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BB6 AMERICAN PRESS ADVERTISING SECTION SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2007
N E W C O M E R S G U I D E
S O U T H W E S T L O U I S I A N A C O N T R A F L O W P L A N
When hurricane approaches, know where to go and what to do
When the National
Weather Service announces
a hurricane warning for
Louisiana, a storm with
winds over 74 mph will
strike within 24 hours.
Remember, hurricane
warnings are almost always
accompanied by tornado
warnings, thunderstorm
and gale warnings, and
coastal or inland flood
warnings. Prepare for those
threats as well.
Twenty-four hours prior
to the storm, take the final
steps necessary to keep
yourself and your family
safe.
Check your personal
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emergency kit, then get
ready for the storm.
Always listen to local officials
for evacuation orders.
In the coastal parishes,
remember an evacuation
order may come 51 hours
before landfall.
If you live in a travel
trailer or mobile home in
the path of the storm, you
should already have evacuated
by the time the storm is
this close.
Do not attempt to ride
out a hurricane in temporary
housing or a home
damaged from an earlier
storm that is not yet
repaired.
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HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS:
310info.org
Volunteer Center of Southwest Louisiana
Do you need assistance with
food, rent, utilities, or shelter? Are
you looking for information on
local churches, civic organizations,
support groups, or schools?
You can even volunteer your
time to help your community.
2-1-1 serves all groups and
organizations in the seven
parishes of Allen, Beauregard,
Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeferson
■ Minimize the distance
you must travel to reach a
safe location; the further
you drive, the higher the
likelihood of encountering
traffic congestion and other
problems on the roadways.
■ Select the nearest possible
evacuation destination,
preferably within your
local area, and map out
your route. Do not get on
the road without a planned
route or a place to go.
■ Choose the home of the
closest friend or relative
outside a designated evacuation
zone and discuss your
plan with them before hurricane
season. You may
also choose a hotel or motel
outside of the vulnerable
area. If neither of these
options is available, consider
the closest possible public
shelter, preferably within
your local area.
■ Use the evacuation
routes designated by
authorities and, if possible,
become familiar with your
route by driving it before an
evacuation order is issued.
■ Contact your local
emergency management
office to register or get
information regarding anyone
in your household
whom may require special
assistance in order to evacuate.
■ Prepare a separate pet
plan, most public shelters
do not accept pets.
■ Prepare your home
prior to leaving by boarding
up doors and windows,
securing or moving indoors
all yard objects and turning
off all utilities.
■ Before leaving, fill your
car with gas and withdraw
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Davis, Rapides and Vernon. To
find out more call 310info/211 by
directly dialing 2-1-1 from a
landline phone, or dialing (337)
310-info (4636) or toll free 1-866-
310-info (4636) by landline or cell.
Bringing People and
Resources Together in
Southwest and Central
Louisiana
If you’d prefer to use the internet,
just point your browser to
www.310info.org to use our
powerful and comprehensive
database. 310info/211 is
available 24 hours a day. Information
and referral call specialists
are available 8:00am to 4:30pm
Monday through Friday.
Evenings,weekends,and holidays
identifying information on
resources is available that can
assist an inquirer with their
needs. If you have any further
questions on this program,please
do not hesitate to call us.
Welcome to Southwest Louisinaa.
310info/211 is a program of the Volunteer Center of Southwest Louisiana, Inc.
A United Way and Community Supported Agency
00338179
00340369
extra money from the ATM.
■ Take all prescription
medicines and special medical
items, such as glasses
and diapers.
■ If your family evacuation
plan includes an RV,
boat or trailer, leave early.
Do not wait until the evacuation
order or exodus is
well under way to start your
trip.
■ Expect traffic congestion
and carefully for any
advisories or specific
instructions from local officials.
Monitor your NOAA
Weather Radio.
These storm descriptions
may help your family to be
aware and stay prepared.
TROPICAL STORM
This type of storm is your
first warning that a hurricane
may be on the way. A
tropical storm is an organized
group of spinning thunderstorms
with sustained
winds between 39 and 73
mph. The National Weather
Service will issue a tropical
storm warning if one is
headed toward your area.
This level of storm is dangerous
for people in temporary
housing and homes
that have not been repaired
since last hurricane season.
If a tropical storm is slowmoving,
the levels of rain
produced can cause dangerous
inland flooding.
Residents should evacuate
all temporary housing
before tropical storm winds
arrive.
CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE
Once sustained winds
reach 74 mph, the storm
becomes a Category 1 hurricane,
the lowest on the
Saffir-Simpson scale.
00338013
Unanchored mobile homes
and weak permanent structures
can be damaged or
destroyed and homes in
flood areas may be vulnerable.
Pay attention to local
officials and evacuate as
directed. Never assume a
Category 1 storm is weak or
safe. Louisianians may
recall damage caused by
Hurricane Lili in 2002, a
Category 1 storm that killed
16 people and created $415
million worth of damage.
CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE
As a storm intensifies, a
Category 2 hurricane is
declared when sustained
winds reach 96 mph. This
type of storm will destroy
temporary housing, damage
roofs, windows and doors
on permanent structures
and blow down trees. The
storm surge from this level
of storm is typically six to
eight feet high and flooding
is dangerous from the coast
to inland rivers and
streams.
Louisianians may
remember Hurricane
Georges that blew across
the Caribbean and into the
Gulf as a Category 2 storm
in 1998. Georges damaged
six countries, killed 603
people — two in Louisiana
— and caused nearly $6 billion
dollars worth of damage.
In New Orleans during
the height of the storm,
14,000 people took shelter
in the Superdome, the levees
were topped by nine
feet of water and hundreds
of thousands lost power.
CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE
Hurricane Katrina landed
as a Category 3 storm.
Class A Center
Certified Teachers
Loving, Nurturing Environment
Ages 1 Year through 5 Years
See HURRICANE on Page BB7
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477-PLAY