Press Release via Plaquemines Parish Government:

Plaquemines Parish, LA- Parish President Kirk Lepine has declared a State of Emergency for Plaquemines Parish in anticipation of heavy rain, storm surge, and tropical-storm-force winds due to Tropical Storm Zeta.

Public Service and Operations Department crews are working to ensure storm preparation equipment are positioned throughout Plaquemines Parish and will continue to clean canals and catch basins ahead of the storm. Residents are also encouraged to clean and secure items near their homes.

Plaquemines Parish Government is urging all Parish citizens to begin their personal preparations for the potential threats imposed by Tropical Storm Zeta.

Tropical Storm Zeta has maximum sustained winds of 65mph currently but is expected to become a hurricane by late Tuesday, October 27th. Zeta is forecasted to make landfall on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

Effective 8 AM, Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Voluntary Evacuation will be ordered for the following areas:

The entire East Bank of Plaquemines Parish
West Bank of Plaquemines Parish from Phillips 66 Alliance Refinery to Venice.
Shelter Information:

Plaquemines Parish Evacuation Shelter will be activated starting Wednesday, October 28th at 12 PM Noon

Pre-Registration for evacuation transportation assistance is available and recommended. To pre-register with us call 504-274-2470 and leave your name, address, quantity of pets, if any (only dogs & cats) and your contact information for follow-up.

We are encouraging residents to find a means to evacuate on your own due to COVID-19 restrictions in public shelters. At the shelter, there will be many new requirements due to COVID-19. Each person that seeks shelter will always have their temperatures checked and will be required to wear facemasks at all times. If you are a COVID-19 positive individual, you will be isolated with other COVID-19 positive individuals in the shelter. All cots will be placed further apart in accordance with the State of Louisiana COVID-19 guidelines. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you will be required to get tested.

In the event Plaquemines Parish would have to activate their point to point evacuation plan with the City of West Monroe, residents that seek shelter will be transported to West Monroe via Plaquemines Parish School Boards Buses and would be required to wear mask during the bus ride and at the shelter. Once at the shelter in West Monroe, residents will be social distanced and those with COVID-19 will be separated from the general population.

Remember to include any items needed to sustain each family member for at least 3 days.

Parish Satellite Locations: Pick-Up will begin at 10 AM

West Bank Parish Pick-Up Location:

Port Sulphur Government Building

Boothville Elementary School

Buras Auditorium

East Bank Parish Pick-Up Location:

Percy Griffin Community Center.

Ferry Update and Relocation: Tropical Storm Zeta

The Pointe-a-la-Hache Ferry is scheduled to move up river to the Belle Chasse area late Tuesday evening.

The PALH Ferry's last trips will be Tuesday afternoon.

Last Trips are as follows:

-Last trip from the West Bank will be at 6:30 PM
-Last trip from the East Bank will be at 6:45 PM.

The ferry will go in service Wednesday morning in the Belle Chasse/Scarsdale area at the regularly scheduled time, all weather permitting. As soon as this weather event is over, the ferry will return to Pointe-a-la-Hache.

Safe Harbor

• Local Commercial Fishermen that are concerned about seeking safe harbor should contact: Boat Harbor Office at 504-934-6365 or boatharbors@ppgov.net. Safe Harbor will be inside the Empire Floodgate system Plaquemines Parish residents will have priority docking

Parish Wide Sandbags:

Starting today, October 27, 2020 at 12 PM Noon parish-wide sandbag locations will be open. See below for sand bag locations. Residents should bring their own shovels and only take 10 bags max. Bags will be provided.

Residents can fill their sandbags at the following locations:

• Plaquemines Parish Government Complex, PROWM Building (333 F. Edward Hebert Blvd, Belle Chasse, LA 70037)

• Port Sulphur YMCA, 278 Civic Dr, Port Sulphur, LA 70083

• Buras YMCA, 36342 Hwy 11, Buras, LA 70041

• Boothville Area across from Boothville-Venice Elementary School

• Davant Community Center, 15577 Hwy 15, Braithwaite, LA 70040

• Braithwaite Auditorium, 1253 LA-39, Braithwaite, LA 70040

The mission of the Plaquemines Parish Government is to provide high quality, efficient services to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all residents of Plaquemines Parish. For more information about Plaquemines Parish, visit https://plaqueminesparish.com/Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@PlaqueminesParishGov).