9-2-21
Louisiana health officials say four nursing home residents died after being evacuated to a large warehouse during Hurricane Ida. Louisiana Department of Health spokesperson Aly Neel said Thursday that 843 residents from seven nursing facilities were moved to the warehouse in the town of Independence before Ida made landfall. Neel says the health department received reports of people lying on mattresses on the floor, not being fed or changed and not being socially distanced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. She said health inspectors were turned away on Tuesday but returned on Wednesday and began relocating residents.
Tens of thousands of struggling Louisiana residents have sought financial relief and other help from the federal government. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the state today to survey the damage. He promised full federal support to Gulf states and the Northeast, where the remnants of Ida dumped record-breaking rain and killed at least 46 people from Maryland to Connecticut. At least 13 deaths were blamed on the storm in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
LAKE END PARK IN MORGAN CITY IS FILLED WITH HURRICANE EVACUEES, MANY FROM TERREBONNE PARISH WHO DO NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY OR RUNNING WATER. ALL TWO HUNDRED FIFTY SITES FOR R-V AND CAMPER HOOKUPS ARE BEING USED, ACCORDING TO PARK MANAGEMENT. A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT AND COOKED UP A BIG POT OF JAMBALAYA TO HELP FEED THE EVACUEES. ALSO STUDENTS FROM CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL MADE CARE PACKAGES TO DISTRIBUTE TO KIDS.
THE FAMILY CHURCH AND CAJUN COMPASSION ARE SENDING VOLUNTEERS TO SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA TO HELP CLEAN UP DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE IDA. THE GOAL IS TO REMOVE TREES AND DEBRIS FROM OFF OF HOMES AND PATCH UP HOLES IN ROOFS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T AFFORD TREE REMOVAL. VOLUNTEERS WILL GATHER IN THE PARKING LOT OF FAMILY CHURCH AT FIVE-THIRTY A-M EACH SATURDAY IN SEPTEMBER BEFORE THEY TRAVEL EAST. THE FAMILY CHURCH IS INVITING ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THEM, AND, IF YOU HAVE A TRACTOR, TRUCK OR TARPS, THEY ASK YOU BRING THOSE TO HELP.
THE JEANERETTE CITY MARSHAL’S OFFICE IS LOADING UP SUPPLIES TO TAKE TO THIBODEAUX, AN AREA THAT SAW MAJOR DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE IDA. A LACK OF FUEL HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND MARSHAL FERNEST MARTIN SAYS THEY ARE WORKING ON GETTING THEM AS MUCH FUEL AS POSSIBLE. HE TELLS KATC TV THAT THIS IS THE GREAT THING ABOUT LOUISIANA, HOW RESIDENTS IN UNAFFECTED AREAS COME TO THE AID OF THOSE WHO ARE DOWN. MARTIN SAYS THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
ONE PERSON WAS KILLED YESTERDAY IN A CRASH ON I-TEN NEAR MILE MARKER FIVE IN CALCASIEU PARISH. ACCORDING TO A STATE POLICE REPORT, THE DRIVER OF AN S-U-V, TRAVELING WEST, WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON AND STRUCK THE TRAILER OF AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER THAT WAS PARKED THERE BECAUSE OF MECHANICAL TROUBLES. THE DRIVER OF THE S-U-V, WHO WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WHILE THE DRIVER OF THE EIGHTEEN-WHEELER WAS UNINJURED. STATE POLICE HAVE NOT RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF THE DRIVER WHO WAS KILLED BECAUSE THE DRIVER’S FAMILY HAD NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED.
IF YOU ARE HEADED TO DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE TONIGHT, YOU WILL NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN SOME AREAS. GERALD GRUENIG EXPLAINS.
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LAST NIGHT THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE SUPERINTENDENT’S REQUEST THAT EMPLOYEES PROVIDE PROOF OF COVID-NINETEEN VACCINATION. THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO WEEKLY TESTING AND WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR THE EXPENSE. THE REQUIREMENT BEGINS ON MONDAY. THE BOARD DETERMINED THIS WILL HELP KEEP CHILDREN LEARNING IN PERSON FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
