New Hurricane evacuation maps have been released for South Louisiana. The first Link is for South Central and Southwest Louisiana. The Second is for the New Orleans area, but also includes additional hurricane preparedness info that all can use.

web mp3 files/SWLAContraflowMap06.pdf

web mp3 files/2006_se_guide.pdf

For more information:

State Evacuation Info

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2006
Displaced Louisiana residents are encouraged to call 24-hour, 7-day housing
registry and start on the road home

BATON ROUGE, La. Starting today, Louisiana citizens displaced by hurricanes
Katrina and Rita can register key information about their damaged homes by
calling The Road Home, the state's new Housing Registry, or logging on to a
new, one-stop web portal - www.LouisianaRebuilds.info.
Homeowners are encouraged to call The Road Home at 888-ROAD 2 LA
(888-762-3252) to register for the state's housing recovery program. This
registry pertains only to homes that were occupied by homeowners and damaged by
hurricanes Katrina or Rita.
Registrants calling The Road Home or logging onto www.LouisianaRebuilds.info
will be asked to provide important information, including a resident's name,
current address and the location of the affected home, phone numbers, mortgage
information, the status of any insurance settlements and any FEMA or U.S. Small
Business Association (SBA) applications or assistance.
"This registration program is the first step on the road home for hundreds of
thousands of our families, neighbors and friends. The Road Home housing
registry will verify home addresses and ownership information. With this input,
we can start the process of determining a homeowner's eligibility for funding,"
said Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. "A homeowner will have
several funding options available if he or she wants to be a part of our
repair, rebuild and restoration effort. We need these citizens more than ever
and want them to make their future in Louisiana, helping build a stronger,
safer and smarter state."
The Road Home is a comprehensive registry for owners of homes damaged by
Katrina and Rita.  "This program will be in existence for an extended period so
we can be sure as much homeowner information as possible is collected.  It is
not first-come, first-served because it is more important to get all the
information required to determine eligibility," said Blanco.
The Road Home call center is an important option for a majority of displaced
homeowners who have phone service, but Governor Blanco also invited them to use
the Louisiana Rebuilds web portal.  "For those with Internet access,
registering online will save time.  It is necessary to fill out only one form,
whether by phone or online.  Besides, there is a wealth of other information on
Louisiana Rebuilds that they will want to keep track of in the coming weeks,"
she said.
The new recovery-based web portal - www.LouisianaRebuilds.info - is a one-stop,
online resource that includes updated content and links to resources both
nationally and locally that present all types of information related to
recovery and rebuilding following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
LouisianaRebuilds.info includes regularly updated information about:
Individual neighborhood, parish and statewide rebuilding efforts, affordable
housing, transportation, schools and health care;
Help for business owners and entrepreneurs;
Pending legislation, policy issues and voting information; and
Community resources and funding opportunities for nonprofits.
The portal is sponsored by a collaborative of government, private and
non-profit partners, including Louisiana Recovery Authority, Louisiana Family
Recovery Corps, Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the State of
Louisiana, Neighborhood 1, City of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans Nonprofit,
Knowledge Works, New Orleans Virtual Diaspora Network, Carrollton Technology
Partners,  Innovative Intermedia, LLC, Grassroots Enterprise, Inc., Living
Cities, One Economy Corporation and PolicyLink.
Once the housing registration process is completed, homeowners can call and
update their information.  Contact numbers and websites will be provided during
the registration interview or upon completion of the online registration
process.
Blanco said her goal is welcoming back all displaced Louisianians who want to
return to the state.  "I am encouraged each day by our citizens and their love
for our state and their determination to come back and live the life that only
we know.  I am working with thousands of dedicated professionals in state
government to get these families back.  Now we have The Road Home, our first
step," she said.
 
 

State Office of Emergency Preparedness http://www.loep.state.la.us/ 

State Police Road Closure Hotline: 1-800-469-4828 or link to Road Closures: State Police

 Hurricane News Ticker:  

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR DISPLACED STUDENTS ATTENDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS
BATON ROUGE, LA � Louisiana public school students displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, who enrolled in a private school after the hurricanes could be eligible for federal funding through the Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students program. Parents of eligible students are being urged to fill out an application and turn it into their private school no later than January 24, 2006.
The Hurricane Education Recovery Act mandates that states make every effort to notify parents of displaced students attending private schools of the availability of this funding. The Louisiana Department of Education is running advertisements in newspapers and on radio statewide
and sent an informational flyer to private schools in an effort to reach these parents and students. Information on eligibility as well as the application can be found on the department�s website, www.louisianaschools.net <http://www.louisianaschools.net/> .
Parents of eligible students should fill out and sign the application and return it to their private school no later than January 24, 2006. Parents will be asked to identify whether their child was in attendance at the private school on October 3, 2005, December 1, 2005 or on both dates. Private schools have until January 26, 2006 to verify the applications and submit a School Application to the Louisiana Department of Education. The department will then coordinate with the local public school system in which the private school is located to distribute the funds to a nonpublic school student account within 28 days of receiving the payment.
These funds are intended to reimburse parents for tuition paid. Or, if the school waived the tuition, then the school can be reimbursed for these costs. Congress has appropriated a total of $645 million to be allocated to Louisiana and the other 47 states for the Emergency Impact
Aid for Displaced Students program. These funds are temporary and will only be available for the 2005-06 school year. The department is also working closely with local school districts to distribute funding for displaced students attending public schools.

  WEB SITE HELPS PEOPLE FIND MISSING BOATS
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has established a new Web
site that will enable boat owners to search for boats that were lost as a
result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 
The Web site allows the public to access information on all recreational and
commercial vessels located and reported to the department by LDWF
Enforcement Division agents, insurance companies, private citizens and
others involved in recovery and removal of displaced boats.  The site is
updated daily as information on boats is received. 
"We're hopeful this new tool will assist boat owners in locating their boats
that were lost as a result of the storms," said Lt. Col. Brian Spillman,
state boating law administrator.  Spillman also encourages people who find
boats that appear to be displaced to report them to the department's boat
registration section by calling 225-765-2898 for inclusion in the database.
According to the department, up to 50,000 boats were displaced during the
two hurricanes.
Interested people can access the Web site through a link under the What's
New section of LDWF's home page at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.
 

A toll-free Hurricane Relief Fraud Hotline is now available for people who have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving hurricane relief operations. The Hurricane Relief Fraud Hotline:
866-720-5721
Fax: 703-604-8567
katrinafraud@dodig.mil

or by mail ...
Hurricane Relief Hotline
Washington, D.C. 20301-1900

USDA honors Governor's request; designates parishes as natural disaster areas

BATON ROUGE - Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco announced November 3, 2005 that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns has honored her request for a disaster designation for all eligible parishes in Louisiana due to the combined losses caused this year by drought and hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  "Farmers across the state have been hurt by the extraordinary drought and the devastation of two hurricanes," said Governor Blanco. "I am grateful that the USDA has recognized the seriousness of our situation and will be helping our farmers through these difficult times." Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Bob Odom reiterated Governor Blanco's sentiments. "Farmers are in a dire situation because of the drought and two catastrophic hurricanes. Wildfires are escalating, dairymen and beef producers can't plant their winter pastures and cane growth will be stunted," Odom said. "Any help we can get from the federal government is welcome." After reviewing Damage Assessment Reports along with additional information submitted by the state executive director of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the USDA has given the following 40 parishes a Secretarial disaster declaration: Acadia; Allen, Avoyelles; Beauregard; Bienville; Bossier; Caddo; Calcasieu; Caldwell; Cameron; Catahoula; Claiborne; Concordia; DeSoto; East Carroll; Evangeline; Franklin; Grant; Jackson; Jefferson Davis; LaSalle; Lafayette; Lincoln; Madison; Morehouse; Natchitoches; Ouachita; Rapides; Red River; Richland; Sabine; St. Landry; St. Martin; Tensas; Union; Vermillion; Vernon; Webster; West Carroll and Winn. Also eligible because they are contiguous are Assumption, Iberia, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Mary and West Feliciana parishes. This designation makes all qualified farm operators in the listed parishes eligible for low-interest emergency loans from FSA, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration (October 24, 2005) to apply for the loans to help cover part of their actual losses.  FSA has a variety of programs available, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. Farm operators in the affected areas seeking additional information about low-interest emergency loans should contact their local Farm Service Agency office. Additional information is also available online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

Business Recovery questions? Visit IDF online

Red Cross 1-800-975-7585

Parish Water Conditions:

No Current Concerns

United Way 337-364-0424

Vermilion Office of Emergency Preparedness 337-898-4308

Iberia Office of Emergency Preparedness 337-369-4427

School FYI

The LSU AgCenter will be helping Cattle Producers and Horse owners in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. For more information and other tips call 337-369-4440 or visit: LSU Ag Center

Propane tanks or cylinders that are being used for home purposes that may have been turned over and/or submerged in water should contact there propane supplier to check for potential damage to tanks or regulators.

Hurricane Victims Can Reconstruct Property Records Lost in Katrina & Rita

Washington, DC—October 7, 2005—Taxpayers whose property was destroyed or damaged by either of this year’s big hurricanes need documentation of the loss to file claims against their insurance, for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Small Business Administration (SBA), or to claim casualty loss deductions on their tax returns. Documents needed to prove the amount of the loss may have been destroyed or swept away by the storms, but those documents can be retrieved or reconstructed from many sources, according to the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA).

Residents of any county or parish within the declared presidential disaster areas can obtain a faster refund by amending their 2004 tax return to claim their casualty loss deduction. If tax records were lost in the storm, file IRS Form 4506 as quickly as possible to obtain copies of the previous four years’ federal tax returns. Write “Hurricane Katrina” or Hurricane Rita” in red ink across the top of Form 4506 and the IRS will expedite the request for copies. More information on hurricane tax relief is available by calling a special IRS number: 866-562-5227.

Taxpayers whose homes were damaged or destroyed need to document the initial cost of the home and the cost of all improvements to the home. If home purchase records were lost, contact the attorney or title company that handled the closing of the home purchase and request a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement. NAEA also suggests contacting the realtor or mortgage lender, as they may have copies of the appraisal for the mortgage. Taxpayers also can ask contractors for copies of invoices for prior home improvement projects.

Your Disaster Aid Check May be at the Post office....

   Read more...

LED Launches Expanded Services for Getting Back to Business in Louisiana  

New web site, toll-free number support businesses affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Sept. 28, 2005 - Baton Rouge - Louisiana Economic Development (LED) announces today the launch of a dedicated website LEDforward.louisiana.gov and the toll-free number 866-310-7617 to provide direct support to businesses impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. “Economic recovery is the engine that will drive social, cultural and community rejuvenation,” said Michael J. Olivier, Louisiana Economic Development secretary. “As the state’s lead agency for economic recovery and the central point of contact for business assistance programs, we’ve developed and activated the new web site and toll-free number to provide additional support in these areas.”

Both LEDforward.louisiana.gov and the 866-310-7617 are new tools to identify and register businesses in need and match them with immediately available resources for expenses, such as rent and payroll. These tools will also help Louisiana-based businesses stay connected with LED long term as the department leads the effort to secure federal and state aid for rebuilding the impacted areas of the state. “One of LED’s main goals is to take an active approach during this long recovery process by reaching out and identifying displaced businesses immediately, instead of waiting until financial assistance programs are firmly in place,” says Olivier.

Businesses that register online at LEDforward.louisiana.gov can sign up for LED BusinessWire email updates about Louisiana’s economic recovery. The LEDforward.louisiana.gov link is available free of charge for local economic development organizations to add to their websites so their constituents can take advantage of the services.

U.S. Labor Secretary Announces Grant to Help Louisiana Homeless Veterans Find Jobs in Areas Hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

WASHINGTON—Homeless veterans in Louisiana areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina and Rita will receive help in finding employment through a $99,000 grant announced today by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Homeless vets face special challenges in rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the two hurricanes,” said Secretary Chao. “This grant will help homeless veterans in several Louisiana parishes affected by Katrina and Rita access the job training and placement services they need to find work and build a better life.” Administered by the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) grant has been awarded to Quad Area Community Action Agency Inc., of Hammond, La., for the period from Sept. 30, 2005 through June 30, 2006. It will enroll over 150 homeless veterans from the rural and poverty-stricken parishes between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, including Ascension, Livingston, St. Helena, West Feliciania, East Feliciania, Tangipahoa and Washington. This is the latest in a series of grants administered under HVRP, which is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless. The program has been recognized as an extraordinarily efficient program with a better than 60 percent job placement rate.Most recently in June, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service awarded 78 grants totaling $18.7 million to provide training to 15,000 homeless veterans in 32 states.The grants provide homeless veterans with occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, job search and job placement assistance, including crucial follow-up assistance. Grantees also network and coordinate their efforts with various other local, state and federal social-service providers.   More information on HVRP grants can be found at: www.dol.gov.

Send us your Pictures at: kane@kane1240.com	See our Katrina page for more general info and please continue to stay vigilant and stay tuned to for further updates.
Old La. 25 at Hwy 14 - 9.24.05

Scenes from Delcambre

	Main Street	Rat Terrier swimming down Main Street
			Delcambre Post Office
	Caskets had floated onto the trailer of a nearby 18-wheeler.	Near the Shrimp Festival Building	Peebles Elementary, thanks to Karen Meche
Peebles Elementary, thanks to Karen Meche