Tommy Martinez Parish of Ascension Parish President

OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY Richard A. Webre AND Director EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

ASCENSION PARISH SITUATION REPORT 15 October 2008 As of: 1330 hrs

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS CURRENTLY TRACKING , TROPICAL DEPRESSION SIXTEEN AND FOUR TROPICAL WAVES IN THE ATLANTIC-CARIBBEAN-GULF OF MEXICO BASIN. NONE OF THESE SYSTEMS POSE A THREAT TO LOUISIANA AT THIS TIME. SEE PARAGRAPH 2 FOR DETAILS.

1. RESPONSE/RECOVERY OPERATIONS FOR HURRICANES GUSTAV AND IKE:

GOHSEP and other state agencies continue to support the parishes that are recovering from the effects of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

While most parishes that were affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike are either back to normal or still in the recovery phase, Cameron Parish is still working on restoring critical infrastructure and basic services and its Emergency Operation Center remains fully activated. The evacuation order has been lifted for all areas except for Holly Beach/Johnson Bayou area. Curfews from 8:00PM to 6:00AM are still in place for the entire parish except the Grand Lake/Sweet Lake area. While some roads are still closed, LA DOTD continues to make repairs throughout the parish with some roads temporarily repaired and opened with restrictions on hours of access Black Bayou Bridge remains closed until further notice. The Cameron Ferry returned to normal operations on 25 September 2008. Parish electrical system is 100% energized and all structures that are able to take power are energized. A burn ban is in effect for the entire parish with several trash dump sites established. Fire fighting assets in the parish have been augmented by fire fighters from Orleans and Calcasieu Parish. There are two PODs (Point of Distribution) locations in Cameron Parish. The first one is in the vicinity of Cameron Parish Courthouse. The other POD location is 5556 Gulf Beach Hwy in Johnson Bayou. Approximately 1,883 people have made formal housing assistance requests. More details can be viewed on WebEOC in the parish SITREP.

The Federal Government has issued Amendment 4 to FEMA-1792-DR-LA, the Major Declaration for issued September 13, 2008. This amendment adds parishes to the list of IA and PA eligible parishes for Hurricane Ike.

Additional Parishes for IA are: Allen, Livingston, Orleans, St. Martin, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa

828 S. Irma Boulevard, Building 3 Gonzales, Louisiana 70737 Telephone: (225) 621-8360 Fax: (225) 621-8362 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ascensionparish.net Additional Parishes for PA (all now eligible for A-G) are: Allen, St. Tammany, Bienville, Concordia, DeSoto, Red River, St. Bernard, St Charles, St John the Baptists, Union, Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Plaquemines, Sabine, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, and Vernon.

2. TROPICAL WEATHER:

General: As of 1330 hours 15 Oct 2008, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on Hurricane Omar, Tropical Depression Sixteen and four tropical waves in the Atlantic-Caribbean-Gulf of Mexico Basin. While none of these systems pose a threat to Louisiana at this time, the Ascension EOC, along with GOHSEP will continue to monitor the NHC site and report all tropical activity. Details of these systems can be found below.

Gulf of Mexico: There are no tropical waves at this time.

Caribbean: Hurricane Omar is near 67.5W and 15N or about 230 miles southeast of San Juan moving northeast near 8mph. This storm is projected to head east back into the Atlantic over the next few days and does not pose a threat to Louisiana.

828 S. Irma Boulevard, Building 3 Gonzales, Louisiana 70737 Telephone: (225) 621-8360 Fax: (225) 621-8362 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ascensionparish.net Tropical Depression Sixteen is along 84W and 16N or about 245 miles east of Belize moving west near 5mph. This storm is forecast to make landfall around Thursday in Belize. This storm does not pose a threat to Louisiana at this time.

Atlantic: Tropical Depression Nana has downgraded to a low pressure system located near 46.5W and 20N. This system is expected to gradually weaken and eventually dissipate in a couple of days.

A is along 57W south of 18N moving west near 12-17mph.

A tropical wave is along 43W and 18N, there is no movement to report at this time.

A tropical wave is along 40W and 13N moving west near 12 - 17mph.

3. LOUISIANA WEATHER:

Southwest Louisiana: Seasonal weather is expected with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms today with a decrease to 30% tonight. Thursday the forecast shows a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms with a decrease to 40% on Friday.

Hazardous Weather: There are no reports of hazardous weather at this time.

Southeast Louisiana: Mostly sunny skies today, with skies becoming partly cloudy tonight. Thursday the forecast shows a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Friday has a 40% chance of thunderstorms during the day and decreasing to a 10% at night.

Hazardous weather: There are no reports of hazardous weather at this time. Central Louisiana: Seasonal weather is expected with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms today with an increase to 50% tonight. Thursday the forecast shows a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Friday shows a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day.

Hazardous Weather: There are no reports of hazardous weather at this time.

Northern Louisiana: Seasonal weather is expected with a 60% chance of showers today with an increase to 80% tonight. Thursday the forecast shows a 70% chance of thunderstorms and decreasing to a 30% chance during the night. Friday calls for partly sunny skies.

Hazardous Weather: A cold front will be moving through the region Thursday bringing with it continued high rain chances. Post frontal thunderstorms will be possible Thursday behind the cold front as well. Any strong thunderstorms on Thursday should be confined to extreme Northeast Louisiana ahead of the cold front. The precipitation should be gradually coming to and end across the region Thursday night.

4. HAZMAT: Data coming soon.

5. FIRE: Data coming soon.

828 S. Irma Boulevard, Building 3 Gonzales, Louisiana 70737 Telephone: (225) 621-8360 Fax: (225) 621-8362 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ascensionparish.net 6. MEDICAL: Data coming soon.

7. TERRORIST ACTIVITY: None.

National Threat Level: Yellow (Elevated)

Transportation Safety Administration: Orange (High).

8. CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, NUCLEAR, EXPLOSIVE: None.

828 S. Irma Boulevard, Building 3 Gonzales, Louisiana 70737 Telephone: (225) 621-8360 Fax: (225) 621-8362 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ascensionparish.net