9.11.21 Hurricane Ida Recovery Update

Published on September 11, 2021

Saturday, September 11, 2021, Update  

FEMA  

  • The FEMA mobile unit will be at the Garyville Library, located at 111 Historic Front St., tomorrow, Sunday, September 12, 2021 registering residents for assistance. 
  • Apply online for FEMA at disasterassistance.gov or 800-621-3362.  

Distribution Sites Water, ice, and MREs are available daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. via drive-thru at:

  • Wallace Fire Station - 5733 Hwy 18, Vacherie (Wallace) 
  • REGALA Gym - 200 REGALA Park Rd, Reserve 
  • Garyville Magnet School – 240 Hwy 54, Garyville  

Fire Department and & National Guard are out in neighborhoods handing out water, ice & MRES.  

Other assistance.  

Elderly Assistance for St. John residents 

  • Elderly St. John residents ages 65 and older who need assistance registering with FEMA can call the Department of Health & Human Services at 985-536-4955 from 8am-5pm daily.  

Debris Removal 

  • Debris removal crews are working throughout St. John Parish and making good progress as part of our Hurricane Ida debris removal program.
  • Please continue moving your storm debris curbside so our crews can collect it. Please make sure the debris isn’t near anything that the grapple truck can damage or grab (mailboxes, etc.). If you haven’t had an opportunity to do so, please know that our trucks will be making multiple passes in all impacted areas to collect your debris.


Please help us serve you as quickly as possible by separating your debris according to the attached diagram below. This is important. Vegetative debris and construction & demolition debris is going. White goods (refrigerators, etc.) will start in the next few days.

 

Water  

  • Water pressure may continue to fluctuate at times Parishwide but especially in LaPlace as leaks are identified and repaired. We will continue to send out updates when conditions change.  
  • The Boil Water Advisory is in place until further notice Parishwide.
  • All water customers Parishwide will remain under a Boil Water Advisory until Entergy power is restored at the water plants.
  • Water customers should continue to boil water for at least a minute after a rolling boil before consumption until the Boil Water Advisory is lifted.
  • We will update on all communication outlets when the Boil Water Advisory is lifted. Thank you.

Sewer  

  • Parish residents are asked to limit all non-essential sewer services as much as possible during this time.  
  • Residents can continue using their essential sewer services, such as using the bathroom. Please try not to flush any type of paper product down your toilet right now while systems are being repaired. This includes toilet paper, sanitary items, paper towels or flushable wipes.  

Power 

*Notes – If your neighborhood has power and you don’t, Entergy is asking you to report at 1-800-9OUTAGE.

Latest Updates from Entergy on Power Restoration in St. John Parish as of

Number of outages 961 – 71% of customers remain without power

Energized Sections of St. John Parish:

- Commercial customers on West 10th Street in Reserve

- Central St. in Reserve

- Airline Hwy from St. Charles/St. John Parish Line to Hwy 51

- Hwy 51 from Airline Hwy to Total Choice Credit Union

- Ochsner Medical Center

- Airline Hwy from Marathon to Percy Hebert Rd

Plans to Energize for 9/10/21:

- The National Guard Armory

- East St. John High School

- St. John Parish Buildings

Plans for Crews Working 9/10/21:

- Crews working on the West Bank of St. John Parish from the St. Charles/St. John Parish line going towards Edgard

- Crews working from the Vet Bridge in Wallace working towards Edgard

- Crews are working from Central St. on River Road in Reserve going towards Dupont

- Crews are working from Dupont on River Road going towards Central St.

- Crews are working along W. 5th St from Main St. going towards Hemlock St.

**Please be mindful of work crews and equipment.

Garbage Pickup  

  • Metro Service Group has resumed garbage collection and we will update these areas daily that they are working in.  
  • Metro Is finishing Garyville and starting in Reserve from East 31st working towards West 24th Street.

Unemployment Information

  • The Louisiana Workforce Commission Mobile unit will be in Reserve at RPCC SEPT. 14-15th from 9:00am-6:00pm to assist those with no internet/power apply for disaster unemployment.

    Temporary Housing  

  • Parish President Hotard signed an executive order outlining emergency regulation to prepare for an equitable and speedy recovery and to provide temporary housing solutions for residents.  
  • Effective through February 28, 2022, permit and inspection fees required by the Planning and Zoning Department will be waived for those making repairs and renovations to structures impacted by Hurricane Ida.  
  • The order also allows for placement of one RV, travel trailer or other similar form of temporary housing to be placed on a single-family residential site through August 29, 2022. Additional provisions may be added as needs are identified for recovery.  
  • Please note that the Planning and Zoning Department is operating in a very limited capacity to provide safety inspections for electrical and gas reconnections currently. 
  •  Permits for renovations, repairs and temporary RV’s may be obtained once full government services are operational. In the meantime, please contact Planning and Zoning at 985-651-5565 to begin coordination of inspections for RV’s of if you have any questions about permitting repairs. 
  •  

  • Safe Reconnect of Utilities  

  • Planning and Zoning is here to help with a safe recovery for items that are normally permitted such as electrical and gas reconnection inspections.  
  • If you sustained damage to your home or business electrical and/or gas systems and want to ensure it is safe to have them reconnected by the utility provider, please contact Planning & Zoning.  
  • Our team will come out and inspect the installation and advise what needs to be done to bring it to a safe condition.  
  • If you have made repairs and the utility provider is unable to reconnect you, an inspector will be dispatched to help you identify what needs to be done to allow the utility provider to reconnect you.  
  • These services are being provided at no cost and are offered to ensure your safety and expedite the reconnection process when the utility providers can turn services back on.  

  •  

    Email safereconnect@stjohn-la.gov  

    985-651-5565 

    Roads  

  • The Highway 51 low road is closed. On and off ramps to I55 are open.  
  • LA 44 is closed near the Cargill Grain Elevator (between W. 19th Street and W. 23rd Street) is closed.  

  • Generator Safety  

  • St. John Parish reminds residents that carbon monoxide from generators is deadly. Only use a generator in a well-ventilated area and place away from structures, at least 20 feet away from your home, windows, and doors.  
  • Please place a carbon monoxide detector in your home.  

  • Contractor Fraud  

  • As the area continues to recover from Hurricane Ida’s, we would like to remind residents to be aware of individuals or companies who use natural disasters to steal funds from victims of storms.
  • Residential contractor fraud, according to the Louisiana Legislature, is defined under LA RS:14-202.1 as “the misappropriation or intentional taking of anything of value which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations by a person who has contracted to perform any home improvement or residential construction, or who has subcontracted for the performance of any home improvement or residential construction.”

 

Some of the best ways to avoid contractor fraud is to:

  • Verify whether a contractor is licensed or registered to do construction in Louisiana before you make a down payment or sign a contract. There are three ways to check licensure through LSLBC:
  • Check their license via the LSLBC website at lacontractor.org. or call 1-800-256-1392.
  • Be sure you learn the contractor’s full name, business address and take note of their physical description.
  • Ask them for references from previous clients, check their reviews via internet and social media.
  • Get the phone number and call it in their presence to ensure they are the phone account holder.
  • Ask them for proof of liability and workers compensation insurance.
  • Ask to see their contractor’s license.
  • Take note of the vehicle they are driving, record the license plate number.
  • Be sure you are supplied a detailed estimate and contract, signed by the contractor in your presence, be sure the contract has estimated dates of start and completion.
  • NEVER give a down payment exceeding 10 percent of the total project cost!
  • NEVER pay for projects not yet completed!
  • Always get at least three estimates for the repairs, as this may be required by your insurance provider.
  • Use local contractors when possible.
  • Keep a detailed log of all conversations you have. Use email communication as much as possible.
  • NEVER pay with cash or money order. Always use checks or a credit card.
  • NEVER give them more information than is needed for them to submit an estimate or perform the job.

 

Curfew 

  • A parish-wide curfew is in effect from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily until further notice.  

Donations/Volunteers  

STAY INFORMED - TEXT SJPWEATHER TO 888-777 FOR UPDATES

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