PRESS RELEASE

Department of Social Services News Update
Clarification on Interview with FEMA Administrator David Paulison
BATON ROUGE (September 3, 2008) - In a report filed on the Business Wire September 3, 2008, FEMA Director David Paulison commented on conditions at a shelter in Shreveport. That shelter, located at an abandoned Sam's Club building, is not a city-run shelter as Paulison said; it is a Critical Transportation Needs Shelter operated by the state.

Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) Secretary Ann Silverberg Williamson says, "I understand that this is an extremely stressful time for all of our residents impacted by this storm. They want to go home and we want that to happen as well. Until then, we will continue to make sure that our citizens are safe, have food, water and a place to sleep. Shelters, by definition, do not have the privacy or comforts of home but as long as they are needed for our citizens, we will make sure they have the basic necessities."

For the latest on Hurricane Gustav, you can visit emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date information.

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