Storm prep under way locally

Tuesday, May 4
May 4, 2010
Thursday, May 6
May 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 4
May 4, 2010
Thursday, May 6
May 6, 2010

WIRE and STAFF REPORTS

More than two dozen emergency-power generators have been purchased for critical buildings and sewer system pumping stations in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes thanks to grants from FEMA.


The purchases $648,000 for Terrebonne and $570,000 for Lafourche mean local government is better prepared for hurricanes, power outages and other emergencies, local officials said.


“We’ve got more generators now than we’ve ever had, which will help facilitate the parish getting back up and running,” said Earl Eues, Terrebonne’s Emergency Preparedness director.

In the response to Hurricane Gustav in 2008, generators had to be trucked in. Some will still have to be rented from on-call, out-of-town companies.


In Lafourche, parish government had four generators during Hurricane Gustav in 2008 that were moved among buildings and facilities when needed, said Chris Boudreaux, Lafourche’s Emergency Preparedness director. The parish’s grant will cover nine generators and a second grant of roughly $64,000 from the state Office of Homeland Security will cover two more generators, Boudreaux said.


Prior to Gustav, the primary buildings in Terrebonne with generators included 911’s dispatch center, the parish jail, the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Houma Police headquarters and the sheriff’s office, among others, Eues said.

Local schools and hospitals have their own generators or contracts in place for generators to come in during emergencies.

“Everyone decided on a short list of critical facilities that need to be running after a storm or power outage,” said Jennifer Gerbasi, a senior planner with Terrebonne government.

All of the generators in Terrebonne have been delivered except one, she said, and all the grant money will be spent by June 1. As for Lafourche, only four generators are left to be delivered. Everything will be delivered by mid-June, Boudreaux said.

In St. Mary Parish, emergency preparedness director Duval Arthur said the parish is in final preparation mode.

“We have an agreement with Rapides Parish Government that allows us to evacuate all of St. Mary Parish, including pets, to the Rapides Parish Coliseum, should the need arise,” he said. “People won’t have to drive all of the country anymore, God forbid.”

Additionally, the parish purchased generators to operate most of the water and sewer plants in the area following last year’s storm season.

“We have everyone situated, and all of our services are up and running,” he said. “I think we’re in pretty good shape.”