Can we come home?

[bill168]

We have heard rumor that we will be allowed into Kenner on Monday or Tuesday. Can anyone confirm or deny this? We would like to check out the status of our home on Gillen Street. We have have heard various reports on water and wind damage on that area.

[Deborahcha]

Try this website - www.jeffparish.net/
for info.

Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard has requested assistance from the State to aid local police in keeping people from returning to Jefferson Parish until after 6AM on Monday, September 5th.

Information for Return to Jefferson Parish

Should you choose to return to Jefferson Parish, be aware that there is no electricity, no gas, no running water, no sewer service, no garbage pickup, and few government services outside of law enforcement. If you return you should have:

1. A full tank of gasoline in your vehicle. There is no gasoline available in the area.
2. Cash to purchase items as they become available. There is no electricity to process credit card transactions.
3. Drinking water and water to bathe, to flush toilets, and to clean your house.


Conditions in the parish are extremely primitive at this time. Think about what you would need to survive in the wilderness and bring those items with you. They will not be available in the parish for the foreseeable future.

[shenandoahst]

Timing of Return to Jefferson Parish Uncertain - Friday, September 2, 2005
Jefferson Parish citizens should not plan to return home on Monday. Hotel reservations should not be canceled. Citizens should plan to remain where they are until it has been determined when they will be allowed back in the parish.

[Deborahcha]

Glad you put an update (shenandoahst). I just checked the website and saw the change and was going to post info here.

Hurricane Katrina Shuts Down the New Orleans Area

All residents of Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, and adjoining parishes south of Lake Pontchartrain are urged not to attempt to return home. There is still no electricity nor drinking water in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Most of New Orleans and parts of Jefferson Parish still have water in streets and homes. Non-essential parish personnel are to remain in safe areas outside of the parish. Essential personnel must contact their supervisors or must go to their essential positions.

The return of residents to Jefferson Parish and surrounding communities will hamper efforts to evacuate refugees. Interstate intersections and major thoroughfares are being used to collect evacuees and to stage convoys leaving the area. Returning at this time may also pose a risk to your safety, as desparate individuals have reportedly assaulted motorists.

Timing of Return to Jefferson Parish Uncertain - Friday, September 2, 2005
Jefferson Parish citizens should not plan to return home on Monday. Hotel reservations should not be canceled. Citizens should plan to remain where they are until it has been determined when they will be allowed back in the parish.

[texaskin]

I've heard conflicting reports on the return date. The only official word I'm aware of is the above, copied from jeffparish.net.

However, I've also heard the following:

"I JUST SPOKE WITH JEFFERSON PARISH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ON SEPT 2 AT 10:14PM EASTERN TIME. THEY ARE LETTING US IN AT 6AM ON MONDAY SEPT 5, 2005" -- post no. 6659 on nola.com by peanut33

Can anyone confirm which is accurate? I'm inclined to believe the official word but am anxious to see Pop's place...

[deborahcha]

Info on www.jeffparish.net as of today (9/3) but things are always changing. You might want to check the website frequently -


Labor Day Re-Entry Plan

Saturday, September 3, 2005

This statement is to confirm that Jefferson Parish Government is committed to its announced "Labor Day Re-Entry Plan" that will begin at 6 a.m. on Monday, September 5, 2005. Here are the strict conditions of the "Re-Entry for Jefferson".

First, no one will be able to use the I-10 (east of Laplace) on the Eastbank nor the elevated Westbank Expressway routes. The state highways are reserved for the State Police and the National Guard for emergency evacuations for the City of New Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes. Access to these roadways will be strictly prohibited until further notice.

Secondly, the driver of the vehicle must have some form of identification that shows you as a resident of Jefferson Parish in order to be admitted. Passengers with such drivers will be admitted. Drivers without identification will be turned away, so please do not attempt it. Drivers attempting to re-enter without identification must wait until Thursday to enter Jefferson Parish.

Parish President Aaron Broussard advises that re-entry to Jefferson Parish will end at 6: p.m. each day for as long as the Parish is under Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721 et seq., which will be at least one month. Due to the curfew in effect, cars arriving in the re-entry line after 6:00 p.m. will not be allowed to enter. You will have to turn back. It will not be safe for you to violate curfew, so don't try.

Additionally, no cars will be allowed in Jefferson Parish on any day past 6:00 p.m. for the next month, as long as Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721 et seq. is in effect.

Parish President Aaron Broussard suggests that all Jefferson Parish residents consider extending their present out-of-town accommodations until at least Sunday, September 11th, so that spouse and children could remain in their present location and allow the "Head of Household" to travel into Jefferson Parish to evaluate their home site, document any damage to property, secure valuables, collect clothes, and return to the "out of Jefferson" location to determine their families' future options.

President Broussard also recommends "Heads of Household" should car-pool with others from common locations to save gas, reduce re-entry time, and have handy help to secure homes if they are found damaged. Female "Heads of Household" should arrive with another female or male. Women should not come alone.

Here are the major re-entry tips for Citizens returning to Jefferson Parish:
Cash should be acquired before you return to Jefferson Parish. Credit cards and checks will not be accepted at businesses that are open.
Bring drinking water with you! Do not attempt to drink the water coming from any faucet in Jefferson Parish. There is a Boil Water Order throughout the Metro area.
The first flush of your toilet may work. After that, you will need to pour water into the toilet for it to flush.
There are no stores of any kind open in Jefferson Parish. Make sure you have a full tank of gas to het here and get back because there is a short supply of gas in the area. You may run out of gas and be stranded.
Bring cameras for insurance documentation.
Bring prescription drugs.
Bring nonperishable foods.
Bring sanitation supplies, plastic garbage bags, disinfectant, batteries, baby supplies, and manual can opener, paper products (plates, cups, napkins).

Citizens may decide to stay a night or two, but conditions are primitive and uncomfortable.

Be advised that all traffic signals have been destroyed. Therefore, you must be prepared for police at major intersections in the Parish. Additionally, many intersections in the Parish may not have any traffic signaling and no police, therefore you must drive at reduced speeds and very carefully.

One thousand troops of the Army National Guard will arrive on Monday in Jefferson Parish and will be immediately deployed to assist Jefferson Parish, City, and State Law Enforcement officers to help continue our security efforts throughout our Parish and municipalities as our citizens return.

A full curfew is in effect from dusk to dawn in Jefferson Parish. Be advised that the Parish still have authority to restore and maintain order pursuant to the authority of the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721 et seq.. Citizens should be prepared to see armed military and paramilitary units of various law enforcement agencies. Do not by any means attempt to break any armed protective barriers in Jefferson Parish.

[Artjohnson51]

The information on the Jefferson Parish Website is out of date as of this morning. Last niht Broussard said we could return (with photo ID) beinning on monday but he wants everyone out of the Parish Thursday so that a massive army of utility workers can make repairs unimpeded by any traffic. Doing it this way, repairs will take 4 weeks instead of 8. During the 4 weeks, no private vehicles will be allowed on the street at all, or at any time.

I am a bit concerned about being gone for that length of time without assessing minor damage and making repairs. If you had even a small amount of water in your house, you will have mold when you return. Your refrigerator and freezer need to be emptied. I intend to set off some bug bombs at our house.

Good luck to all