Terrebonne Parish Library Blog: emergency

Showing posts with label emergency. Show all posts

Monday, August 22, 2016

Get assistance at the library. We are here for you.

Whether you’ve been affected by recent flooding or are visiting the area for the first time, we are here for you. Below is information that might be helpful.

Computer labs

Computers are available for public use. If you do not have a library card, talk with the staff, and they can give you guest access. Printing is available from library computers only.

Copying, scanning, printing and faxing are available.

Wifi

Wifi is available for laptops and smartphones.

Children’s, teen, & adult programming

Programming is available for all ages. From story times to movies, check our website’s online calendar to fit your needs (mytpl.org).

Emergency services

State of Louisiana Disaster assistance

Apply for long term disaster assistance and receive information. Also contact Terrebonne’s Offce of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

Emergency Louisiana Weather, emergency, and general information for Louisiana http://emergency.louisiana.gov/

Red Cross

Available for short-term help for disaster assistance, call localy Thibodaux Bayou Parishes Region 1233 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux, LA, 70302 Phone: (985) 447-3229 http://www.redcross.org/

511la.org

Resource for up-to-date travel information http://www.511la.org/

Local emergency services

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Department

7856 Main Street, Courthouse Annex, Suite 121 Houma LA 70360 Switchboard (985) 876-2500 Fax (985) 857-0274 http://www.tpso.net/

Houma Police Department

500 Honduras Street Houma, Louisiana 70360 (985) 873-6306 Fax:(985) 872-4670 http://www.houmapd.com/

Houma Fire Department

600 Wood Street Houma, Louisiana 70360 (985) 873-6391 http://www.houmafire.com/

Terrebonne’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

(985) 873-6357 Fax: (985) 850-4643 oep@tpcg.org http://www.tohsep.com/

Houma Post Office

425 Lafayette St Houma, Louisiana, 70360 985-223-1722

Clerk of Court

7856 Main St Houma, LA 70360 (985) 868-5660 http://www.terrebonneclerk.org/

Branch Information

MAIN BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Gina Hebert
151 Library Drive
Houma LA 70360
Phone: (985) 876-5861
Fax: (985) 917-0582
Admin Fax: (985) 876-5864
Email Us
Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday – 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

EAST HOUMA BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Rhonda Madison-James
778 Grand Caillou Rd., Houma, LA 70363
Phone: (985) 876-7072
FAX: (985) 876-9658
E-mail Us
Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

BOURG BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Stephanie Mahaffey
4405 St. Andrew St., Bourg, LA 70343
Phone: (985) 594-4717
FAX: (985) 594-8392
E-mail Us
Summer Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

CHAUVIN BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Tina Freeman
5500 Hwy 56, Chauvin, LA 70344
Phone: (985) 594-9771
FAX: (985) 594-7506
E-mail Us
Summer Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

DULARGE BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Martha Guidry
837 Bayou Dularge Rd., Houma LA 70363
Phone: (985) 851-1752
FAX: (985) 851-7021
E-mail Us
Summer Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

MONTEGUT BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Margaret Ann Hebert
1135 Hwy 55, Montegut, LA 70377
Phone: (985) 594-4390
FAX: (985) 594-9512
E-mail Us
Summer Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

GIBSON BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Charlotte Celestin
6363 S. Bayou Black Dr., Gibson, LA 70356
Phone: (985) 575-2639
FAX: (985) 575-3069
E-mail Us
Summer Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

GRAND CAILLOU BRANCH:

Branch Manager: Candace Chauvin
200 Badou Dr., Dulac, LA 70353
Phone: (985) 563-2014
FAX: (985) 563-2015
E-mail Us
Summer Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Finding Your Flood Risk: How High is Your Property?

As the Mississippi River continues to rise, the Corps of Engineers is predicting that much of Terrebonne Parish could be flooded. The flooding will be worse if the Morganza Spillway is opened, but there is likely to be flooding even if it stays closed. Officials are urging everyone to prepare for rising waters. One of the most important things to find out is the elevation of your home, apartment, or business. Flood waters are predicted to reach up to five feet above sea level across the parish. Anyone who lives or owns property below five feet is being encouraged to prepare for rising water.

How do you find your elevation? The easiest way to do so is to go to the Wind Speed and Elevation Map webpage maintained by the LSU AgCenter. When you click on this page, you will see a map of Louisiana, showing different wind speed predictions for hurricanes. Since wind speed not applicable in this situation, you can click the Basic Wind Speed button on the left side of the page to "Off". The map will now show a basic, zoomable road map of the state. Buttons above the map let you switch to a satellite, or "aerial" view, or a hybrid road/aerial view.

While you can simply click on the approximate location of your property, a more accurate method is to enter your address into the search box at the top of your page. Enter the street, city, state, and zip code; each separated by a comma. If the page recognizes your address, the elevation at that point will appear on the left side of the page. The lower the elevation of your property, the more critical it is to prepare for flooding.

You may also encounter other flood maps online. FEMA produces detailed flood maps used to map flood risks for particular locations. The older style of flood maps, called a Flood Insurance Rate Map, or FIRM, were originally print maps, although they can often be found online as zoomable, scanned images. The newer style of FEMA flood map is called a Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map, or DFIRM. FIRM's and DFIRM's are excellent for finding detailed flood risk information, but understanding them requires a good deal of background information. The LSU AgCenter has an excellent interactive flood mapping website, but people using it should be sure they understand how to read FIRM and DFIRM maps. The site links to important special instructions for using these maps when flood waters are rising. Also, this site seems to work in Internet Explorer, but not Firefox. LSU AgCenter's blog also has instructions for using both of its mapping services.

If you have any difficulty finding the elevation for your property, call or visit our reference desk at the Main Library. Our friendly reference staff can be reached at (985) 876-5861, option 2.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Keeping An Eye on the Mighty Mississippi

If you have been following the news, you know that the Mississippi River is higher than it has been in decades, due to heavy rain and snowmelt in the upper reaches of its watershed. This has already caused flooding along the upper Mississippi and its tributaries. As all this water flows downstream toward Louisiana, the downriver portions are getting more and more swollen. The river is expected to crest in Baton Rouge on May 22, and in New Orleans on May 23.

To prevent the river from breaking or spilling over levees, the Army Corps of Engineers has diverted some of the flow into other areas. The Bonnet Carré Spillway, just upriver from New Orleans, was opened on Monday, May 9, to divert water from the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain. Also on Monday, the Corps of Engineers put in a request to open the Morganza Spillway, upriver of Baton Rouge. This would divert water from the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya River, resulting in widespread flooding along the Atchafalaya's course. The Corps has released an inundation map showing expected flood levels in this area. As of Monday evening, officials have not decided whether to open the Morganza, but if they do, it could happen as early as Thursday, May 12.

If it is opened, the worst flooding is expected to occur in parishes around the spillway, especially West Feliciana and St. Martin. However, flood waters of up to five feet are expected across much of Terrebonne Parish. This is serious, but not as serious as it sounds, because most of the land area of Terrebonne Parish consists of low-lying, unpopulated wetlands. Most populated areas are higher, and should not see this much flooding, if any. Also, the water will rise slowly, over a span of several days. Still, officials are urging parish residents to prepare for flooding, especially in communities in the western part of the parish, such as Gibson, Donner, and Chacahoula.

Parish residents are strongly encouraged to start planning now, in case they need to evacuate or take measures to protect their property. All residents should check to see if their houses and businesses are less than five feet above sea level. Anyone with property below this level should take measures to protect it. The Houma Courier reports that residents can get sandbags at the following locations:

Gibson Fire, 110 Merry Moss St.
East Gibson Fire, 5218 N. Bayou Black Drive.
Devon Keller Memorial Gym, 5575 Bayou Black Drive.
Donner-Chacahoula Fire, 1805 La. 20.
Bayou Black Fire, 2820 Savanne Road.
Schriever Fire, 1529 W. Park Ave.

All residents, even those who live above five feet, should prepare for possible disruptions associated with flooding. The links below have more information about following and preparing for this situation. Please check the Terrebonne Parish Library's website, and this blog, for more information. As we receive updates, we will post them here.

Local Resources

State Resources

Federal Resources