PRESS RELEASES | Monday, September 15, 2008

Previously Ineligible Individuals and Families May Apply for Disaster Food Stamps
As of 3 p.m. today, more than 255,000 Disaster Food Stamp applications have been processed by the Department of Social Services. Nearly 30,000 of those were taken today. This comes on the day the USDA Food and Nutrition Services approved Louisiana’s request to give some individuals and families a second opportunity to apply for benefits after they were determined ineligible to receive Federal Disaster Food Stamps.

Department of Revenue grants filing extension due to Hurricane Ike
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) is granting a seven-day filing extension for corporate tax returns and third-quarter estimated taxes due on Monday, Sept. 15, 2008. 

Statement from GOHSEP Director Mark Cooper 
Today, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) Director Mark Cooper released a statement to highlight the agency’s continued commitment of working with local officials and other state agencies in strengthening the state’s disaster sheltering system.

Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Continues to Update Number of Gustav, Ike Fatalities
Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Louis Cataldie, M.D., announced two additional ffatalities related to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike: the death of an East Baton Rouge Parish resident of natural causes and the accidental death of an East Baton Rouge Parish resident as a result of a fire.

DOTD coaches safely evacuate, return citizens
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) on Monday returned the last busloads of citizens from a hurricane shelter back to their home parishes, winding down Louisiana’s first-ever bus-assisted evacuations.

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Lafourche Parish Town of Matthews
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened up a Disaster Recovery Center at the old Wal-Mart Building at 4876 Highway 1 in Mathews. The center is open daily from 9:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M.

Governor Jindal Taps LRA to Lead Recovery from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike
Governor Bobby Jindal on Monday issued an executive order charging the Louisiana Recovery Authority with leading the state’s recovery from hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Texas Evacuees Seek Refuge in Louisiana Shelter
Approximately 100 Hurricane Ike evacuees from Texas are housed in a state run shelter in Shreveport. Caddo/Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Officials say the evacuees started arriving last week and continue to come to Louisiana today.

American Red Cross Continues Serving Those Affected By Hurricanes Gustav and Ike
The Louisiana Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross continues to work with those affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The American Red Cross provides the immediate emergency needs to those affected by disasters.

Office of Motor Vehicles Location Updates
As of noon today, the only Motor Vehicle offices not operational due to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike are the offices located in Cameron, Opelousas, Golden Meadow and Baker.

Sixth Business Counseling Center Opens to Help Small Businesses Impacted By Hurricanes
Louisiana Economic Development (LED), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network (LSBDC) and the Southwest Louisiana (SWLA) Economic Development Alliance today announced the opening of a Louisiana Business Counseling Center in Lake Charles.

9/15/08 Update on Water Systems under Boil Advisory
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have caused widespread power outages and damage to drinking water systems throughout Louisiana.

• Click here for a list of water systems that are under boil advisories until further notice from the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH).
• Click here for a list of drinking water systems that have water that is safe to drink.

View Photos of Hurricane Ike's Aftermath Via Google Earth
The state of Louisiana has compiled photos of the state after Hurricane Ike and have placed them into an interactive map so that citizens can better understand the storm's destructive power in the state.

• Click here to download the Google Earth file
• Click here to download Google Earth

LDWF Search and Rescue Missions Nearing Conclusion
Search and rescue (SAR) activities coordinated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) are winding down as waters recede within parishes affected by Hurricane Ike’s heavy rain and tidal surge. SAR units have transported 355 residents to safety since Sept. 12.

Calcasieu Parish Announces Feeding Sites, Trash Pickup
Calcasieu Parish lifts 24-hour curfew, announces trash pickup resumes today and announces locations for hot meals

DSS to Operate 41 Disaster Food Stamp Program sites on Monday, Sept. 15th
The Department of Social Services (DSS) has taken more than 194,000 applications for Disaster Food Stamps in less than a week and will have 41 sites in operation on Monday, Sept. 15th where eligible Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Gustav can apply for the federal Disaster Food Stamp Program.

• Click here to view the list of locations

State government offices to remain closed in Cameron parish Monday
Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced today that because of flooding caused by Hurricane Ike, state government offices will be closed on Monday, September 15, in Cameron Parish.

Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Continues to Update Number of Gustav Fatalities
Louisiana Chief Medical Officer Louis Cataldie, M.D., continues to update fatalities related to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. One more death as a result of Hurricane Gustave was confirmed today, bringing the total to 44. There are also confirmed four deaths as a result of Hurricane Ike: Two accidental deaths of Terrebonne Parish residents and two Jefferson Davis Parish residents who died of natural causes.

Secretary Ann Williamson Sends Letter to USDA Amending Gustav Disaster Food Stamp Program to Accommodate Some August Payrolls
Today, Secretary Ann Williamson sent a letter to USDA to amend the Gustav Disaster Food Stamp program to have the program run from August 30th to September 28th instead of its original period from August 29th to September 27th in order to ensure eligibility for those who receive three or five paychecks in the month of August instead of their usual two or four, due to a rare occurrence in the calendar.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance available for victims of Hurricane Ike
People whose jobs have been lost or interrupted because of the disaster in the 14 parishes eligible for individual disaster assistance as a result of Hurricane Ike also are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), the Louisiana Workforce Commission announced today.

LDWF Continues Search and Rescue Efforts
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) received several search and rescue (SAR) calls through the night and dispatched SAR teams to those locations at first light this morning. SAR crews rescued an additional 17 people last evening from the north end of Grand Caillou Rd. in Houma to bring the total to 135 people rescued yesterday from Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson, Vermilion and Terrebonne parishes. 

Calcasieu Parish Officials Lift 24-Hour Curfew, Institute Modified Curfew
Local officials have announced that the 24-hour, parish-wide curfew has been lifted. A modified curfew, beginning at 8:00pm – 6:00am, has been issued for all residents. This modified curfew will remain in place until further notice. No vehicular and pedestrian traffic should be on the roadways once the curfew begins, except essential emergency vehicles.

DSS Reopens Disaster Food Stamp Site in Lafourche Parish Ahead of Schedule to Meet Public Need
In an effort to meet the needs of families in Lafourche Parish following hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the Department of Social Services has worked tirelessly to reopen the Disaster Food Stamp application site at Peltier Park in Thibodaux.

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