04:47 PM CDT on Sunday, September 4, 2005

A STATEMENT FROM PARISH PRESIDENT KEVIN DAVIS

Many of you are wondering why I am asking you to not return to St. Tammany Parish yet. I understand that you are anxious to check on your homes and see your loved ones and neighbors. I ask you to please be patient and give us just a little more time. We are working hard and fast to restore infrastructure so that you may safely return. The fewer vehicles on our streets, the faster they can be cleared, letting the power companies work at a faster speed. The fewer stresses on our water and sewer systems, the faster we will be able to restore basic public health infrastructure. The fewer stresses on our medical care providers, the more lives we will save. St. Tammany Parish, with the help of the American Red Cross, the Pastors Resource Council and a great crew of parish and municipal workers have made great strides. Give us a little more time to make your return safer.

PUBLIC SAFETY ALERTS: If you remained in St. Tammany Parish during the storm and are returning to a flooded area to check your home, beware of snake infestations. Water snakes may have entered your neighborhood and home with the flood waters. Be cautious of furniture and other hiding places. Anti-venom is available at hospitals.

If you did not evacuate and have returned to your home, turn off all circuit breakers in your circuit box, including the main, to prevent electrical shock and fires when power is restored.

VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS: It would be beneficial to get a tetanus booster if over 5 years since your last one; and any other that may be recommended by your health care provider. This will alleviate the demand on local supplies.

The sales of alcoholic beverages and the burning of debris are both banned in the interest of public safety.

LAW ENFORCEMENT: The Louisiana National Guard has brought in 300 troops to give relief to our policemen and deputies. They will be stationed in St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Don t be surprised if you see police and sheriff vehicles from across the country helping our own law enforcement personnel. Help is coming from across the country to give our men and women some relief. Firefighters are also receiving assistance from all over the United States.

SEARCH AND RESCUE: Search and rescue workers hope to complete a structure by structure search of homes in Eden Isles today. At this time, there are only four confirmed hurricane related deaths in all St. Tammany Parish. As search and rescue continues, we pray this number stays constant. Emergency Operations Officials believe that the strong evacuation message given by the parish and municipalities convinced a higher number of citizens to evacuate than has been seen in past storms. Over 100,000 phone calls were placed by the Parish s First Alert System urging citizens to leave.

SANITATION: Parish President Kevin Davis announced this morning that 100 dumpsters are on their way to St. Tammany Parish and should arrive today or tomorrow. An additional 100 dumpsters are in process. The public is asked to use these dumpsters for household garbage only. Do not use these dumpster for debris, lawn care, etc. It is important to remove the garbage for public health reasons.

Municipalities are working hard to bring sewer systems on-line. Treatment plants are close to being operational however power is needed to run sewer lift stations. Without functional lift stations, sewage will back up. Please be conservative in your use of this utility until it is powered.

AUXLIARY MEDICAL CENTERS & VETERINARIANS NOW OPEN:

Fresenius Medical Care (Dialysis Services) Phone 893-7265

Tchefuncte Cardiovascular Associates, Lakeview Hospital Doctors Building open Sept. 6th

Animal Medical Center, Tyler St., Covington

Lakeshore Veterinary, Mandeville

Dr. Deb Mauterer - Vet Emergencies , Florida St., Mandeville; 985-809-9410 or 704-363-6496

FOOD/SUPPLIES:

Water and ice are available from 8am to 8pm at the following FEMA distribution centers:

Old Wal-Mart, I-10 & Gause Blvd., Slidell

Target, I-12 & Hwy. 21 Covington

Cavenham Park, Hwy. 41, Pearl River

RETAIL STORES NOW OPEN:

Some Sav-A-Centers

Some Winn Dixies

Some Walgreen s

Some Wal-Marts

Target, Hwy 21 & I-12, Covington

Rauch s Store & Deli, Abita Springs

Rouse s, Supermarket, Covington

Braswell Drugs, Covington

Evans Drug Mart, Pearl River

Home Depot on Airport Rd. & Hwy 190

Lowes on Hwy 190, Covington; and I-10 Service Rd.,

WATER SAFETY:

The City of Mandeville has passed its potable water inspection. Every other community is still under a boil water order. Other wells and systems are being tested. We will keep you updated.

ST. TAMMANY PARISH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS IS BROADCASTING LIVE REPORTS ON OUR RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE KATRINA. TUNE IN TO ACCESS ST. TAMMANY RADIO, 730AM ON YOUR RADIO DIAL FOR COVERAGE. AT THIS TIME, THE RADIO STATION IS NOT REACHING THE SLIDELL AREA. EVERY ATTEMPT IS BEING MADE TO BOOST THE SIGNAL TO REACH ALL ST. TAMMANY. THIS STATIONS WAS IN FEDERAL RECEIVERSHIP AND EXPROPRIATED BY THE PARISH PRESIDENT FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES.

ROADS/POWER:

Cleco has restore power to St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Lakeview Regional Medical Center and the Lacombe Heart Hospital. Slidell Memorial Hospital should have power today. WST is working to restore NorthShore Regional Medical Center. Parish President Kevin Davis is working with the power companies to begin restoration to potable water facilities and sewer treatment plants and lift stations as the next priority.

As power reaches the hospitals and government facilities, it is also providing power to some commercial and residential corridors. CLECO is working at an extraordinary pace to restore power to emergency sites. They report have three major transmission feeds coming into St. Tammany from the west. They report that over 5,000 poles and 10,000 cross arms were destroyed by Katrina.

All bridges over Lake Pontchartrain are closed until further notice.

EMPLOYEES NEEDED FOR EMERGENCY RECOVERY EFFORT:

All personnel for Slidell Memorial Hospital, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, the Lacombe Heart Hospital, NorthShore Regional Medical Center and Lakeview Regional Medical Center are to report to their respective hospital as soon as possible.

All St. Tammany Parish employees are required to return to work Tuesday, Sept. 6. Administration personnel are to report at 8 a.m. at the Koop Drive administrative complex. All field personnel are to report to their respective barns at 7 a.m. PLEASE NOTE: Your families should remain evacuated.

RED CROSS/OTHER RELIEF ASSISTANCE:

The Pastors Resource Council is in St. Tammany and working closely with the American Red Cross providing fuel for infrastructure repair, clearing roads, and providing medicine and supplies. THANK YOU!!!! Also, thank you to the many workers from other agencies who have come in under the auspices of FEMA to help with food distribution.

SHELTER/HOT MEALS INFORMATION:

Red Cross is serving meals twice a day from 11:30 A.M. TO 1 P.M., and from 5 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. at all shelter locations:

Pineview Middle School, Covington

Abita Springs Middle School, Abita Springs

Fifth Ward Junior High School, Pearl River

Sixth Ward Elementary School, Pearl River

Riverside Elementary School, Pearl River

Bonne Ecole Elementary School, Slidell

Clearwood Junior High School, Slidell

Whispering Forest Elementary School, Slidell

Northshore High School, Slidell

Bayou Lacombe Middle School, Lacombe

William Pitcher Junior High School (FULL), Covington

Creekside Junior High School (FULL), Pearl River

Pearl River High School (FULL), Pearl River

John Slidell Park (FULL), Slidell

In addition to the shelters, meals are also being served at:

Boston Street across from the Old Courthouse, Covington

Slidell Memorial Hospital Founder s Building, Slidell

The Red Cross desperately needs Mental Health Professionals and Nurses. If you can help, please visit their local emergency headquarters at the old courthouse on Boston Street in Covington.

For help locating missing persons, phone 1-866-GET-INFO (438-4636) or 1-877-LOVED1S (568-3317)

The Louisiana Department of Labor is now accepting phone calls to make a claim for unemployment,. The number to call is 1-866-783-5567. Baton Rouge and other areas not affected by Hurricane Katrina are open this weekend. Also, if you have evacuated out of state, you can apply for assistance in the state you are in.

VOLUNTEERS/DONATIONS:

If you would like to donate money or merchandise, or volunteer your services help in the recovery, you re urged to call the Pastor s Resource Council Compassion at 1-225-413-6270.

MEDICAL SHELTER:

Individuals seeking medical assistance, but do not qualify for the special needs shelter, are urged to evacuate if at all possible to the LSU Field House in Baton Rouge.

SCHOOL NEWS:

The St. Tammany Parish School Board Internet website is up and running, and now includes a FAQ section to answer questions. Visit it at www.stpsb.org.

PHONE INFORMATION:

The 9-1-1- grid is not operational. Its restoration is a national priority. Until then, the following local numbers should be used:

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff s Office 898-2338 or 898-2340

Louisiana State Police, Troop L 893-6250

Covington Police Department 892-8500

Slidell Police Department 643-3131

Mandeville Police Department 626-9711 or 624-3120

Abita Springs Police Department 892-2821

Madisonville Police Department 845-3393

Pearl River Police Department 863-5711

Folsom police Department 796-3300