STATE OF LOUISIANA
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
SUPPLEMENT 1A
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
HURRICANE EVACUATION
AND SHELTERING PLAN
REVISED JANUARY 2000
PART I: GENERAL
A. SUMMARY:
The Southeast Louisiana Hurricane Evacuation and Sheltering Plan is
intended to provide a framework within which the parishes can coordinate
their actions with State government in order to deal with a catastrophic
hurricane.
A catastrophic hurricane is defined as a hurricane in Category 3 Slow (5 mph
or less forward speed), and categories 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of
hurricane strength (See Annex A). Hurricanes in Category 1, 2 and 3 Fast,
are considered less destructive and can be met through the use of normal
emergency preparedness procedures on the part of the Parish and State
governments.
The overall strategy for dealing with a catastrophic hurricane is to evacuate as
much of the at risk population as possible from the path of the storm and
relocate them to a place of relative safety outside the projected high water
mark of the storm surge flooding and hurricane force winds ...
...
B. PURPOSE
It is the intent of this plan to establish guidelines for the direction, control and
coordination of evacuation of the Southeast Louisiana Region in order to
protect life and property ...
... Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities
The organization and assignment of primary and secondary responsibilities
are detailed in the State Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Listed below are
the key participants and their roles in the event of a catastrophic hurricane:
1. Governor:
a. Proclaim a State of Emergency.
b. Issue supplementary declarations and orders, as the situation
requires.
c. Authorize and direct the use of State government personnel and
other resources to deal with the emergency.
d. Authorize and direct the authorities of non-risk parishes to
coordinate the opening and operation of shelters with DSS in
conjunction with ARC, and to lend all possible assistance to the
evacuation and shelter effort.
e. Request Federal government assistance as needed.
... PART II: SITUATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS
A. SITUATIONS[/b]
1. The Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area represents a difficult
evacuation problem due to the large population and it's unique layout ...
... 8. Many of the Region's emergency shelter facilities may be inundated by
floodwaters when threatened by a slow moving Category 3 or above
hurricane. Sheltering of evacuees outside of the Region becomes
necessary.
9. In most emergencies the number of persons needing public shelter will
be limited. In the event of a catastrophic hurricane, however, the
evacuation of over a million people from the Southeast Region could
overwhelm normally available shelter resources ...
B. ASSUMPTIONS
5. The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles.
School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles
provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation
for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in
evacuating ...
... 12. Risk area parishes will not normally open shelters for a catastrophic
hurricane, with certain exceptions. Officials will direct residents to
evacuate out of the way of the storm surge. Public shelter located
outside risk areas will be needed for large numbers of evacuees.
13. Last resort refuges, will be required for those individuals who do not
evacuate the risk areas.
14. Hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, etc. will have pre-determined
evacuation and/or refuge plans if evacuation becomes necessary. All
facilities will have approved Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plans
as mandated by the State of Louisiana, Dept. of Health and Hospitals
(DHH). Before operating permits are given to homes/hospitals,
emergency precautions are to be taken, such as the placement of
emergency supplies and equipment (i.e., generators and potable water)
on upper floors ...
...
PART III: EVACUATION
A. PROCEDURES[/b]
The procedures outlined here are the minimum actions that will be required
from State, parish and municipal authorities in a hurricane emergency ...
... 7. Local transportation resources should be marshaled and
public transportation plans implemented as needed.
8. Announce the location of staging areas for people who need
transportation. Public transportation will concentrate on
moving people from the staging areas to safety in host
parishes with priority given to people with special needs.
B. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS:
The Regional Evacuation Plan has three phases: Precautionary,
Recommended and Mandatory. Each phase requires specific actions to be
taken at about the same time by all the organizations that are operating
under this plan. The cycle of Decision, Implementation and Information
Feedback is critical to the operation of this plan ...
3. Mandatory Evacuation:
a. Risk Area Parishes:
1. Coordinate evacuation orders with State and other risk
parishes.
2. Instruct persons living in designated evacuation zones to
leave.
3. Impose traffic control to funnel persons to designated
evacuation routes.
4. Designate staging areas and other facilities as last resort
refuges. People at these locations who cannot be
evacuated in time to avoid the storm will remain and take
refuge in the designated buildings.
5. Assist persons with mobility limitations to find last resort
refuge. Mobilize all transportation resources and request
assistance from the state as needed.
6. Continue to update EAS and news media with evacuation
information at two-hour intervals.
... PART V: SHELTER OPERATIONS
A. Concept of Operations:
1. The Department of Social Services (DSS) is the Department of State
Government responsible for the coordination of shelter operations. DSS
will provide administrative support, as required and coordinated, to
Local general population shelters and special needs shelters. DSS has
the added responsibility of managing the State Regional Special Needs
shelters, with assistance from DHH, LANG, DOC, and other state and
voluntary agencies. DHH has the primary responsibility for providing
medical coordination for all special needs populations, i.e., hospital and
nursing home patients, persons on home health care, elderly persons
and other persons with physical or mental disabilities. The Department
of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) has the primary
responsibility for the sheltering of jail and prison inmates from the risk area ...
... e. DSS and DHH will coordinate the special needs shelter program
throughout the State. Nursing homes and other special care
facilities will be monitored, as well as, special needs persons in the
population at large. Plans will be required for evacuation and
sheltering of all such persons. Nursing homes will be required to
have mutual aid agreements with facilities located within host
area parishes. DHH will coordinate the provision of additional
shelters for people not covered by mutual aid agreements.
f. DSS will coordinate the consolidation and closing down of shelters
and restoring facilities to their normal condition.
g. Last resort refuge inside the risk area will be the responsibility of
the local parish government.
PART VI: STAGING AREAS / LAST RESORT REFUGE
A. Staging Areas
The definition of a staging area is a central location, easily accessible to those
ambulatory people who are in need of transportation to a shelter.
1. Residents who have no means of transportation will be directed to the
staging areas.
2. Transportation vehicles will be pre-positioned to transport residents to
shelters ...
... B. Last Resort Refuge
The definition of Last Resort Refuge is a place for persons to be protected from
the high winds and heavy rains from the storm. Unlike a shelter, there may
be little or no water or food and possibly no utilities ... [/b]
