 |
Newsletter
Sign-Up
Enter your email address below: |
| |
|
|
District C Issues
Post-Gustav Update #4 from Councilmember Carter
Greetings to everyone in District C,
Restoration of power is still the number one concern of residents. Entergy is currently has 1,600 workers on the ground in New Orleans. All substations are currently on line, and they are working to bring on the feeder lines from each substation. Feeder lines service the largest number of customers, and all feeder lines will be repaired before the lateral lines that service smaller numbers of customers are repaired. If people have power near you, but your smaller group of neighbors does not, this is probably why. They are on a feeder line; you are on a lateral line. Most feeder lines will be repaired by Friday night, and with the feeder lines repaired we should begin to see many more customers come on line more quickly in the next 36 hours. Entergy still expects that 90% of customers will have power by Saturday night, and 100% to have power by Monday evening.
District C daily updates can also be found on the District C website, District Issues page, at http://www.neworleansdistrictc.com/issues.asp.
Take care of yourselves,
James Carter
Curfew in effect (as of 9/5/08)
• From 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. in 70112, 70115, 70116, and 70130
• From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in all other Orleans zip code areas
DISTRICT C SERVICES AVAILABLE
POD Centers—Ice, Water, Food and Information available:
• Skelly Rupp Baseball Stadium, 2200 Vespasian (part of the Behrman Complex)
• Main Library on Loyola Ave.
SHELTER
• Behrman Gym at Behrman Complex
The following is not a comprehensive list, but a number of people have asked for information about available services. Power is the biggest reason that businesses in certain areas have not reopened. Except where noted, the following information is taken from the newspaper or has been confirmed through a phone call to the business or relevant agency.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Algiers and Chalmette ferries are running.
RTA and Streetcars will not resume service to the general public until after Sunday, due to the return of CAEP evacuees. Date to resume will be announced.
RESTAURANTS
http://www.nola.com/dining has a listing of restaurants currently open in the city
EAST BANK GAS STATIONS
Franklin Shell (no gas right now, expecting a tanker of gas today)
1100 Franklin Ave 940-5524 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Discount Value
617 N. Broad 488-7711 til 10 tonight, 24 hrs starting tomorrow
Lakshmi Properties
1601 Elysian Fields 942-1677 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Rampart Fuel
447 N Rampart 553-9790 7:30 til ?
EASTBANK GROCERY STORES
Rouses
6600 Franklin 288-1600
4500 Tchoupitoulas 895-2966 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
701 Royal 523-1353
400 Carrollton 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Roberts
Claiborne & Carrollton 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Whole Foods
5600 Magazine St. 899-9210 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
EASTBANK DRUG STORES
Walgreens
1100 Elysian Fields 943-9788 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
134 Royal 525-2180 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
145 Elks Pl. 525-0918 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WESTBANK GAS STATIONS
Oakwood Shell
101 Westbank Expressway 362-2385 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Circle K (gas delivery Friday a.m.)
929 Lafayette (Gretna) 362-1411 7 a.m. til at least 4 p.m.
Magnolia Discount Gas and Conv.
100 Terry Parkway 367-9076 24 hrs/day
Terrytown Shell Service Station (reg gas only, as long as it lasts)
2000 Carol Sue 393-8430 6 a.m. til ?
WESTBANK GROCERY STORES & MARKETS
Rouses
2851 Belle Chasse Hwy 433-4105 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
4001 General DeGaulle
Algiers Discount Food Store
3549 General Meyer 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Algiers Central Market
840 Teche 324-8975 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WESTBANK DRUG STORES
Walgreens
4110 General DeGaulle 433-3297 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other Algiers Info:
Chase Bank on General DeGaulle
Tout de Suite (Restaurant/Coffeehouse)
347 Verret 7 a.m. to 3-ish
PJ’s in Village Aurora
Aunt Leni’s Restaurant
323 Verret 301-2805 opening Friday evening
Dry Dock Cafe
Delaronde at Ferry Landing 361-8240
Kitchen open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (limited menu)
Algiers Charter Schools expect to re-open next Wed., Sept. 10
Van’s Snoballs on General Meyer is open
Post-Gustav Update #3 from Councilmember Carter
Hello, again—
Welcome to the third District C post–Gustav daily update. I hope that as you re-enter the city, you will find your homes and property in good shape. I am riding throughout the district every day and am heartened by the strength of character that the citizens of District C possess. Thanks to you all for your hard work and strength throughout this experience. Please contact my office with any questions or concerns.
These daily updates can also be found on the District C website, District Issues page, at http://www.neworleansdistrictc.com/issues.asp.
Also, those of you with distribution lists of your own, please forward this information to your friends and neighbors so that this information will reach as many people as possible.
RESTORATION OF POWER
More and more people’s power was restored throughout the day. If you still are without power, you can contact Entergy in the two ways described below for information about when power in your neighborhood will be restored. (According to Entergy, 95% of power will be restored within three days.)
• Call 1-800-9outage.
• Go to one of two open customer service centers, on Behrman Highway or on Canal Street. They are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. M-Sat and 10 to 2 p.m on Sunday.
• Only the Tricou substation in the Upper 9th Ward is not on line at this time.
• Entergy is testing distribution lines now. After bringing on critical services, they will test lines that will bring on the most customers first.
DISTRIBUTION OF ICE, FOOD, WATER, COMFORT ITEMS AND INFORMATION
Three distribution and information centers, manned by National Guardsmen, will be set up at the following sites beginning tomorrow. They will distribute ice, food, comfort items, and water, in addition to information that may be useful to citizens in the immediate future.
• Main Library on Loyola Ave
• Joe Brown Park
• Behrman Park in Algiers
POSTAL SERVICES
Postal services resumed today!
LASPCA
The LASPCA is currently only taking calls for animal rescue and emergency situations. If you feel your situation qualifies, please call (504) 368-5191, Ext. 100.
OPEN BUSINESSES, MEDICAL FACILITIES, etc.
The City of New Orleans website currently has the most up-to-date information available (http://www.cityofno.com/). We are compiling a list of sources for services and will post it tomorrow.
• Tulane Hospital, Lakeside Hospital, University Hospital, Touro Hospital, Oschner Hospital, and Children’s Hospital are open. Clinic services at Tulane will open on Monday.
FERRY SERVICE
We have not been able to find out when the Canal St/Algiers ferry will resume services, but we will let you know as soon as we know.
COX CABLE
We had a lengthy conversation with our Cox representative today, and he will be updating us daily from here on. Here is what we learned:
• Cox is working very hard to restore power. Sixty percent (60%) of the footprint is receiving power.
• Cox cannot even begin to assess what kind of damage there is until power has been restored, so there is a lag time between when power is restored and when cable can be restored.
• The aerial network servicing the 4-parish was damaged, including the splitting of two major fiber optic bundles (probably caused by a tornado). Each bundle has 250 fiber optic “hairs” that must be spliced.
• Commercial customers should call to get a customer ticket and register their outage.
• If you can access the COX website through an alternate means, the website will give you current information.
• If you have Cox internet service and can get web access to the internet, you can still send and receive e-mail. New Orleans customers may read and send email at no charge via our WebMail site: http://webmail.cox.net
Thank you all—I will be in touch again tomorrow.
James Carter
Councilmember, District C
jcarter@cityofno.com
(504) 658-1030
Post-Gustav Daily Update #2 Wed., Sept. 3, 2008
From: James Carter
Sent: Wed., September 03, 2008 2:58 PM
Subject: Hurricane Gustav District C Update
Hello, all,
I hope this finds you well and safe. I am continuing to visit each neighborhood in District C to see how everyone is faring. We will continue to seek information that we think will be helpful to you and update you on the city’s recovery progress. If there are particular questions that you have, please let me know.
• RESTORATION OF ELECTRICAL POWER: As of Wednesday morning, half the households in New Orleans have power. There was major damage to the high power transmission lines that bring power to the city from the west, but Entergy has managed to bring two transmission lines back on and are working on a third. A first priority is restoring power to medical facilities, S&WB pumping stations (which are now running on the S&WB’s own internally generated power system), first responders, and other priority businesses. As those facilities come on line, power to homes on the same feeder is restored as well. While we are not able to acquire information from Entergy about individual addresses, we have asked for information about which substations in the district are functioning and which are not. Entergy is working 24 hours a day to repair all power distribution levels—transmission lines, substations, distribution stations, and transformers—to bring power back to everyone.
• RETURNING TO THE CITY: As of now, residents may return to the city. However, everyone should understand that there are few, if any, gas stations and businesses open. Power is sporadic, and it is hot. Many street lights and stop lights are inoperable. Medical services are very limited. In short, from a public safety perspective, the situation is not ideal. If you are comfortable where you are, please stay there if you can.
• DISASTER ASSISTANCE: The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that President Bush has declared the following parishes eligible for federal disaster aid: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St.Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.
How to Apply for Assistance:
Residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.
The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:
Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $1.5 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $1.5 million for small businesses that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $1.5 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
Those of you who evacuated and have incurred expenses as a result, should keep all receipts for reimbursement by FEMA.
FEMA
http://www.fema.gov
1-800-621-FEMA
1-800-462-7585 (hearing and speech impaired)
• CITY SERVICES AND INFORMATION: 311 continues operations out of San Antonio and will not be set up for normal services for a couple of days. Please feel free to call the District C office (658-1030) if you have a question or concern.
• EVACUATION OF PRISONERS: My office received numerous calls from people asking us what the evacuation plans for prisoners in New Orleans were. We received no first-hand information on this, but according to USA TODAY's Kevin Johnson, “Louisiana prison authorities say they'll begin evacuating 2,300 prisoners from New Orleans area jails [on August 29] and could move as many as 8,000 inmates from low-lying state and local detention centers as Tropical Storm Gustav moves toward the Louisiana coast.” In this morning’s Times-Picayune (Wednesday, Sept. 3), Sheriff Gusman is reported as saying that busloads of returning prisoners have begun arriving at Orleans Parish prison.
• SAFETY FIRST: Please be mindful of debris on the road. Treat stop lights that are not working as four-way stops. Stay away from downed power lines. Use power tools, such as chainsaws for chopping up downed tree limbs, with care. Use caution at all times.
• HELP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: When you return, if you are able, please do what you can to help clean up your neighborhood, including:
o cleaning out storm drains of debris on your block so that rainwater drainage is not impaired; and
o piling downed limbs and debris, bagging what you can, at the curb (not on the neutral ground!) for garbage pick-up. As always, you must call 311 (or 1-866-205-6485 for the time being) to arrange pick-up if you have a large amount of debris (such as wood from a downed tree).
Please do not place debris at the curb that will wash into storm drains.
• REGULAR TRASH PICK-UP: Regular trash pick-up will resume Thursday, September 4. Please put trash cans at curb according to your regularly scheduled pick-up days.
Thank you all for your patience and good will as we work through the aftermath of this major storm. Take care.
James Carter
Councilmember, District C
jcarter@cityofno.com
(504) 658-1030
Post-Gustav Daily Update #1
From: James Carter
Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 2:58 PM
Subject: Hurricane Gustav District C Update
Dear Constituents:
During and since the storm, I have visited every neighborhood in District C. I want to assure you that damage from the storm is basically limited to minor wind damage with many tree limbs and
some trees down. There has been no flooding in District C. Power is out in 50% of the City. I stayed through the storm and continually monitored the changing conditions in the district.
Regarding public safety, in addition to the entire NOPD, there are 1,500 National Guard troops placed strategically throughout the City to deal with potential looters. My latest information is that one arrest has been made since the storm as it relates to looting.
I want to thank all of you who complied with the mandatory evacuation order and I want you to know that everything possible is being done to expedite your re-entry to New Orleans. Mayor Nagin will make an announcement soon regarding the general re-entry of citizens. Please read the following information regarding re-entry:
Entry into the City of New Orleans will be based on "phased access placard system". This means that key personnel for safety and utilities are the first to
return to the City. This is to make sure power and water is functioning, hospital staffing is at full levels, street department road clearance, and other similar people that support daily living needs are back and working.
The reason for tiered entry is to help control traffic and public safety. This helps ensure that the infrastructure of the City can be re-established quickly and be made safe for its citizens. All reentry plans are being phased based on the capacity of utility services, hospital service capacity, and ensuring public safety.
Mayor Nagin announced yesterday that The City of New Orleans will allow re-entry today (Tuesday, September 2, 2006) of Tier 1. This Tier is defined as emergency critical organizations and agencies that support the government as well as those involved in the repair of infrastructure. Examples would include utility companies, hospitals, and public works as well as pre-designated government contractors (and their sub-contractors) as well as pre-designated damage recovery assessment teams from business that are deemed critical or of national importance. Federal, state, and local agencies that provide clinical services to parish municipal governments. major utility companies and their pre-designated government contractors (and their sub-contractors). volunteer rescue/response organizations and certain private business and industry pre-designated damage recovery assessment teams.
If a hospital employee wants to re-enter, they must state where they are going in the City as well as show valid and current hospital identification.
Essential City Employees may enter at this time, must show their City ID card, and state their destination.
All entities and personnel granted access must be self-sustainable and prepared to abide by all movement and curfew restrictions in effect. No support services – such as fueling stations, grocery stores, or other items of convenience – should be expected to be open immediately upon re-entry.
The airport is not open at this time, but the City will notify residents and media on the timeframes in subsequent updates.
The City remains under a mandatory evacuation, and each person must display an appropriate city-issued placard – Tier 1 today – in order to enter New Orleans.
Roadblocks are out to maintain traffic control and only properly credentialed persons may re-enter as listed in this bulletin.
Mayor Nagin assured residents that the general population will be able to re-enter New Orleans within the next few days. By Tuesday evening, Mayor Nagin will be able to assess the status of re-entry for Tier 2 (critical infrastructure, those with major economic impact, or damage assessment teams) placard holders as well as the general population and those who used the City Assisted Evacuation Plan.
The New Orleans EOC and Joint Information Center will continue to be operational.
MANDATORY EVACUATION
The City's mandatory evacuation, which began on Sunday, August 31, remains in effect.
The City of New Orleans curfew from dusk until dawn remains in effect tonight.
Levee assessments are ongoing and the City will announce the floodgate re-openings as they are prudent and safe for citizens. Restrictions on traffic
movement will remain in effect for safety.
EXCEPTION TO MANDATORY EVACUATION
Essential personnel of the United States of America, State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans; essential personnel of regulated utilities and mass transportation services; essential personnel of hospitals and their patients; essential personnel of the media; essential personnel of the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office and its inmates; essential personnel of the courts of the City of New Orleans and the Parish of New Orleans; and essential personnel of operating hotels and their patrons as authorized by the City's Emergency Operating Center and/or Unified Command.
Those persons who remain within the City of New Orleans do so at their own risk and are subject to arrest if they are outside the boundaries of their own property.
RECOVERY
Important Numbers:
American Red Cross 866-438-4636. http://americanredcross.org
Family Register Locator --1-800-588-9822
State Emergency -- 866-288-2484
Jefferson Parish -- 504-349-5360
I will be sending out updates as more information becomes available. Keep the faith!!!
James Carter
Councilmember, District C
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504)658-1030 (office)
(504)658-1037 (fax)
jcarter@cityofno.com
|
|
|
