PROCEEDINGS OF THE TERREBONNE PARISH COUNCIL IN EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION September 4, :15 AM Terrebonne Parish School Board Office

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1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TERREBONNE PARISH COUNCIL IN EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION September 4, :15 AM Terrebonne Parish School Board Office Chairman Clayton Voisin called the Emergency Meeting of the Terrebonne Parish Council to order at 10:15 AM in the Terrebonne Parish School Board Office to address Hurricane Gustav related matters. Councilwoman A. Williams offered the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by Council Chairman C. Voisin. Upon roll call, the following Council members were: C. Voisin, A. Williams, B. Hebert, T. Cavalier, J. Pizzolatto, J. Cehan, and A. Tillman. Absent from the meeting were P. Lambert, who could not be contacted, and H. Lapeyre, who had evacuated with his family. The Chairman recognized Parish President M. Claudet, who questioned the legality of the Council holding a meeting during times of emergency and stated that he, as Parish President, was in charge during times of emergency. Chairman Voisin and Mr. Tillman expressed their opinion that the Council does exist as a public entity during times of emergency and they have the right to meet in Emergency Session, as authorized by the Home Rule Charter. The Chairman then recognized the Parish President to give the following report: Power: small generators will soon arrive to operate several critical facilities. He said that Terrebonne General Medical Center cannot re-open until electric power is restored and the water boil order is over. Chabert Medical Center wants to open but, from information obtained by Sen. Dupre, there is damage. School Board: The School Board is working with the Parish Government, but, if shelters are needed, schools cannot be used for long term shelters due to the student attendance requirements and the fact that many schools have some damage and do not have electric power or water. Emergency Ordinances: The president said he may propose an emergency ordinance to offer assistance to residents who may need help with payments for utilities and to pick up debris on private property. Water Sewerage Problems: The president said the lack of water service was caused by trees that fell pulling up water lines in several locations. Without water service, sewerage service could not work... He said the Parish Government may have to operate some private sewerage systems to assure that residents have service. He continued that generators are being obtained to operate these systems in the event they are needed. Social Services: Many people, who were out of work during the hurricane or who spent funds for hotel lodging, will be in need of social needs. Communications: The lack of phone lines and cell phone outages were the big reasons for the lack of communications. Public Buildings: The lack of power must be addressed for TGMC, Chabert Medical Center, the Court House, the Government Tower and the Houma Police Department. If permanent power cannot be restored, generators will be obtained. Damage is being checked on all public buildings. All State Insurance will have local claim offices open. The FEMA line is FEMA and the web site is The Red Cross has a site to allow people to check displaced evacuees at redcross.org/safeandwell Distribution Sites: The Parish President handed out a list of the various distribution sites for water, blue tarps, and MRE s from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

2 Self-Sufficiency: The president said that previous hurricanes were bad, but Gustav was more catastrophic due to the lack of water and sewerage and the increased number of people in the parish. He was trying to get the City of Houma up and running to allow critical businesses to operate. Rumors and facts: He said that there was no resignation. The Sheriff was handling search and rescue. The Sheriff and the Parish President have joined forces. The problem with people driving around was downed power lines. People who come back should be prepared to be self sufficient. Phones in many areas were still out. Press Conference: President said that a press conference would be held every day at 10:00 AM at South Central Planning Office until further notice. He said that security was becoming an issue. He said people coming into the parish may actually hinder recovery efforts. Several Council members said that returning evacuees could actually aid in recovery. ARLANDA WILLIAMS: Said that she contacted someone in Alabama about shelters and that co-ordination with the various shelters is needed. MICHEL CLAUDET: Entergy: The President said there were different versions of when power could be restored. If private generators are not connected properly, it could cause dangerous problems in recovery efforts. Communications: The President expressed his apologies for not giving more communications to the Council. Sheriff and recovery: The Sheriff is handling securing and he is working with the sheriff. Mr. Claudet is focusing on the recovery of housing, economic efforts, transportation, etc. Electric Power: Tom Bourg is working on how to re-connect power to crucial public buildings and businesses such as grocery stores, hardware stores, pharmacy stores, etc. ALVIN TILLMAN: HE said that the Council is willing and able to help, but needs to be informed. He asked that the Council be informed on a regular basis. He requested the Parish President to obtain ID cards to enter the OEC Head Quarters. Mr. Claudet asked someone else to contact the Sheriff for these cards. CLAYTON VOISIN: He said he requested that one of the 21 assistance lines be assigned to the Council. Communications was the problem. MICHEL CLAUDET: He agreed with the phone line and agreed to meet with the Council at 11:00 every day until further notice to exchange information and concerns. ARLANDA WILLIAMS: Expressed her concerns that rumors are the big problems and she is trying to take care of people, but can t give accurate information without receiving the information. Working together is crucial. JOHNNY PIZZOLATTO: Suggested a tent city on the air base for volunteer help. MICHEL CLAUDET: Said that evacuees from the civic center who arrived on Saturday were late due to busses arriving late and that the last people left the next morning. He said some were further delayed due to some shelters being already filled. BILLY HEBERT: Asked when garbage can be picked up. The response was that Saturday was the projected date. Trash and debris pick up was not scheduled, but will begin as soon as possible. MICHEL CLAUDET: Responding to a request, he said that he would obtain a list of those shelters in which Terrebonne Parish residents were located He continued that staff is working on garbage clean up and that the SPCA was helping with the animal shelter in removing animals.

3 Restaurant: He said that food could not be kept too long in commercial facilities due to health regulations. MICHEL CLAUDET: Said that DEQ will be required to re-inspect the Landfill to allow additional debris (food products) to be disposed of in the landfill, but certain forms must be completed. The form that must be completed was handed to Mr. Claudet for proper distribution. ALVIN TILLMAN: Asked when the residents could return to the parish. If people are allowed to return, how could those not wishing to leave be removed. He said those evacuees who return could actually help in the recovery. He continued that some people who evacuated are having problems with paying for hotel rooms and related expenses. MICHEL CLAUDET: Expressed concerns that if people are injured while cleaning debris, there are no medical services available. People who return should not expect water or power. ALVIN TILLMAN: Communications are down and that some efforts should be taken to inform those who were evacuated. ARLANDA WILLIAMS: Sheriff said people can come back from 8:00 6:00 for the next few days, but they should NOT expect services. JOEY CEHAN: Recommended that shelters not be opened with out proper electric power, water and sewerage service throughout the Parish. CLAYTON VOISIN: Port-O-Potties will be located at certain locations. We have an obligation for some shelters and certain services. People are better off in out-of-town shelters if possible. TERI CAVALIER: Blue tarp for roof repairs is at the civic center for pick up by citizens. She also expressed a need for heightened security. CLAYTON VOISIN: National Guard personnel will be at areas with fallen trees and power lines on major roadways to help in the removal/security. BILLY HEBERT: Suggested that Council Members appear on HTV to inform the public of district-related information. ALVIN TILLMAN: Stated that local elected officials are in a bad position when receiving misinformation that is then passed along to their constituency. MICHEL CLAUDET: Stated that he will try to share information with the Council Members in a more timely manner, once he is assured that the information is correct. Mr. J. Cehan moved, seconded by Mr. A. Tillman, THAT daily Emergency Council Sessions be held at 11:00 a.m. in the School Board Office Meeting Room until further notice. The Parish President requested that he be placed first on the agenda for each of the aforementioned meetings in order to give status reports and pertinent information to the Council, so that he can then keep other scheduled appointments. He also stated that he does not yet know the extent of any damages to the government buildings. During an ensuing discussion, the Council concurred that Council Members and Staff Members would take shifts handling calls on the EOC phone assigned for Council-related business. The Chairman called for a vote on the motion offered by Mr. J. Cehan.

4 CLAYTON VOISIN: Suggested that the public be made aware of areas of the Parish which are still unsafe, and advised to stay away until further notice. He said that Utilities Director Tom Bourg is in charge of all utility-related operations, that the City of Houma electric utilities are being repaired as fast as possible, that Entergy workers are doing all that they can at present, as are SLECA workers, and that the main lines into Terrebonne Parish must be repaired from Lafayette on, which may take 5 to 7 days. ARLANDA WILLIAMS: Stated that Entergy s lines need to be repaired from New Orleans to Baton Rouge prior to service being restored to Terrebonne Parish. JOEY CEHAN: Stated that the South Wastewater Treatment Plant is being operated by generator power, for the most part. He also noted that the Parish s water lines suffered nine major leaks, that G&W Construction Company has crews working on repairing them, and suggested that Capital Projects Manager Al Levron be requested to hire all available construction companies to work on water lines and sewerage line repairs, in order to avoid health issues. CLAYTON VOISIN: Requested a list of sewer lift stations that are in the most immediate need of generators, upon which the Lola Street Lift Station, and the Johnsonridge Lane Station were noted. JOHNNY PIZZOLATTO: Suggested the transfer of sewerage to other areas that have operating treatment plants until all plants are again operational. CLAYTON VOISIN: Noted that private sewer treatment systems are the responsibility of the owners, and emphasized that the public should be cautioned to use them sparingly, and to keep ditches free of debris. TERI CAVALIER: Upon the expression of concern by Councilman Billy Hebert regarding garbage pickup, she suggested that collection points be assigned whereby the public can bring garbage and trash to central locations, rather than waiting for curbside pickup. It was noted that the Ashland Landfill can be used for disposal of trash, as an emergency basis. ALVIN TILLMAN: Requested that EOC entry badges be obtained for Council Members and Council Staff members. CLAYTON VOISIN: Noted that the radios which were issued for Council-to-Council use did not work and were not efficient for the current emergency situation. Mr. J. Pizzolatto moved, seconded by Mr. B. Hebert, THAT the meeting be adjourned. Mr. A. Tillman offered a substitute motion, seconded by Mr. J. Cehan, THAT the Council remain convened in order to address regularly-scheduled Council meetings. The Chairman called for a vote on the substitute motion offered by Mr. A. Tillman. Mr. A. Tillman moved, seconded by Ms. A. Williams, THAT the Council approve the postponement of all regularly-scheduled Council meetings until further notice. The Chairman called for a vote on the motion offered by Mr. A. Tillman.

5 Mr. J. Pizzolatto moved, seconded by Mr. B. Hebert, THAT, the meeting be adjourned at this time, 12:15 p.m. The Chairman called for a vote on the motion offered by Mr. J. Pizzolatto. PAUL A. LABAT, COUNCIL CLERK CHARLETTE D. POCHÉ, ASSISTANT COUNCIL CLERK ATTEST: /S/CLAYTON J. VOISIN CLAYTON J. VOISIN, CHAIRMAN TERREBONNE PARISH COUNCIL