DISASTER HELP AND RECOVERY

Hurricane Aftermath Resources:

Safeguard Your Health and Safety After the Storm

"Who do I call about debris removal?"  and "How do I know which foods in my freezer are safe to eat?"  are questions will arise in a storm's wake.  This page provides links to resources that answer these and other questions related to hurricane recovery.

• Disaster Relief Contacts

• Injury and Illness Prevention

• Shelters
  

• Wifi Hotspots (call to confirm)

• Closures/Re-Openings*

• Damage Assessments, Clean-up Reports*

• Report Utility, Sewage and Debris Removal Problems or Solutions*

  • Overview
  • Post-Hurricane Food and Water Safety
  • Illness Prevention
  • Injury Prevention

• *Relevant information will be posted as it becomes available.

  
  
  

  Disaster Relief Contacts

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  Baton Rouge City Parish Emergency Information

  • Entergy power restoration map
  • debris clean-up
  • mosquito information
  • road closures
  • sandbag distribution sites
  • food distribution sites
  Statewide Emergency Information
  • gas stations
  • relief supply distribution
  • Federal aid applications
  • emergency hotline with RECORDED information:  1-866-288-2484

  Emergency Preparedness Guide for East Baton Rouge Parish

• This guide includes web and contact information for state and local offices of emergency preparedness, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, medical facilities and nonprofit organizations providing disaster relief services.
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  Illness and Injury Prevention

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  Recovery Fact Sheets

• The following Hurricane Recovery Fact Sheets are designed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional fact sheets may be obtained via their official Hurricane Recovery website
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  Legal Assistance Hot Line 1-800-310-7029

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• A free legal assistance hot line is available to residents of the 36 parish disaster area declared by FEMA after hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
  
  Hours are Monday – Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM and Friday 9 AM to 12 PM.
  
  “Counseling is offered on a number of legal issues, including insurance claims, landlord-tenant issues, home repair contracts, consumer protection matters, and replacement of legal documents destroyed in the storm.”
  
  Service for Spanish-speaking callers is available.
  
  The hot line is a "collaboration of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Louisiana Civil Justice Center and FEMA."
  
  Information courtesy of 2theadvocate.com

• Shelters  

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  In the even of a major storm, shelters will be opened and maintained by volunteers of the American Red Cross. A list of those shelters and locations will be provided here. Note:  After Katrina, many area churches and opened their facilities to shelter evacuees.  We will attempt to provide a list of these shelters should they open after Hurricane Gustav. Until we know more here are two important numbers:
• American Red Cross Shelter Hotline:  1-866-438-4636
• In the event of a major storm, shelters will be opened and maintained by volunteers of the American Red Cross. 
• Medical Special Needs Shelters Hotlines: 

  Medical Special Needs Shelters are specifically for individuals who need medical attention and cannot evacuate the areas that may be affected by Hurricane Gustav. The phone lines are for individuals to call BEFORE attempting to access these shelters, to ensure that you or your loved one meet the admissions criteria, and also to ensure that the shelter is OPEN.

  • Baton Rouge   1-800-349-1372
  • New Orleans    1-866-280-2068 
  • Houma-Thibodaux    1-800-228-9409 
  • Lafayette    1-800-901-3210
  • Lake Charles    1-866-280-2711
  • Alexandria    1-800-841-5778
  • Shreveport      1-318-676-5015
  • Monroe      1-866-280-7287
  • Mandeville    1-866-280-7724

• Have additional questions regarding hurricane disaster help and recovery?

  Ask a Librarian!