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Date: 9/16/2005

Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037

UPDATE: TASK FORCE PELICAN

Friday - September 16, 2005

Louisiana National Guard

- Primary missions continue to be saving lives, enforcing security, evacuating residents, and supporting existing critical infrastructures.

- Each parish in the affected area has been assigned its own Task Force (TF), which is primarily managed by TF Santa Fe, to protect hurricane victims from potential identity theft.

o Federal Protective Services is concerned with potential identity theft of hurricane victims who died and the availability of personal information from devastated areas

o FPS advises caution giving personal data to insurance adjusters/FEMA ensuring they are legitimate officials.

- TF Jefferson continues to work with the parish officials to transition the 82nd Airborne into some of the static security missions, thus freeing up the National Guardsmen for law enforcement missions.

- TF Defender continues to perform security missions outside the affected parishes.

- TF Eagle continues operations out of Belle Chasse Tactical Air Operations Center after jumping from the Superdome.

- TF Eagle remains in control of 42 helicopters to include UH-60's, UH-1's, CH-47's, and OH-58's; while continuing to have approximately 50 other aircraft from various services.

- Within the last 24 hours, LA Army National Guard has received an additional 31 missions of Security, Logistical, Aviation, Search and Rescue, Evacuation, and Transportation.

Division of Administration

- As of Monday, September 19, 2005, agency heads may re-open offices as circumstances allow and call employees in those offices back to work in accordance with Civil Service rules in the following parishes

o Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines & St. Bernard

o For additional information, call 1-800-360-9660

- Supervisors of state workers are urged to BE SENSITIVE TO THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES in view of the difficulties some will face in returning to work in the aftermath of Katrina.

Department of Health & Hospitals

- An updated number of fatalities has been announced at 558.

o This number will be updated as often as possible when deaths are determined to be storm-related.

- The status of public water systems that have been affected by Hurricane Katrina is being updated on a daily basis.

o Visit www.dhhemergencynews.com for more information.

- DHH has reopened oyster harvest beds in the Terrebonne Parish harvest area (Harvest Areas 15-23).

o Oyster harvesting can resume in these areas beginning at official sunrise, Friday, September 16, 2005.

o All other areas (Areas 1-14) will remain closed until further notice.

Department of Labor

- LDOL continues to urge injured workers to contact the Office of Workers' Compensation to update their addresses.

- LDOL will announce the re-opening of the Bogalusa Job Center as well as DOL's Plaquemines Parish Disaster Recovery Center located at the Belle Chase Primary School (539 Edward Hebert Blvd) where unemployment claims will be accepted.

- Soon, LDOL will also make a link available on the LDOL web site for jobseekers to view the dozens of job fairs scheduled around the state.

o For additional information, visit LDOL online at: www.laworks.net

Department of Social Services

- Currently, there are 322 general population shelters in Louisiana housing 45,432 displaced citizens. Another five special needs shelters house 249 citizens.

- From Sept. 2 - 15, the Office of Family Support has certified 281,351 households (with an average of 3 family members per HH) for total Disaster Food Stamp benefits of more than $103.1 million.

- An extension has been granted for residents of Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes to apply for benefits.

o They may apply until 4:30 p.m., Sept. 22

o Deadlines in other impacted areas include:

§ St. Tammany, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16

§ Washington Parish, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 17

§ West Feliciana, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18

Department of Education

- DOE continues to meet extensively with all of the impacted school districts to discuss their recovery plans.

- Orleans Parish had their first school board meeting since the Hurricane today in Baton Rouge.

- Education officials began calling school districts receiving displaced students to compile the most up-to-date enrollment numbers.

o Better estimates of enrollments should be available soon.

- DOE also continues to coordinate efforts to match donation offers to districts that have needs.

Department of Transportation & Development

- DOTD Secretary Bradberry will give an infrastructure overview in a media briefing this afternoon.

· 4 pm Media Briefing @ OEP

· 7667 Independence Boulevard

· Baton Rouge, LA

Department of Environmental Quality

- More than 60 water samples from 22 sites in and around Lake Pontchartrain have been taken

- Samples taken show low readings of chemical pollutants, high levels of bacteria.

Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

INLAND FISHERIES RESOURCE ASSESSMENT UPDATE

- Lake Maurepas Area (Blind River, Amite River, Tickfaw River, Diversion Canal)

o Extensive fish kills and bad water (low dissolved oxygen) in area.

o The only good water is currently in the Amite River north of it's junction with the Diversion Canal.

o This area will be re-sampled next week (9/21-9/23).

- Lake Pontchartrain Area (Tangipahoa River, Tchefuncte River, Bayou Lacombe, Bayou Liberty, Bayou Bonfouca)

o Extensive fish kills and bad water in area -- low dissolved oxygen.

o Higher dissolved oxygen levels at the river mouths and along the northern lake shore.

o Wind and wave action in the lake will help to oxygenate the water.

o This area will be re-sampled next week (9/21-9/23).

- Rigolets Pearl River Area

o Some fish kills reported from the East Pearl where the majority of the bad water was observed.

o The West Pearl to the Rigolets and Little Lake had good water and should not be a problem for aquatic life.

- Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion Area

o No Samples taken to date.

o Flight on 9/8 by Marine Fisheries indicated extensive marsh damage.

o Plans are to sample the area next week (9/19).

- Mouth of Mississippi Area

o No Samples taken to date.

o Flight on 9/9 indicated extensive marsh damage but evidence of live fish were observed in the area.

o Sheens from oil spills were prevalent throughout the area.

- North Barataria Area (Lake Salvador, Lake Cataouatche, Lac des Allemands)

o The area showed minimal impact from the hurricane.

o Constant recorders in the area indicated that water levels only rose about 1 foot during the storm.

o There were a few localized fish kills in the area.

o All in all the area is expected to recover nicely.

o Sampling of the area is being conducted (9/15 - 9/20).

Department of Corrections

n The Department has established release procedures for municipal and parish inmates (non-DOC) who were being held at Orleans Parish Prison and who were evacuated as a result of Hurricane Katrina. These are individuals with minor charges who had/have a scheduled release date of 9/16/2005 or sooner. These are also individuals who do not require probation or parole supervision. (In other words, these are people who would have normally been discharged from OPP had it not been for the circumstances of Katrina.)

The Department has identified 163 such inmates who may be eligible for release. Institutions are checking for outstanding warrants or other pending charges. If background checks come back clean, DOC Headquarters will then submit a list of names to the Attorney General's Office. The AG's office will then obtain the order for release.

The State has no legal authority to hold inmates past their release date. However, every effort will be made to find a discharge location or arrangement that is as suitable as possible under the circumstances, including bus transportation. (Please call DOC for more information - 225-219-0499.)

n Many inmate organizations within Louisiana's state correctional facilities have raised money for evacuated inmates from Orleans and Jefferson parish. Most of that money has gone to purchase hygiene products and canteen items. Inmate organizations are also providing paper, envelopes and postage stamps so evacuated inmates can keep in touch with family members.

n Family members inquiring about an inmate's transfer location (those evacuated from Jefferson and Orleans parishes) may call (225) 342-5935 or (225) 342-3998 for more information.

n Those offenders under probation or parole supervision who were forced to evacuate due to Hurricane Katrina are asked to check-in with the Department. Probation and Parole agents are manning the following phone lines: 1-800-869-2909 or (225) 342-0921;

(225)342-0923 or (225) 342-0933.

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