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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10-5-05
Contact Tom Hoefer 337-802-9560
From Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control Director Lucas Terracina:
Calcasieu Parish Mosquito Control is continuing its fight against hordes of
mosquitoes produced by Hurricane Rita.
Aerial control units have been the mainstay of the operations covering large
areas of the parish. Currently 4 aircraft are being used on a daily basis.
Two of these belong to the parish operation, while the other two are via a
contract with Clarke Mosquito Control/Dynamic Aviation. The US Air Force
also made one flight using a C-130 over the western portion of the parish.
With all these assets a total of 558,650 acres have been covered. These
efforts have assisted in reducing mosquito populations throughout much of
the parish.
Ground units have also played a role during this time, but due to the
obstructions on roadways, access to some areas has been limited. Each night
conditions in the areas are improving allowing for more work to be
completed.
Residents will continue to see mosquito populations fluctuate due to
movement from their production areas. This will require additional
treatments to alleviate the situation.
A cold front is expected through the area, which may delay our response to
problem areas. The culprit for this delay will not be the cooler
temperatures, but the associated high winds. Anytime winds are over 10 miles
an hour, spraying shut down. This delay is expected for Thursday and
possibly Friday evening.
Inspectors have begun their assessment of known breeding sites in an effort
to begin larvicing operations. This will be necessary to curtail further
production from these areas.
As soon as conditions stabilize and the winds subside, control operations
will commence with both ground and aerial units.
News
Release
For Immediate Release
9/29/05
Calcasieu Parish public officials and the mayors of
the six municipalities of the parish have announced
a phased re-entry plan for parish residents
evacuated for Hurricane Rita, the worst disaster in
parish history.
The Plan is split into two phases:
Phase One
Calcasieu Visit and Calcasieu Comeback.
Calcasieu Visit is a
“Look and Leave” period allowing residents to
re-enter the parish, assess the damage to their
homes, gather important belongings and then return
to safer and more secure locations outside the
hurricane-damaged area. This phase will begin
Friday, September 30, 2005, during daylight hours.
Citizens returning to the parish must be prepared to
be self-sufficient, with their own food and water,
must be willing to stay off the streets at night and
must have access to cash, as credit card usage will
be difficult.
Elderly residents, children and other special needs
citizens are strongly urged not to return during the
first phase.
Residents will be asked to return to their temporary
lodging locations at their own discretion to
permanently re-enter in Calcasieu Comeback at a date
yet to be determined.
Returning residents are urged to call a re-entry
information line at 337-721-3840, which will list
informational checkpoints at the following
Interstate Ten exits:
Interstate 10 in Iowa, I-10 at Highway 171 in Lake
Charles, I-210 at Enterprise Boulevard in Lake
Charles, I-10 in Westlake, I-10 at Highway 108 in
Sulphur, I-10 at Beglis Parkway in Sulphur, I-10 at
Ruth street in Sulphur and I-10 at Exit Seven in
Vinton.
Details of the re-entry plan are available on the
attached information sheet, which will be published
on www.cppj.net
and various media websites from Southwest Louisiana.
Local officials are asking for your cooperation
with and observance of the following:
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You are entering the
Parish at YOUR OWN RISK!
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There is a strictly
enforced parish-wide curfew from 7:00pm to
6:00am Sunday thru Saturday. The curfew means
that you cannot be outside, either on foot or in
your vehicle, during this time. Make sure you
keep identification with you at all times.
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There is no
temporary housing for you during the visit.. You
must take care of yourself. Make sure you have
your temporary “home away from home”
arrangements secured.
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E-911 is working,
but is NOT an information line.
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Police and Fire
Services are limited.
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Traffic lights are
not functioning. Every
intersection in the parish is officially a 4-way
stop. If you cause an accident you
need to know that you are not only endangering
your life, but the lives of others. Our ability
to respond and care for you is very limited!
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Our medical services
are extremely limited during this period. We
cannot handle critical care patients, special
needs persons, or young children.
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Conditions are
inappropriate and generally unsafe for the
elderly, ill, and young children. No elderly day
care, no child day care, and no schools.
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Pharmacies are not
open, so make certain you have your medications
with you.
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There is no access
to oxygen, respirators, or ventilators.
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Sewer, water, and
electricity is generally not available. Please
conserve and restrict your use of all of these
services if they’re available in your
neighborhood. Portable toilets are not widely
available.
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Water is not
potable, meaning it cannot be drunk. Don’t use
it to brush your teeth. You can bathe in it. If
you use it for cooking, you must boil it.
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Food and water will
not be provided to you during the visit period.
Bring enough food, water, medical supplies,
medicines, and gasoline to be self-sufficient
during your visit. Each incidence of a visiting
resident needing assistance is going to prolong
the recovery.
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Avoid carbon
monoxide poisoning. Do not cook inside with
fuel-burning camp stoves or charcoal grills –
they will kill you.
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Gasoline for your
personal vehicles is limited. A few gas stations
may be open, but be prepared to pay in cash and
be patient in long lines.
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Expect roads to be
barricaded for power restoration; do not
endanger the lives of the power lines crews by
attempting to cross the barricade!
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Expect road closures
and major traffic congestion.
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Be very careful on
re-entering your own homes; especially if you
have trees leaning against or on your roof. Use
good judgment! Do not call for any public
service assistance.
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Garbage removal is a
problem. If at all possible, bag your household
garbage in heavy trash bags and take it with you
when you leave. Remember, “Don’t Trash
Louisiana!”
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Do not burn any
trash or garbage during your visits!
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