond to any situation by assembling and maintaining a Disaster Supply Kit with enough food, water, and other supplies for each person in your family for 72 hours. It may take up to 72 hours for relief supplies to be delivered to Terrebonne Parish.

For residents who have medical special needs, or will need transportation during an evacuation of Terrebonne Parish, please contact the Terrebonne Council on Aging at (985) 868-8411. To pre-register for Disaster Food Stamp assistance, please call

1-888-LA-HELP-U (1-888-524-3578).

SEVERE WEATHER TERMS TO KNOW… Terr. parish

A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN HAVE PREPARED. AN EXAMPLE OF A FULLY STOCKED DISASTER SUPPLY KIT SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (AT MINIMUM, A THREE DAY SUPPLY)

Water, non-perishable food, formula, and diapers for infants, first aid kit, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, cash or travelers checks, flashlight and extra batteries, non-electric can opener, utility knife; fire extinguisher (ABC-type), shut-off wrench to turn off household gas and water, sanitation supplies, Official DOTD Highway Map, entertainment, important family documents, inventory of valuable household goods and important telephone numbers, and family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).

Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the supply kit in the trunk of your car. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Replace your stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.

Keep these items in a waterproof container that can be easily transported from your home to your car and your safe place. Assemble your kit now to allow for immediate action during an emergency.

BE SURE TO PICK UP OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE FOR MORE DETAILS. AVAILABLE AT LOCAL BUSINESSES IN TERREBONNE PARISH. Get EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS by text and email. Visit www.tohsep.com/terrebonnealert and click sign up to begin your registration.

Natural disasters most likely to occur in Louisiana, particularly in low-lying areas bordering the Gulf of Mexico, include hurricanes and flooding due to heavy rains. Residents should be familiar with several terms that describe severe weather conditions:

STORM SURGE An abnormal rise of the sea along a shore as the result, primarily, of the winds from a storm. TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE WATCH Adverse conditions are possible in the specified areas of the WATCH, usually within 48 hours. May be applied to thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, or hurricanes.

TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE WARNING Adverse conditions are expected in the specified area of the WARNING, usually within 36 hours. May be applied to thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, or hurricanes.

PREPARING YOUR ANIMALS Making plans for your family is extremely important. Don’t forget to plan for the animals in your life, too! • The location of your evacuation destination may or may not accept pets, so call ahead and check. Animal shelters will be set up in various parts of the state on an “as-needed” basis. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry works year round with the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) to provide sheltering opportunities. Species-specific disaster preparedness advice is available at www.lsart.org. • Create a disaster readiness kit for your animal that includes food, water, first aid supplies, feeding supplies and other items that are necessary to keep your animal comfortable for at least 3 - 5 days. • Remember, animal ownership is a responsibility! Be ready to take care of your whole family.

Printed with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Terr. parish CENTER

HURRICANE GUIDE

Terr. parish CENTER

Thursday, May 25, 2017 23

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

PHASED EVACUATION

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

During a threat of a hurricane, a phased evacuation will be based on geographic location and time in which tropical storm winds are forecasted to reach the affected areas.

Emergency............................................................................................................................................................ 911 Terrebonne Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.................. 985-873-6357 FEMA.................................................................................................................................................... 800-621-3362 American Red Cross .......................................................................................................................... 504-620-3105 Pre-Disaster Food Stamps Registration ......................................................................................1-888-524-3578 Road Closure Information ............................................................................................................1-800-469-4828 Louisiana Information ....................................................................................................................................... 211 Louisiana State Police Troop “C”.................................................................................................... 985-857-3680 Chabert Medical Center.................................................................................................................... 985-873-2200 Terrebonne General Medical Center.............................................................................................. 985-873-4141 Poison Control .................................................................................................................................1-800-222-1222 Terrebonne Parish Community Hotline .....................................................................................1-844-916-4737

LOCAL NUMBERS

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government........................................... 1-800-35-HOUMA/985-868-5050 Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office ................................................................................................. 985-876-2500 Houma Police Department............................................................................................................... 985-873-6371 Terrebonne Parish Council on Aging............................................................................................. 985-868-8411 Terrebonne Parish School Board..................................................................................................... 985-876-7400 Terrebonne Parish Utilities Department ....................................................................................... 985-873-6755 Terrebonne Parish Public Works..................................................................................................... 985-873-6735 Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter ................................................................................................. 985-873-6709 SLECA ..................................................................................................................... 1-800-256-8826 / 985-876-6880 Entergy..................................................................................................................1-800-ENTERGY/800-968-8243 ATMOS ................................................................................................................1-888-286-6700 / 1-800-692-4694 City of Thibodaux Gas............................................................................................ 985-446-5021 / 985-446-7216 South Coast Gas ................................................................................................................................. 985-872-0376

Terr. parish

IF PARISH OR STATE OFFICIALS TELL YOU TO EVACUATE

DURING A HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WATCH OR WARNING

• Leave as soon as possible.

• Listen to radio/television for storm progress reports.

• Make a Family Communication Plan. Tell someone outside of the storm area where you are going.

• Check emergency supplies. • Board up windows and check tie-downs on your travel trailer or mobile home.

• Protect your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and water.

• Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings.

• Turn off the main water valve and disconnect the hose. • Turn propane tanks off.

AFTER A STORM

50 Hours before onset of tropical storm winds. Includes areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway. These areas are outside any levee protection system and are vulnerable to Category 1 and 2 storms. During Phase I, there are no route restrictions.

PHASE II

40 Hours before onset of tropical storm winds. Includes areas south of the Mississippi River which are levee protected but remain vulnerable to Category 2 or higher storms. During Phase II, there are no route restrictions.

PHASE III

30 Hours before onset of tropical storm winds. Includes areas on the East Bank of the Mississippi River in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area which are within levee protection system but remain vulnerable to a slow-moving Category 3 or any Category 4 or 5 storm. During Phase III, certain routes will be directed and the Contraflow Plan implemented.

• Fuel your car.

• Take emergency supplies, clothing, and blankets/sleeping bags to shelter.

• Turn off the main electrical power switch.

PHASE I

• Store drinking water. • Review evacuation plan.

RADIO FREQUENCY SYSTEM LOUISIANA EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

• Stay tuned to local radio or television for information from your local or state officials. - Twitter: www.twitter.com/tohsep - Facebook: Terrebonne Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness - Website: www.tpcg.org, www.tohsep.com

The following radio stations are key participants in the Louisiana Emergency Alert System. In the Event of an emergency, these stations will broadcast emergency information.

• Return home only after state or local officials advise that it is safe to do so.

AM 1150 (WJBO) FM 102.5 (WFMF)

ALEXANDRIA

AM 970 (KSYL) AM 580/FM 96.9 (KZMZ) FM 93.1 (KQID)

BATON ROUGE

CROWLEY

FM 102.9 (KAJN)

HOUMA

FM 106.3 (KXOR) FM 96.7 (KCIL) AM 1490 (ESPN)

LAFAYETTE FM 99.9 (KTDY)

NOAA WEATHER RADIO (NWR)

LAKE CHARLES

AM 1470 (KLCL) FM 99.5 (KHLA)

NEW ORLEANS

AM 870 (WWL) FM 101.9 (WLMG)

NORTHEAST

AM 540 / FM 101.9 (KNOE)

RUSTON

AM 1490 (KRUS) FM 107.5 (KXKZ)

SHREVEPORT AM 1130 / FM 94.5

NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information direct from a nearby National Weather Service Office. NWR broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazardous information 24 hours a day.

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Thursday, May 25, 2017 25

Lose an important document? If you follow the advice offered elsewhere in this guide, you will have already made sure your important paperwork is safe and doesn’t get destroyed during a hurricane. For peace of mind, experts suggest uploading copies of those documents online through either Dropbox, Google Drive or Amazon Cloud Drive. For even more insurance, save more copies to a thumb drive and take it with you when you evacuate. But if you do need to replace documents, here are a list of agencies, websites and procedures that can help. Birth and death certificates To replace birth or death certificates for U.S. citizens who were born or died in the United States visit www.vitalrec.com. For those who were born or died in Louisiana, visit http://new. dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/635. Credit cards American Express: 1-800-528-4800. Discover: 1-800-347-2683. Mastercard: contact issuing financial institution or 1-800-622-7747. Visa: contact issuing financial institution or 1-800-847-2911. Driver’s license or state ID The quickest way to obtain a duplicate driver’s license is to apply in person at any state Office of Motor Vehicles Driv-

er’s License Office. Lou- Marriage license isiana driver’s licenses or divorce records Contact the clerk of may be renewed online at http://express-lane.org. court in the parish where the marriage license was obtained or where the diIncome tax returns Call the nearest U.S. vorce was filed. Contact Department of the Trea- information for parish sury office, IRS office or clerks of court is avail1-800-829-3676 and able at www.laclerksofrequest form 4506 (Re- court.org. In Terrebonne, you can quest for Copy of Tax Return). To find your lo- visit the Clerk of Court’s cal office, go to http:// Office on the first floor of www.irs.gov/uac/Con- the Houma Courthouse, tact-Your-Local-IRS- 7856 Main St. Phone: 868-5660. The office’s Office-1. For Terrebonne and website, www.terrebonincludes Lafourche residents, the neclerk.org, closest office is in the fees and other informafederal building at 423 tion on obtaining copies Lafayette St. in Houma. of marriage and divorce records. Call 876-0949. In Lafourche, the Clerk of Court’s Office is at 303 Insurance policies Contact the agent or West 3rd St. Thibodaux. company providing the Call 447-4841 or 1-866coverage. You may be 447-4841 or visit www. required to complete a lafourcheclerk.com. If the marriage or diform, pay a fee or duplicate copies or both. The vorce occurred in anothpolicy number will expe- er state, contact the National Center for Health dite this request. Consumer contact in- Statistics at http://cdc. formation for major in- gov./nchs/w2w.htm. surance companies doing business in Louisiana Military discharge papers Request Standard and their agents may be accessed at the state In- Form 180 (SF 180) from surance Department’s any office of the U.S. website, https://www. Department of Veterans Idi.la.gov. Click on Affairs, the American “Online Services” and Legion, the Veterans of “Search for Company or Foreign Wars, the Red Cross, a veterans associAgent.” The direct link to ation or military recruitthe company search er. It may be found at is https://www.Idi. https://www.archives. l a . g o v / o n l i n e s e r - gov/files/research/orv i c e s / A c t i v e C o m p a- der/standard-form-180. nySearch/. The di- pdf. Send the completed rect link to the agent search is https://www. form as advised in the inIdi.la.gov/onlineser- structions. vices/ProductAdjustMortgage papers erSearch/. Contact lending insti-

tution. Passports Obtain instructions and complete form DS64 (Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport) available form http:// travel.state.gov/passport/lost/lost_848. html. Submit completed form to U.S. Department of State; Passport Services; Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section; 1111 19th St. NW Suite 500; Washington, DC 20036. Property deeds Contact the clerk of court in the parish where the property is located. Contact information for parish clerk of court is available at www. laclerksofcourt.org. Social Security Card Go the a Social Security Administration office. Complete form SS-5 (Application for Social Security Card). It can be downloaded at http:// www.ssa.gov/online/ ss-5.pdf. Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 if you need additional help. Vehicle title Complete the “Vehicle Application” form available at www.expresslane.org. Click on “Vehicle Services.” Wills Contact the attorney who prepared it. If circumstances have changed, a new will may be appropriate. -Source: LSU AgCenter

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Gustav and Ike: the last major hits Hurricane Isaac passed directly over Houma in 2012 but caused only scattered damage throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. The last hurricanes that caused widespread flooding and damage in the two parishes were Gustav and Ike, hurricanes that hit the area less than two weeks apart in September 2008. Here is a collection of Courier and Daily Comet photos from those two hurricanes, which serve as a reminder of how vulnerable our coastal community is to Gulf of Mexico storms.

Volunteers pass sandbags to help secure a pump station in Chauvin on Sept. 13, 2008, hours after Hurricane Ike hit. Water from Lake Boudreaux was rushing under the station and flooding parts of the community in southern Terrebonne Parish.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left of a supply store at Port Fourchon is seen Sept. 2, 2008, a day after Gustav struck.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 27

Ikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tides flooded Grand Caillou Elementary in Dulac just as Hurricane Rita did three years before. The school has since moved north to escape repeated flooding. A long line forms at a truck stop in Raceland, one of the few places open for gas and groceries the day after Gustav hit.

Mille Crochet, 37, gets help from her fiancĂŠ, Willie Coleman, 37, as they evacuate their flooded Senator Circle apartment in Houma on Sept. 13, 2008, after Hurricane Ike swamped much of the parish.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 26, 2016 27

Thursday, May 25, 2017 29

Which way will you go? Officials will enact a so-called “contraflow” plan if a hurricane threatens Louisiana. All lanes on interstate highways will only allow traffic to flow one way: away from the storm.

BATON ROUGE

HAMMOND 12

LOUISIANA

Lake Maurepas

SLIDELL

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Lake Pontchartrain 10 5 mile

Mississippi River

LAPLACE METAIRIE

Contraflow Crossover I-10 West to I-59 North I-10 East to I-59 North I-10 East to I-59 North (contraflow)

I-10 West (contraflow) to I-10 West I-10 West to I-55 North to I-55 North (contraflow) I-12 to U.S. 190 West Causeway to I-12 West to I-55 North

KENNER

Lake Borgne

NEW ORLEANS Intracoastal Waterway

Source: maps4news.com/©HERE

GATEHOUSE MEDIA

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Prepare a grab-and-go box It’s possible to replace birth and death certificates, tax records, banking information, wills, medical information, deeds and other important documents should they be lost or destroyed. But it’s a lot easier to protect them instead. The LSU AgCenter has developed a guide to building a collection of records and documents — a “grab-and-go box” — modeled off similar suggestions from other Gulf Coast states. The AgCenter suggests placing records in portable boxes that are durable, sealed, fireproof and waterproof. Papers in the box should be sealed in waterproof plastic bags. The AGCenter also recommends a backpack, preferably waterproof, for easier carrying. Gathering and storing personal records also can help you recover in case of other disasters, such as fires. The box should include the following: •Traveler’s checks or cash. •Rolls of quarters. •Emergency phone numbers including family members, doctors, pharmacies, financial advisers, clergy and repair contractors. Keep those in your cellphone too.

Mario Mendizabal paddles along Lyles Street in Houma to bring food and water to his family Sept. 13, 2008, after Hurricane Ike swamped much of Terrebonne and parts of Lafourche. The Courier and Daily Comet/File

•Copies of important prescriptions such as medication and eyeglasses. Put these and other records on a USB drive and store backups with internet cloud services such as Dropbox, Box and Google Drive. Unless you absolutely need paper copies, this can not only save plenty of time as you evacuate but make your go box more manageable. •A cellphone charger and cable. •Copies of children’s immunization records. •Copies of health, dental and prescription insurance cards and phone numbers. •Copies of auto, flood, renters and homeowners insurance policies or at least the policy numbers. •Insurance company telephone numbers, including numbers for local agents and company headquarters. •Copies of real-estate deeds, vehicle titles,

wills, durable power of attorney, health care directives, stock and bond certificates and birth, death, adoption, citizenship and marriage certificates. •Copies of a home inventory. •Copies of passports. •Copies of employee benefit documents. •Copies of the first two pages of the previous year’s federal and state income-tax returns. •Keys to any safe-deposit box. •Negatives and disks for personal photos. Upload your photos to an internet service like Flickr, which gives users a full terabyte of storage space free of charge. •List of numbers for Social Security, bank accounts, loans, credit cards, driver’s licenses and investment accounts. •Usernames and passwords. •List of debt obliga-

tions, due dates and contact information. •Photocopies of the front and back of all credit cards. Store the boxes or backpacks in safe, outof-sight spots in the home such as an easily accessible closet shelf or utility room cabinet. When evacuating, keep the boxes with you all times and avoid leaving the information in unattended vehicles. It’s a good idea to keep originals of personal documents in the “grab-and-go” box with a trusted friend or relative who lives outside the hurricane zone. Having access to personal information can help you avoid extra hassles following disasters, such as missing payments and damaging credit ratings. The records also can make filing FEMA claims easier. Replacing most personal information is doable but can take months.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 31

Know your storm vocabulary Tropical disturbance: An area of thunderstorms in the tropics that maintains its identity for at least 24 hours. Tropical cyclone: a generic term used by meteorologists to describe any rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, lowlevel circulation. Tropical depression: An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined circulation and maximum sustained surface winds of 38 mph or less. Tropical organized

storm: An system of

strong thunderstorms Hurricane season: June with a defined circula- 1 through Nov. 30. tion and maximum sustained surface winds of Hurricane watch: Hur39-73 mph. ricane conditions are POSSIBLE in the speciTropical storm watch: fied area of the watch, Tropical storm condi- usually within 36 hours. tions are POSSIBLE in the specified area of the Hurricane warning: watch, usually within 36 Hurricane conditions hours. are EXPECTED in the specified area of the Tropical storm warning: warning, usually within Tropical storm condi- 24 hours. tions are EXPECTED in the specified area of the Small-craft advisowarning, usually within ry: When a hurricane 24 hours. moves within a few hundred miles of the Hurricane: An intense coast, small-craft owntropical system with a ers should not venture well-defined circulation out into the open ocean. and a maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.

El Niño: A 12- to 18-month period during which unusually warm sea surface temperatures occur in the eastern half of the equatorial Pacific. Moderate or strong El Nino events occur irregularly, about once every three to seven years on average. La Niña: Unusually cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific that often occurs between El Nino events. Because there’s only so much energy available in the tropics, La Nina usually means more active hurricane season in the Atlantic.

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HURRICANE GUIDE

Separating fact from fiction If you’re relying on taped-up windows instead of flood insurance to protect your home from a hurricane, you’ll want to learn more about these common hurricane myths. Myth: It’s never flooded at my house before, so it won’t flood this time. Fact: That’s such a common refrain among local flood victims for each successive hurricane that it has become a cliche. Every single home in Terrebonne and Lafourche is threatened by the wind, flood, rain or all three, more so as coastal marshes, wetlands and barrier islands that once buffered inland communities continue to erode. Public officials have constantly urged every home and business owner to have flood insurance, which in many cases only costs a few hundred dollars a year compared with the tens of thousands it will cost to replace your building and its contents. Myth: You can’t buy flood insurance if you are in a high-floodrisk-area. Fact: You can buy flood insurance no matter where you live if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, as

Stephen Theriot, a mechanic at Terrebonne Lawn and Service Center in Galliano, primes a recently purchased generator in advance of Hurricane Isaac in late August 2012. The Courier and Daily Comet/File

Terrebonne, Lafourche not find out until it is and all surrounding par- too late that their homeishes do. owner’s policies do not cover flood damage. Myth: You can’t buy Only flood insurance flood insurance imme- does. diately before or during a flood. Myth: Open the winFact: You can pur- dows so air pressure chase flood coverage doesn’t explode the anytime. There is a 30- house. day waiting period after Fact: This would not you’ve applied and paid only be unsafe for you the premium before the and your home, but it policy is effective, with would also allow windfew exceptions. Visit driven rain to stream www.floodsmart. gov through your house and for details. ruin belongings and potentially tear off your Myth: Homeowner’s roof. insurance policies cover Normal leakage of air flooding. around windows and Fact: Unfortunately, doors will tend to keep many homeowners do the pressure in your

house slightly lower than the atmospheric pressure caused by the storm outside. The greatest danger comes when a large window or door fails on a wall facing the wind. The key is keeping all wind and water out with proper opening protection. Myth: You only need to protect openings facing the ocean or gulf. Fact: Because hurricanes are a moving rotating storm, winds can come from any direction, which can change rapidly if you are near the eye. You should protect all your windows and doors.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 33

How to cope with flooding Nobody can stop a flood. But if you are faced with one, there are actions you can take to protect your family and keep your property losses to a minimum. The Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness offers these tips to keep you safe before, during and after the flood. BEFORE THE FLOOD •Keep a battery-powered radio tuned to a local station, and follow emergency instructions. •If the waters start to rise inside your house before you have evacuated, retreat to the second floor, the attic and, if necessary, the roof. Take dry clothing, a flashlight and a portable radio with you. Then, wait for help. Don’t try to swim to safety; wait for rescuers to come to you. •Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if evacuation appears necessary. •Move valuables, such as papers, furs, jewelry, and clothing, to upper floors or higher elevations. •Fill bathtubs, sinks and plastic soda bottles with clean water. Sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using bleach. Rinse, then fill with clean water. •Bring outdoor pos-

sessions, such as lawn Instead, use a flashlight furniture, grills and to light your way. trash cans, inside or tie •Keep power off until them down securely. an electrician has inspected your system for ONCE THE FLOOD ARRIVES safety. •Do not drive through •Floodwaters pick a flooded area. If you up sewage and chemicome upon a flooded cals from roads, farms road, turn around and and job sites. If your go another way. More home has been flooded, people drown in their protect your family’s cars than anywhere else. health by cleaning up •Do not walk through your house right away. flooded areas. As little Throw out foods and as 6 inches of moving medicines that may water can knock you off have come into contact your feet. with floodwaters. •Stay away from •Until local authoridowned power lines and ties proclaim your waelectrical wires. Elec- ter supply safe, boil trocution is another major source of deaths in floods. Electric current passes easily through water. •Look out for animals and insects, especially snakes and ants.

water for drinking and food preparation for five minutes before using. •Be careful walking around. After a flood, steps and floors are often slippery with mud and covered with debris, including nails and broken glass. •Take steps to reduce your risk of future floods. Make sure to follow local building codes and ordinances when rebuilding, and use flood-resistant materials and techniques to protect yourself and your property from future flood damage.

EMERGENCY CHECKLIST: Water

AFTER THE FLOOD •If your home, apartment or business has suffered damage, call the insurance company or agent who handles your flood insurance policy right away to file a claim. •Before entering a building, check for structural damage. Don’t go in if there is any chance of the building collapsing. •Upon entering, do not use matches, cigarette lighters or any other open flames, since gas may be trapped inside.

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Use a power generator safely Power generators are Generating a good idea convenient when storms When the power goes out and you need to keep the household running, a portable have knocked out the generator will keep electricity going. power to your homes. But How it works Powered by gasoline, diesel or if used improperly, they natural gas, an engine turns the generator to make electricity. can be dangerous. In 2005, a Houma Inside each generator is resident died of carbon a wire coil, which is held two poles of magmonoxide poisoning between nets. When the wire coil turns in the magnetic field, after running a power is produced in generator in the closed electricity the wire. The magnetic garage of his Plum Street electrons in the wire coil move, generating an home, which, like many electric current. across Terrebonne and Lafourche, had lost power after Hurricane Katrina. Coil Commutator The enclosed generator allowed toxic gas to build up and seep into the house as he and his family slept. Field structure (magnets) If you decided to use a generator after a storm, follow these safety tips from the American Red Coils of wire Cross, the U.S. Centers Carbon brushes for Disease Control and Prevention, the National A direct current (DC) generator has a device called a commutator, for reversing or Fire Protection Asso- altering the electric current. This ensures that the current always flows the same ciation and the U.S. way instead of alternating â&#x20AC;&#x201D; flowing in one direction and then the other. SOURCE????? Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Purchasing a generator The right power: If you choose to buy a generator, make sure you get one that is rated for the amount of power that you think you will need. Look at the labels on lighting, appliances and equipment you plan to connect to the generator to determine the amount of power that will be needed to operate the equipment. For lighting, the wattage of the light bulb indicates the power needed. Appliances and equipment usually have labels indicating power requirements on them. Choose a generator that

produces more power than will be drawn by the combination of lighting, appliances and equipment you plan to connect to the generator including the initial surge when it is turned on. If your generator does not produce adequate power for all your needs, plan to stagger the operating times for various equipment. Ask an expert: If you can not determine the amount of power that will be needed, ask an electrician to determine that for you. If your equipment draws more power than the generator can produce, then you may blow a fuse on the generator or damage

the connected equipment.

Using it safely Toxic fumes: The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator are carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, electric shock or electrocution and fire. Follow the directions supplied with the generator. Proper ventilation: Under no circumstances should portable generators be used indoors, including inside a garage, carport, basement, crawlspace or other enclosed or partially-enclosed area, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or

using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the home. The carbon monoxide from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death, but it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be seen or smelled. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to carbon monoxide. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately. Avoid water: Because you may have windows open to get fresh air while the power is out, be sure to place the generator away from windows, doors and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet conditions. To protect the generator from moisture, operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up on poles. Dry your hands if wet before touching the generator. Get an alarm: It is a good idea to install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms or plugin alarms with battery backup in your home. If toxic gas from the generator enters your home and poses a health risk, the alarm will sound to warn you. Test the battery frequently and replace when needed. Turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 35

Storms pose multiple dangers All tropical storms and hurricanes pose a variety of hazards; knowing them can help you avoid or minimize damage. Storm surge and large waves produced by hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. Storm surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm’s winds. Storm surge can reach heights well over 20 feet and can span hundreds of miles of coastline. Storm tide is the water level rise during a storm due to the combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide. The destructive power of storm surge and large battering waves can result in loss of life, buildings destroyed, beach and wetlands erosion and road and bridge damage along the coast. Storm surge can travel several miles inland. In local estuaries and bayous, saltwater intrusion endangers public health and the environment. HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING Tropical storms often produce widespread rain in excess of 6 inches, which may result in deadly and destructive floods. Flooding is the major threat from tropical cyclones for people living inland. Flash flooding, defined as a rapid rise in water levels, can occur quickly due to intense rainfall. Longer term flooding on rivers and streams can persist

for several days after the storm. When approaching water on a roadway, always remember, “turn around; don’t drown.” Rainfall amounts are not directly related to the strength but rather to the speed and size of a storm, as well as the area’s geography. Slower-moving and larger storms produce more rain. HIGH WINDS Tropical-storm-force winds are strong enough to be dangerous. That’s one reason local emergency managers plan on having evacuations complete and their personnel sheltered before the onset of tropical stormforce winds, not hurricane-force winds. Hurricane-force winds, 74 mph or more, can destroy buildings and mobile homes. Debris, such as signs, roofing material, siding and small items left outside become flying missiles. Winds can stay above hurricane strength well inland. In 2004, Hurricane Charley made landfall at Punta Gorda, on the southwest Florida coast, and produced major damage well inland across central Florida with gusts of more than 100 mph. RIP CURRENTS The strong winds of a tropical cyclone can cause dangerous waves that pose a significant hazard to mariners and coastal residents and visitors. When the waves break along the coast,

they can produce deadly rip currents - even at large distances from the storm. Rip currents are channeled currents of water flowing away from shore, usually extending past the line of breaking waves, that can pull even the strongest swimmers away from shore. In 2008, despite the fact that Hurricane Bertha was more than a 1,000 miles offshore, the storm resulted in rip currents that killed three people along the New Jersey coast and required 1,500 lifeguard rescues in Ocean City, Md., over a one-week period. In 2009, all six deaths

in the U.S. directly attributable to tropical cyclones occurred as the result of drowning from large waves or strong rip currents. TORNADOES Hurricanes and tropical storms can also produce tornadoes. These tornadoes most often occur in thunderstorms embedded in rain bands well away from the center of the hurricane; however, they can also occur near the eyewall. Usually, tornadoes produced by tropical cyclones are relatively weak and short-lived, but they still pose a significant threat.

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

How to board up your home Protecting a home’s openings from wind and wind-blown objects is the single most important step you can take to protect your house from damage, experts say. Unprotected standard glass windows can be penetrated easily by wind-borne debris, allowing water and wind to enter your home. Once the window glass fails, the subsequent pressurization of the structure can destroy the house. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes suggests the best way to protect against such damage is to install storm shutters for all exterior windows and doors. Make sure they are tested to meet hurricane-code standards. If that is not possible, you can board up with plywood as an emergency measure. Here are some tips from the alliance: 23

Step One: Plan the Project •Count and measure each window and door that has glass including French doors, sliding glass doors as well as skylights. You might also want to include roof and gable end vents or any opening that if damaged would allow wind to enter your home. •Measure each opening horizontally inside the exterior trim and vertically from the sill to the bottom of the top trim. Add 8 inches to both the height and width to pro-

vide a four-inch overlap tic coated permanent on all sides. When mea- anchors. For masonry suring a window with an homes, use expansion extended sill measure bolts and galvanized from the top of the sill permanent expansion to the top of the window anchors. and add 4 inches instead of 8. Step Three: Get Started •Sheets of plywood are •Having someone help generally 4 feet by 8 feet. you with this project will This will help determine make things a lot easier. how many sheets to buy. •First drill holes in the Representatives for Alutech United, Inc. Be sure to purchase ply- same diameter as the wood that is 5/8 inch or bolts or screws, 2 inches greater, exterior grade in from the edges of the (CDX). plywood at each corner and at 12-inch intervals Step Two: Assemble Your around the panel. M ay 2 0 1 5 Tools and Hardware •Next hold the ply•You will need a cir- wood firmly in place cular saw, drill and over the opening to mark drill bits, hammer and where to drill mounting wrench, work gloves and holes. safety goggles for this •If the window sill is project. flush to the wall, secure •You will also need an the plywood on all four assortment of hardware sides. including bolts, wood •If the window sill exor masonry anchors, tends out at the bottom, nuts and large washers. secure the plywood on A range of bolts may be the top and sides. used because different •For windows 3 feet by bolts will be needed for 4 feet or smaller installed wood frame versus ma- on a wood frame house, sonry homes. use 1/4-inch lag screws •For wood homes, and plastic coated peruse lag screws and plas- manent anchors.

•The lag screws should penetrate the wall and frame surrounding the window at least 1 3/4 inches. For larger windows, use 3/8-inch lag screws that penetrate the wall and frame surrounding the window at least 2 1/2 inches. •For windows 3 feet by 4 feet or smaller installed on a masonry house, use ¼-inch expansion bolts and galvanized permanent expansion anchors. •The expansion bolts should penetrate the wall at least 1 1/2 inches. For larger windows, use 3/8-inch expansion bolts that penetrate the wall at least 1 1/2 inches. •If a window or door is larger than a sheet of plywood, you will need to join the panels with 2x4 bracing along the entire seam. •Attach the 2x4s to the outside of the plywood panel with 10-gauge, 2-inch-long galvanized screws (exterior deck screws) spaced every 4 inches. •Use the widest side of the 2x4 to run the length of the entire seam. •When you’re done, mark each panel with the name of the opening so you will quickly know where to install it when a storm is approaching. •Store the panels, washers and nuts together in a location away from the elements. Consider waterproofing the panels with paint or a sealant.

Thursday, May 20163729 HURRICANE GUIDE |Thursday, HURRICANE GUIDE May 25,26, 2017

Where to find the latest news online Local news and more The Courier and Daily Comet: The Courier and Daily Comet newspapers’ websites have been recognized nationally for their innovative and comprehensive around-the-clock coverage of hurricanes. We’re the place to go before during and after a storm. www. houmatoday.com and www. dailycomet.com

Prepare, respond, recover Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition: This Houma-based nonprofit, which serves Terrebonne and Lafourche, offers a wealth of preparedness and recovery tips, including a printable preparedness guide. www.

trac4la.com Federal Emergency Management Agency: Information about federal storm aid, the National Flood Insurance Program and storm preparation and recovery information. http://www.fema.gov. Insurance Information Institute: Readiness tips geared to, you guessed it, insuring your home against floods and hurricanes. www.iii. org LSU AgCenter: You’ll find a couple of the best printable guides out there. “South Louisiana Guide to Living with Hurricanes” and “There’s a Hurricane Forming” are a couple of examples that can be found in the site’s publications section. www. lsuagcenter.com

Louisiana House: Find out what it takes to build a hurricane-resistant house and get a look at LSU’s prototype. http://www. louisanahouse.org

Emergency agencies Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish government's: Posts storm tips, sandbag and local shelter locations and other emergency information as a storm nears. www.tpcg.org and www. lafourchegov.org Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness: Preparation tips, Louisiana contraflow and evacuation maps state storm advisories. www. gohsep.la.gov Louisiana State Police: Emergency section of this agency’s Web site includes

a printable disaster guide and a link to road closures. http://www.lsp.org/emergency.html

Tracking the storm National Hurricane Center: Widely considered the most reliable source for storm tracking, predictions and related information, run by the National Weather Service. http:// www.nhc.noaa.gov National Data Buoy Center: Check out wind speed, wave height and other readings from buoys in the Gulf of Mexico and along Gulf and Atlantic coasts, as well as around the world. Run by the National Weather Service, it provides live data as the storm approaches. http:// www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

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Don’t give in to stress; deal with it A natural disaster leaves more than a trail of property destruction in its wake. Many times it leaves thousands of victims with a destroyed sense of balance. In addition to avoiding physical hazards, restoring buildings and replacing material possessions during the recovery period, you need to be aware of stress and how to reduce it. During the recovery, devote some time to getting your stress level under control. Start by being patient with yourself and others. Don't expect things to restore themselves instantly. Focus on the big picture instead of the little details. Determine what's really important, and keep in mind that different people, even in your own household, will have different priorities. Be tolerant of mood swings and expressions of disbelief, anger, sadness, anxiety and depression. Don’t overlook the feelings of children.

Things to remember when trying to understand disaster n No one who sees a disaster is untouched by it. n It is normal to feel anxious about your and your family’s safety. n Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event. n Acknowledging our

n Don’t hold yourself responsible for the disastrous event or be frustrated because you feel that you cannot help directly in the rescue work. n Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by staying active in your daily life patterns or by adjusting them. This healthy outlook will help yourself and your family. Healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation, meditation are all important. Jacob Lyons, left, and Leah Domangue travel through Chauvin, n Maintain a normal La., on the way to Lyons house after touring the area Sept. 25, household and daily rou2005. Hurricane Rita left much of southern Terrebonne Parish tine, limiting demanding underwater. AP Photo/the BAton Rouge AdvocAte, PAul AP FILE responsibilities of yourRutheRfoRd self and family. n Spend time with feelings helps us recover. formance. n Focusing on your n Headaches or stom- family and friends. n Participate in strengths and abilities ach problems. will help you to heal. n Tunnel vision or memorials, rituals and use of symbols as a way n Accepting help from muffled hearing. community programs n Colds or flu-like to express feelings. n Use existing support and resources is healthy. symptoms. n We each have differn Disorientation or groups of family, friends and church. ent needs and different confusion. n Establish a family ways of coping. n Difficulty conemergency plan. Feeling n It is common to want centrating. to strike back at people n Reluctance to leave that there is something that you can do can be who have caused great home. pain. However, nothing n Depression, sadness. very comforting. good is accomplished n Feelings of When to seek by hateful language or hopelessness. professional help actions. n Mood swings. If self-help strategies n Crying easily. Signs that adults n Overwhelming guilt are not helping or you need help find that you are using and self-doubt. n Fear of crowds, drugs/alcohol in order n Difficulty communistrangers or being alone. to cope, you may wish cating thoughts. to seek outside or pron Difficulty sleeping. fessional assistance with n Difficulty maintain- Ways to ease the stress your stress symptoms. ing balance. n Easily frustrated. n Talk with someone n Increased use of about your feelings, — Sources: LSU drugs or alcohol. including anger, sorrow, AgCenter, U.S. Subn Limited attention and other emotions - stance Abuse and span. even though it may be Mental Health Services Administration n Poor work per- difficult.

34 Thursday, May 26, 2016

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 25, 2017 39

Be careful when coming home As many locals know from past experience, if you evacuate and a storm hits Terrebonne and Lafourche, life may be different when you return home. If your area is under a curfew, make allowances for travel time to and from your home. Although unusual following a hurricane, crime can also increase. If your area is under martial law, obey all orders. During a hurricane and in the cleanup, injuries occur. To avoid injury, use common sense and wear proper clothing, including long sleeves and long pants and safety boots. The Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness offers these safety precautions for people returning to stormstricken communities: n Find out if the authorities have declared the area safe. n Watch for debris on the road while driving. n Return to your predetermined assembly point or contact your preestablished out-of-area contact person. n Make sure all family members have been accounted for and let others know your status. n Make sure that main electrical switch to our home is off before entering the structure. n Be careful when entering a structure that has been damaged. n If you suspect a gas leak, leave immediately and notify the gas company. n If possible, listen to the radio or contact

A sign gives warning due to Hurricane Isaac in Golden Meadow.

More advice for more advice on this and many other topics, visit the Governor’s office of Emergency Preparedness’ website at www. getagameplan.org.

Abby TAbor/ STAff

authorities to find out if sewage lines are intact before turning on the water or using the toilet. n Report utility damage to the proper authorities. n Continue to monitor your radio or television for up-to-date emergency information.

Inspecting damage Upon returning to dwellings evacuated before the hurricane’s arrival, be aware of possible structural, electrical or gas-leak hazards. Electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks should be shut off to avoid fire, electrocution or explosions. Try to return to your home during the daytime so you do not have to use any lights. Use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns, rather than candles, gas lanterns or torches.

Gas leaks If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows and leave the house immediately. Notify the gas company, the police, fire department or State Fire Marshal’s office and do not turn on the lights, light matches, smoke or do anything that

could cause a spark. Do not return to the house until you are told it is safe to do so.

Electrical damage Your electrical system may have been damaged. If you see frayed wiring or sparks when you restore power or if there is an odor of something burning but no visible fire, you should immediately shut off the electrical system at the main circuit breaker. You should consult your utility company about using electrical equipment, including power generators. Be aware that it is against the law and a violation of electrical codes to connect generators to your home’s electrical circuit without the approved, automaticinterrupt devices. If a generator is online when electrical service is restored, it can become a major fire hazard. In addition, the improper connection of a generator to your home’s electrical circuits may endanger line workers helping to restore power in your area.

returning them to service. It is advisable to have a certified electrician check these items if there is any question. Several deaths following past hurricanes have occurred due to fires. In many cases, fires were caused by the careless use of candles to light homes without electrical power. Use battery-powered lanterns, if possible, rather than candles. If you use candles, make sure they are in safe holders away from curtains, paper, wood or other flammable items. Never leave a candle burning when out of the room.

Downed power lines

If power lines are lying on the ground or dangling near the ground, do not touch the lines. Notify your utility company as soon as possible. Do not attempt to move or repair the lines. Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water. If a power line falls across your care while you are driving, continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Stay in your car and wait for emergency personnel. Fire prevention Do not allow anyone All electrical equipment other than emergency and appliances must be personnel to approach completely dry before your vehicle.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Safeguard your boat

Decide before hurricane season what to do with your boat if a storm threatens. “Even a Category 1 hurricane, with winds between 74 and 95 miles per hour and a storm surge of 4 to 5 feet above normal, can have devastating effects in a crowded harbor,” says Brian LeBlanc, an associate professor with the LSU AgCenter. “You need to consider your situation, determine the safest place for the vessel to ride out a storm, think about the adequacy of the present mooring or dock and evaluate what type of equipment is necessary to have onboard,” he explains. “Then put those decisions into play well in advance of the approaching storm.” LeBlanc stresses protecting human life is the most important factor. “Storms of the magnitude of Katrina or Rita can override even the best precautions,” he says. “If you cannot get your vessel out of harm’s way, secure it the best you can, then get you and your family out.” Only boat owners can decide what is best for them, but he offers these general suggestions: •The best choice, if possible, is to get your boat out of the water. If the vessel is small and can be easily transported on a trailer, move it to higher ground. •Store the boat in a covered area. The best solution is to store small vessels removed from the water in a covered area such as a garage or other dry storage facil-

ity. •If it is not possible to store your boat inside a shelter, remove all equipment and store that indoors. If you have it on a trailer, place the trailer frame on blocks so the frame, instead of the axle and springs, will carry the boat’s weight. The drain plug should be installed and the boat partially filled with water if the hull is strong enough to withstand the weight, as are most fiberglass hulls. Also, secure your boat with heavy lines to fixed objects from four directions, if possible, in case storm surge hits the area. If the hull is not strong enough to hold water, use heavy lines to fixed objects from four directions, if available, or use multiple anchor tie-downs, such as large tent pegs or house trailer tie-downs, to hold the boat in position, and make sure the drain plug is removed. If you can’t remove the vessel from the water because of its size or other conditions, LeBlanc offers these tips: •Keeping a boat at the dock may be the most hazardous location, even during moderate storms. Many marinas have particular guidelines you must follow; learn those in advance. If possible, ensure all lines are doubled and that chafing protection is in place where dock lines pass through fairlead chocks or over the sides of the vessel. The best chafing protection is to cover lines with a rubber hose of the same diameter and then tightly wind it with fabric and fasten

with heavy tape. A vessel tied to a dock also should have ample fenders to provide protection to the hull. Dock lines should be fastened to the pilings rather than to the cleats or other fastenings on the dock. As flooding and storm surge raise the water level, dock lines will move up the pilings. Do not stay on board. •Minimize the amount of surface area exposed to wind. Whether the boat stays at the dock or mooring strain on your vessel and the dock mooring increases as more surface area is exposed to the wind. •To minimize the impact of loose vessels, all protruding objects such as anchors must be re-

moved and stowed, and fenders should be set on both sides of the vessel. •If you elect to stay aboard -- which is not advisable -- stay in touch with all weather advisories and stock up on fuel, water, food, ice, clothing, portable radio, flashlights, extra batteries and prescription medications. It might be necessary to put the engine in gear during the worst part of the storm to ease the strain on the anchor line, so stay awake at all times to prevent the boat from drifting. •Do not attempt to take your vessel offshore when a storm is approaching or expected to approach.

HURRICANE GUIDE

Thursday, May 26, 2016 7

Thursday, May 25, 2017 41

Historic Hurricane Betsy Hurricane Betsy swept ashore in 1965 at Grand Isle with sustained winds of 125 mph and gusts of up to 160 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The powerful winds and storm surge, which reached more than 15 feet in its northern stretches, severely damaged or destroyed almost every building on the island. Army Corps of EnginEErs photo

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saw S

afely

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Call or visit your parish LSU AgCenter Extension Service office for a free Storm Recovery Guide and other disaster Serving Southeast information publications. Louisiana for 20 Years!

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

HURRICANE GUIDE

Use technology to stay connected

Montegut Middle School becomes an island after Hurricane Ike’s floodwaters surround the school on Sept. 14, 2008. The Courier and Daily Comet/File

Ways for people to stay connected during hurricanes have expanded vastly in recent years. Social media, cellphones and the internet have armed people with plenty of tools to weather a disaster. Here are some helpful tech tips from the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency: Make a plan Create a Facebook group devoted to communicating with your friends and family. This means that in the event of a natural disaster, there is a hub of information for your loved ones to know where to go and how to meet up once the danger has passed. Update your status During a disaster, alert your loved ones about your location with Facebook status up-

dates. Be sure to adjust your privacy settings accordingly and consider building a Facebook friend list in advance to ensure the right people see your updates. You can also alert local emergency personnel by posting on the wall of the appropriate agency’s Facebook page. Go mobile During a natural disaster, a computer may not be accessible. By having the Facebook application on your mobile phone or using m.facebook.com on a mobile browser, you can easily update your status to let your loved ones know where you are and if you are okay. The Facebook Messenger application is another way to reach family and friends in the event of a disaster.

your smartphone that will help you stay informed of weather, evacuation routes, shelter locations and perform first aid. The Red Cross has several at redcross.org/get-help/ prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps. FEMA’s smartphone app lets you apply for disaster assistance, map disaster recovery centers and stay connected.

devices. Connect with local news and thousands of community residents on the newspapers’ Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.

Follow local news

Are you OK?

The Courier and Daily Comet are the best source of local news, especially during storms. Download the newspapers’ mobile apps at the iTunes app store; search for houmatoday or dailycomet. You can also get local news headlines from The Courier and Daily Comet on the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot. And both newspapers have mobile websites – Get mobile apps houmatoday.com and dailycomet.com -- dePut mobile apps on signed for use on mobile

Power up Store extra batteries or chargers with your emergency preparedness kit or in an automobile so your devices can remain powered.

After a disaster, go to www.redcross.org/ safeandwell and register on Safe and Well. From that site, you can update your Facebook and Twitter status to let your loved ones and friends know that you are safe. Alert those in your social networking circles of your status. A quick post of “I’m OK” or using the hashtag #imok will be sufficient. -The Courier and Daily Comet

The real disaster is not being prepared.

Hurricane preparedness is taken seriously at Thibodaux Regional. Advanced, detailed planning allows us to immediately respond to all categories of storms and emergencies ultimately enhancing the safety of our patients, visitors, and staff.

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center is fully prepared to face the storms that threaten the region and maintain our high standard of care and patient satisfaction.

Nationally-Recognized Hospital.

985.447.5500 | www.thibodaux.com

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