U.S. Water News Online
GRETNA, La. -- Rather than send pump workers 100 miles north of the city when a hurricane threatens, Jefferson Parish will build 20 "safe houses" to ensure that pumps can be started quickly in case of floods, Parish president Aaron Broussard said.
When Hurricane Katrina struck, Broussard sent 236 pump workers to Washington Parish under the "Doomsday Plan" drawn up seven years ago. Thousands of homes in Jefferson Parish flooded during the 12 hours it took for the workers to return.
"The 1998 Doomsday Plan is no more and will never again be used in Jefferson Parish," Broussard said.
That plan was based on sending essential personnel to a safe area, while the new one will be based on sheltering essential workers within the parish, near pump stations and waterworks plants.
Broussard said he expects the safe houses to be in place by the June 1 start of the hurricane season, at a cost of $10 million to $12 million. Four were under construction when Katrina hit.
In addition, the parish will look for other shelter sites -- publicly and privately owned structures that will be fortified to withstand hurricanes.
Broussard said the parish also will look into the possibility of using a large Navy ship on the Mississippi River to house parish employees during a storm.
Broussard, flanked by Parish Council members Elton Lagasse, Jennifer Sneed, John Young and Tom Capella, said that once his administration completes its draft of the new plan, he will seek comments from council members and appropriate federal and state agencies, as well as submit it to business and civic groups for review.
The final version of the plan will be announced to the public. He said he expected it to be ready before June 1.
Broussard said the parish's evacuation plans for residents will be reviewed but likely will not change.
"During Katrina, we watched, we listened and we learned," Broussard said. "Now it's time to put lessons learned into action."
He said he hopes to get federal money to build the safe houses, but the council will consider borrowing from the state's Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority.
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