Contributed by St. Bernard Parish Government
St. Bernard Parish residents with Special Needs are eligible for assistance in evacuating should a mandatory evacuation be called, either due to a hurricane or another type of emergency which might arise in the parish. Parish President Guy McInnis urges those who need help evacuating to register with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness by calling 504-278-4268. We will send you the necessary forms which must be completed and returned to the office.
We also have our Special Needs Forms and instructions on our website, http://www.sbpg.net on the Homeland Security Page. Click on the Evacuation Assistance Button on the right side of the screen, then click print. Read and follow the instructions carefully when filling out the form. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
In order to be eligible for this program you must possess a valid ID or driver’s license. If you do not have a valid ID or driver’s license you will be processed by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs’ Office for identification purposes.
Forms are held for one year, from hurricane season to hurricane season. If it has been a year since you filled out a form, it is your responsibility to fill out a current form and return it to us. Also, if your contact information changes (address and telephone number) or if your circumstances have changed since you last filled out a form, please fill out a new form and forward to the following address: St. Bernard Parish Government, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, 8201 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, ATTN: CTN Program Manager.
Those with Special Needs would include two categories: Residents who require a degree of medical care that exceeds that of the general population, such as the disabled, the infirmed or those who are electrically dependent and residents who do not otherwise have transportation or resources to safely evacuate St. Bernard Parish.
It is important that Special Needs residents pre-register with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to insure transportation. “If you do not have transportation, we need to know about it,” McInnis said.
Residents who register with the program would be evacuated in the time period of 60-50 hours before tropical force winds make landfall on the Louisiana coastline, according to the St. Bernard Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
It is your responsibility to listen to the public service announcements which will give you specific directions, as the hurricane approaches.
Once the 50-hour mark prior to landfall is hit, the parish will not be able to provide transportation and residents will have to find another means of getting out of the parish. This is why the parish is getting the word out early.
Community and civic organizations interested in meeting with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness concerning this program are welcomed to call the office at 504-278-4268 to set up a time when parish government officials can meet with your group.
