Re-entry plan up for TEDA vote

Following Hurricane Gustav in 2007, the duty of issuing post-storm re-entry badges was handed over to the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority. Since that time there has been no reason for residents to evacuate the region, but TEDA officials recognized shortcomings in the process and made protocol changes that the economic development agency’s executive committee accepted last Tuesday and will present to the full TEDA Board of Commissioners for final adoption during their regular meeting on March 18.

TEDA Board President Don Hingle said most of the policy changes deal with staff duties and describing what services and businesses are most critical to post-storm recovery efforts.

A line from the 1974 movie Blazing Saddles – “We don’t need no stinkin’ badges” – might have been a policy that passed scrutiny in the past, but according to Hingle and interim TEDA manager Jane Arnette, such a policy attitude is no longer applicable.

“We have formed an internal re-entry committee composed of myself, Sheila [Bella], Donna [Washington] and Michelle [Edwards] because those are the people who are directly involved with the badges of re-entry,” Arnette said.

Under the new protocol definitions of what was involved in post-storm re-entry were clarified and priorities were specified.

Re-entry badges, under the new protocol will be issued to those companies and agencies that complete annual applications. Levels of importance during emergency situations were defined on a tier guidance scale.

Tier One identified those individuals and agencies critical as first responders. These badge recipients are those that have duties that directly correspond to infrastructure needs. These include federal, state and local agencies that provide government and public services. They include hospital emergency personnel, major utility companies and pre-designated sub-contractors to restore electricity, gas and water services. Also included are rescue and response organizations, certain private businesses and industry disaster assistance teams.

Tier Two badge holders are core assessment teams for major employers or businesses determined to be essential for the return of residents and for economic viability, such as financial institutions, maritime operations, wholesale food suppliers, bulk food distributors, manufacturing and building supply companies, non-emergency medical professionals, medical supply companies, security companies and businesses determined by the parish president to be essential to the return of residents or economic vitality to the parish.

Documentation needed for the issuing of a badge include a complete company re-entry badge questionnaire, completed application, complete liability release statement, parish voucher for vendors, support letter from private business, and specification of the kind of applicant to be considered.

Critical businesses include those needed to support the re-establishment of the parish infrastructure. Those include gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, agriculture producers, hotels and icehouses.

Businesses and agencies would be asked to specify who among their numbers would be assigned to enter the area following a storm. Those persons would be issued re-entry badges.

“They never really had a protocol before,” Arnette said.

“We want to keep the community informed,” Hingle said. “The criteria was set by the parish but the details on how to issue the re-entry badges needed work.”

For detailed information on re-entry qualifications and to secure an application, call TEDA at (985) 873-6890 or visit their website at http://www.tpeda.org/badges.aspx and find instructional links on that page.

Terrebonne Economic Development Authority Board of Commissioners Chairman Don Hingle plays his hand as new operation policies are set for the distribution of post-storm re-entry badges for first responders and businesses. MIKE NIXON