Calcasieu Parish Public Transit System

Special Needs Assistance Population Program

(SNAPP)

The Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program has been designed for special needs people living at home who need assistance with evacuation.  Eligible applications will have to have a medical condition that requires assistance with activities for daily living.  Residents of assisted living facilities or nursing homes will not qualify.

Evacuation Registration Request Form

Complete all sections of the application.  Indicate medical conditions, especially medical equipment requiring electricity, and any specialized transportation needs.  Your physician must complete and sign the back portion of this application prior to submitting it to our office.  You will be contacted on an annual basis to re-certify your need for this program.  Once you are registered, you will not have to resubmit this application.  If more than one person in your household needs assistance during evacuations, each one should complete a separate application. 

The registry may be used for any emergency requiring evacuation, such as flooding, hurricanes or hazardous material spills (such as a gas leak).  In order for us to process your application in time for hurricane season, you should submit it by May 15, 2002.  Resources are limited and those who are registered will have priority.  If you wait until the evacuation begins to ask for help, it may be too late.

 Hurricane evacuation centers, whether general or special needs, will only  be available as a last resort for people who have no other place to go.  If you need to evacuate, you should first seek shelter with relatives, friends or community organizations.  Evacuation centers do not offer the same level of care available in a hospital or other health care facility.  Only basic care and assistance are available.  A caregiver must accompany you and remain with you during your stay in the evacuation center.  Dialysis patients who do not have other special needs should go to general evacuation centers and carefully follow instructions from your dialysis center.

Medications, 24-hour skilled nursing care and life support equipment, including oxygen, are not available in hurricane evacuation centers, and continuous electricity cannot be guaranteed.  If your condition requires this level of care we will attempt to find placement for you in a health care facility that participates in this program.

Supplies at hurricane evacuation centers will be limited to food, water and first aid kits.  You must bring with you a hurricane kit that includes bedding, medications and personal supplies.  It is highly recommended that you eat a meal prior to leaving your home and bring with you special dietary foods.  Special instructions and a registration card will be mailed to you once your application has been processed.  Read these instructions carefully and keep them in a safe place.  Prepare wisely and stay alert to the media for evacuation times during emergencies.

If you have any questions or need further information, please call 1-800-542-7074.  Return the completed application to:

 Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services

ATTN:  Project SNAPP

P. O. Box 3171 B 2424 Third Street

Lake Charles, LA 70601

 If you need disaster preparedness tips, contact the Calcasieu Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at (337) 721-3800.