Hurricane Season - Calcasieu Parish Public Library

"Get a Game Plan" in black text above a blue Louisiana silhouette, with a white checkmark.

The official emergency preparedness mobile app provided by the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).

Preparation Tips
- Browse
  - Ready.gov's Preparedness Tools
  - Ready.gov - Kids
  - Red Cross Preparation Tips
  - United Way SWLA Preparation Tips
  - Practical tips (via Tampa Bay meteorologist, Denis Phillips and FB followers)
FEMA
- Resources
  FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
  - General Disaster Information
  - Filing options
    - Search Disasters
    - 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 or FEMAMobile
    - 711 or for Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362
    - Multilingual operators; answer calls 7 days a week (7a to 10p CDT).
    - Online form
Local Info
- Resources
  - Emergencies, call 911
  - Non-emergencies, call 211.
  Calcasieu Parish
  - Calcasieu Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness
    - (337) 721-3800
  - US National Weather Service Lake Charles, LA Facebook page
  - Contra-flow SWLA
  - Everbridge Nixle - text your zipcode to 888777
  - CalcaShout - Calcasieu Parish Emergency Notification System
  - Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office - 337-491-3700
    - If phone service is down, call 911 and calls will be directed accordingly.
  - Calcasieu Parish School Board
  - KPLC-TV
  - American Press or Southwest Daily News Facebook page
  - American Red Cross - Louisiana - 1 (800) 733-2767
  - Displaced guests needing Assistance - 1-800-621-3362
  - Various community group Facebook pages - offering tons of information on local assistance, food, etc.
  - Lake Charles Visitor Bureau
  Local City/Town Websites and City Hall contact numbers
  - Dequincy - (337) 786-8211
  - Iowa - (337) 582-3535
  - Lake Charles - (337) 491-1481
  - Sulphur - (337) 527-4500
  - Vinton - (337) 589-7453
  - Westlake - (337) 433-0691
  Cameron Parish
  Texas residents
  - Call 211 for information
  - Texas Department of Transportation
  - Texas.gov
  - Office of the Texas Governor
  - KOGT - Orange
  - KFDM - Beaumont
  - KHOU - Houston
State and National Links
- Resources
  - Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
  - Get a Game Plan - be prepared
  - Build a kit (Ready.gov)
  - Emergency Preparedness and Response
  - Ready America Hurricane checklist
  - LA State Police - 225-925-6325 or *LSP from any cell phone
  - 511la.org (live traffic cameras) - 1-877-452-3683
  - LADOTD - Emergency info (includes evacuation routes, motorist assistance patrol, etc.
  - US National Weather Service Lake Charles, LA Facebook page
  - NOAA - National Weather Service's Hurricane Center
  - Displaced Guests needing Assistance - 1-800-621-3362
  - Louisiana Disaster Damage Self-Report Survey
  FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
  - Filing options: 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585 or FEMAMobile
  - 711 or for Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362
  - Multilingual operators; answer calls 7 days a week (7a to 10p CDT).
  - Disaster Assistance
    - Your area must be declared such prior to registration being open.
  - NOTE: FEMA representatives are not available at the library, and due to privacy issues, library staff are not able to assist with filling out any assistance forms.
Weather and Road Conditions
- Weather and Road Conditions
  - Road conditions
    - 511la.org, 511 or 888-762-3511 or use app
  - National Weather Service
    - US National Weather Service Lake Charles, LA Facebook page
    - Lake Charles - 337-477-5285
    - New Orleans/Baton Rouge - 504-522-7330
  - Calcasieu Parish Police Jury's ALERT System (aka OneRain)
  - Calcasieu PASS Wave and Tide Data Real-Time System
Safe and Well - Reconnecting with Loved Ones
- Reconnecting
  - Red Cross - Contact Loved Ones
  - Check various social media platforms, too.

Shelter, Sandbags, etc.
- Shelter, Sandbags, etc.
  - Text SHELTER with your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA)
  - FEMA - Disaster sheltering assistance
  - Salvation Army - 337-721-8068
  - American Red Cross - (337) 478-5011 or (504) 620-3105
    - Red Cross Find an Open Shelter: If an emergency has forced you to evacuate your home, the Red Cross may be able to help.
  - Sandbags and other updates
  Be Prepared
  - Checklist: What items do I need for the season? (KPLC: 09/27/2000)
  - Build a kit (Ready.gov)
  - Be Prepared - YouTube video (Calcasieu Parish Police Jury)
  - People with Disabilities (Ready.gov)
  - Special Needs Emergency Planning (American Red Cross)
Fur-babies
- Resources
  Preparedness
  - Prepare Your Pets for Disasters (Ready.gov)
  - Pet Disaster Preparedness (American Red Cross)
  - Pet Safety in Emergencies (CDC)
  - Disaster Preparedness (ASPCA)
  Hotels
  - Pet friendly hotels
  - Bring Fido
  - Petswelcome.com
  - FYI, check with your favorite hotel chain for specifics.
Radio and Utilities
- Resources
  Utilities
  - Entergy Louisiana - 1-800-368-3749 or MyEntergy app
    - Power outage - 1-800-968-8243
  - Beauregard Electric Co-Op - 1-800-367-0275
  - Cleco - 1-800-622-6537
  - Jeff Davis Electric Co-Op, Inc
    - Power outage - 1-800-256-5332
  Radio Stations
  - KHLA - 92.9 FM
  - KBYS - 88.3 FM
  - KYKZ - 96.1 FM
  - KBXG - 99.5 FM
  - KKGB - 101.3 FM
  - KBIU - 103.7 FM
  - KZWA - 104.9 FM
  - KAOK - 1400 AM
  - KLCL Talk Radio - 1470 AM
Cleanup, Food, and other Safety Tips
- Resources
  - Emergencies and Food Safety (USDA)
  - All about mold - English| Spanish
  - Mold - Resources and Publications (CDC)
  - Salvaging Water Damaged Items (FEMA)
  - Repairing your flooded home
  - Bug Bombs
  - Health and Safety Tips after Floods (NHR)
  - Red Cross - Before, During and After
Salvaging Water Damaged Material
- Resources
Stress & Health
- Resources
  - Natural Disaster Help Hotline at 800-985-5990 or text talkwithus to 66746
  - Keep Calm Line at 1-866-310-7977
  - Cope Hotline at 262-377-2673
  - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
Rebuild/Contractors
- Resources
  - Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
    - Search for the contractor's business name or license number.
  - No name, license, no business?
    - Search to verify that they are registered to work in LA. Not registered - no work.
      
      Ask for a copy of their General Liability and Workers Compensation insurance, you need that so you can contact their agent to verify that they really have the insurance.
      
      Ask for a copy of their Surety Bond.
      
      Contact your local law enforcement and verify that said contractor has not been arrested in the past for contractor's fraud. The contractor to call is American Contractors Group.

update: January 29, 2025

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