Sheriff's Office preparing for possible hurricane; Sheriff Stephens says public should make plans in case an evacuation is ordered

Aug 26, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens said his department is preparing for the possibility of Hurricane Gustav causing wind and rain problems for this area and added that parish residents should be planning what they will do if an evacuation order comes from Parish government. “We are paying heavy attention to this and St. Bernard Parish residents should be also,’’ Sheriff Stephens said. “We have a hurricane plan in which everyone here knows what they are supposed to do,’’ he said. Residents should begin preparing what documents and medicines they would take with them if they decide to leave or the order to evacuate is given to leave the area. The sheriff met with his department staff on Tuesday afternoon to go over where preparations stand for the possibility of the hurricane coming in the direction of the New Orleans area. Equipment including generators have been tested, the sheriff’s marine division is ready and SWAT team sheriff’s deputies recently trained for the possibility of having to patrol neighborhoods by boat in case of a rain event in he parish, Sheriff Stephens sna d Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said. Click Here to Return to the St. Bernard Sheriff Office Home Page