PRESS RELEASE

Tangipahoa Parish Updates Gustav Preparations
(August 31, 2008) – The Tangipahoa Emergency Operations Center is currently tracking Hurricane Gustav and making preparations for the potential impact of heavy rain, sustained hurricane force wind, significant flooding of low lying areas and wide spread power outages beginning Monday. 

Mandatory Evacuation of ALL (Parishwide) Mobile Homes and Travel Trailers, as well as evacuation of ALL AREAS SOUTH OF HWY 22, is effective at 10:00am Sunday August 31st. No emergency services will be available south of Highway 22 after 4am Monday morning.

Additionally at 10am Sunday, Parish Assisted Evacuation will begin and the following shelters will open:

• Amite High School - 403 South Laurel Street in Amite
• Hammond Junior High - 111 JW Davis Drive in Hammond
• Hammond Westside Upper - 2600 Westpark Avenue in Hammond
• Kentwood High School - 603 9th Street in Kentwood
• Natalbany Elementary School - 47370 N. Morrison Blvd. In Natalbany
• Nesom Middle School - Hwy 442 West in Tickfaw

Anyone planning to evacuate to a shelter should bring food, water, medication, bedding, and any other items needed. The shelters are able to provide housing only.

Pets (cats and dogs) brought to parish shelters must be contained in individual kennels with an adequate supply of food and medications.  Pets will be transported by parish workers to a pet evacuation shelter set up in Amite.  PETS MAY NOT BE DROPPED OFF AT THE PET EVACUATION SHELTER.

There will be a CURFEW beginning Sunday at 10pm thru Monday at 5am in Tangipahoa Parish for the following areas:

• All Areas South of Hwy 22.
• The following municipalities: City of Ponchatoula, Town of Amite, Town of Kentwood, Town of Roseland, Town of Independence, Village of Tangipahoa, and the Village of Tickfaw.

THERE WILL BE NO CURFEW IN THE CITY OF HAMMOND.

Sand bag distribution will cease at 2pm on Sunday. Sand bags are now available in all municipalities and at the parish yards in Hammond at Pleasant Ridge (345-9466) and at Roseland (748-5759) yards. Parish yards are scheduled to be open 7am - 2:00pm Sunday The City of Hammond will be distributing sand bags Sunday from 8am - 2pm at the Hwy 190 E Maintenance Facility.  Self Service (bring your own shovel) sand and bags are also available to be at the 8th Ward Fire Station in Robert.
The number for the Hammond Police Department is 985 277 5700, the Fire Department is 985 277 5884.

The Parish continues to encourage all citizens to make final preparations including checking on the elderly, disabled, and other neighbors that may need assistance. You may contact the Emergency Operations Center at 985 748 3211or visit www.Tangisafe.com.  The next press briefing is scheduled for the Tangipahoa Parish Courthouse Annex at 206 East Mulberry St. in Amite at approximately 5:30 pm on Sunday.

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