This blog will be updated with all the latest information on hurricanes and other storms throughout the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane season. The American Press staff will make posts as situations warrant.

We can be reached at these e-mail addresses during a storm:
- NEWS DEPT.: lcamericanpress@gmail.com
- WEBMASTER: webmaster@american-press.net

Bookmark this page! It will remain in operation even if the main American Press site loses power.

Andres weakens to depression, back out to sea

Posted June 24, 2009 at 12:39 pm
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PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — Andres weakened from a tropical storm to a depression Wednesday as it headed out to sea after flooding homes and killing at least one person on Mexico’s southwestern coast.

Andres briefly flared up into the Eastern Pacific season’s first hurricane Tuesday, skirting the coast south of the tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta.

At 8 a.m. PDT (11 a.m. EDT, 1500 GMT), the center of the storm was located about 130 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Cabo Corrientes and 230 miles (370 kilometers) southeast of the tip of Baja California, and moving to the northwest about 9 mph (15 kmh).

Its winds weakened to 35 mph (55 kph) and the storm was expected to dissipate by Wednesday night, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

To the south, rain caused flooding Monday in the resort of Acapulco that forced about 200 people to evacuate their homes. A fisherman drowned when choppy currents overturned his boat in a lagoon in Tecpan de Galeana, between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, a state police report said.

A light rain fell Tuesday night in Puerto Vallarta as tourists emptied beaches and retreated to hotel restaurants. Port authorities said the arrival of a Carnival cruise ship was rescheduled from Wednesday to July 1.

Late Sunday, Andres became the first named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season, which began May 15 and ends Nov. 30. It was the latest arrival of a named storm in 40 years.

Tropical Storm Andres brushes Mexico; 1 killed

Posted June 23, 2009 at 3:07 pm
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ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Tropical Storm Andres flooded homes and knocked down trees along Mexico’s Pacific coast, killing at least one person as it headed toward a likely hurricane-force scrape with land on Tuesday.

Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the strip of coast from just south of Manzanillo to near Puerto Vallarta. To the south, the storm dumped heavy rains on Acapulco, where flooding forced about 200 people to evacuate their homes on Monday.

A fisherman drowned when choppy currents overturned his boat in a lagoon Monday in Tecpan de Galeana, between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo, a state police report said. The sun peeked through cloudy skies in Acapulco on Tuesday, but the government closed all schools.

Andres sped up as it headed on a course to graze the port city of Manzanillo at hurricane strength late Tuesday, then push along shore past towns such as Barra de Navidad that are home to some American and Canadian expatriates.

Rain poured down on Manzanillo, where authorities opened 14 shelters.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Andres could bring coastal storm surge as much as 3 feet (nearly 1 meter) above normal while dumping as much as 8 inches (200 millimeters) of rain in a few spots.

The storm was centered about 55 miles (85 kilometers) south-southeast of Manzanillo at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. EDT; 1700 GMT) Tuesday, and it had sustained winds near 70 mph (110 kph), with higher gusts.

Tropical storm force winds extended out 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the center in some directions.

It was moving toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 kph). The storm’s winds were expected to build to 75 mph (120 kph), just over the minimum for a hurricane, by late Tuesday.

The forecast track showed it then weakening as it continues northwest along the coastline before veering west into the open Pacific and just south of the Los Cabos resorts at the tip of the Baja California peninsula Thursday morning.

Late Sunday, Andres became the first named storm of the eastern Pacific hurricane season, which began May 15 and ends Nov. 30.

Video: Disaster Supply Kit

Posted May 29, 2009 at 12:37 pm
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One way to prepare for hurricane season is to put together a disaster supply kit. Here we show you what you need. Click to load the video

Cyclone Aila toll up to 191 in India, Bangladesh

Posted May 27, 2009 at 2:26 pm
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By the ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pedestrians walk over an uprooted tree in Calcutta, India, Monday, May 25, 2009. At least two people were killed and authorities evacuated thousands of others in eastern India as a cyclone stormed toward the region Monday. Cyclone Aila caused heavy rains and strong winds to lash Calcutta, capital of West Bengal state.

CALCUTTA, India — Heavy rains caused deadly mudslides and slowed rescue efforts Wednesday after Cyclone Aila pounded eastern India and Bangladesh, killing at least 191 people.

The cyclone destroyed thousands of homes and stranded millions of people in flooded villages before it began to ease Tuesday. The death toll will likely rise in both countries as rescue workers reach cut-off areas.

Mudslides in India’s famed Darjeeling tea district killed at least 22 people overnight, said Asim Dasgupta, the finance minister of the worst-affected West Bengal state in India.

The official death toll in India stood at 78 by Wednesday, Dasgupta told reporters, adding about 2.3 million people were affected or stranded in flooded villages.

Bangladesh’s Food and Disaster Management Ministry said the toll there was 113 after more bodies were found. Most victims drowned or were washed away when storm surges hit coastal areas.

Soldiers have been deployed to take food, water and medicine to hundreds of thousands of people stranded in flooded villages, Bangladeshi Minister Abdur Razzak told reporters Wednesday. In India rescuers evacuated more than 41,000 people by Wednesday, Dasgupta said.

At least 500,000 villagers were affected or stranded, mostly by flash floods caused by tidal surges, said Ziaul Alam, the local administrator in Bangladesh’s Khulna district.

The cyclone also caused damage in the Sundarbans, a tangle of mangrove forests that is home to one of the world’s largest tiger populations.

Conservationists expressed concern over the tigers’ fate.

At least one tiger from the flooded reserve took refuge in a house. Forest guards tranquilized it and were planning to release it once the waters subside, said Belinda Wright of the Wildlife Protection Society of India, which assisted in the operation.

It is believed about 250 tigers live on the Indian side of the Sundarbans and another 250 live on the Bangladeshi side.

Conservationists in India said water levels were too high for ecologists and forest officials to enter the area and assess the extent of the damage.

N.C. Bahuguna, a senior Indian conservation official, said water sources were likely contaminated by salt water from the sea.

Abani Bhushan Thakur, a local forest department official in Bangladesh, said there were no reports of damage or casualties in their part of the Sundarbans mangrove forests.

Updated feeding sites and Texas food assistance

Posted September 20, 2008 at 12:51 pm
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Food Assistance In Texas:

PODs in Houston: The POD sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. POD’s in the Houston city limits will not have water. Most PODs will have only ice and only some of the PODs will have Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).

Habrá 20 Sitios de Distribución (POD) localizados en el Condado de Harris: Estarán abiertos de 9 a.m. a 6 p.m. La mayoría de los sitios tendrán solamente hielo y algunos de los sitios tendrán comidas preparadas (MREs).

1. Harvest Time Church 17770 Imperial Valley, Houston 77060
2. La Porte High School 301 E. Fairmont Pkwy., La Porte 77571
3. Clyde Abshire, Deer Park Football Stadium 710 West St. Augustin, Deer Park 77536@Center
4. Bay Area Community Center 5002 NASA Road #1, Seabrook 77586
5. Jim Fonteno Courthouse Annex 14350 Wallisville Rd., Houston 77049
6. San Jacinto Community Center 604 Highland Woods, Highlands 77562
7. Community of Faith 1023 Pinemont Dr., Houston 77018
8. Ripley House 4410 Navigation, Houston 77011
9. Sharpstown Mall 7500 Clarewood, Houston 77036
10. Robertson Stadium, University of Houston 3600 Scott, Houston 77011 (Lot 12A)
11. Fountain of Praise Hillcroft Campus 13950 Hillcroft, Houston 77085
12. Zion Lutheran 3606 Beauchamp, Houston 77009
13. Baytown Courthouse Annex 701 West Baker Rd., Baytown 77521
14. Church Without Walls 5314 Bingle Rd., Houston 77092
15. S. Houston Community Center 1007 State St., South Houston 77587
16. St. Agnes Baptist Church 3730 S. Acres Dr., Houston 77047
17. New Light Church 7317 East Houston Rd., Houston 77028
18. Houston Community College SE 6815 Rustic Avenue @ 45 & Woodridge
19. Tinsel Town Jacinto City 11450 East Fwy., Jacinto City 77029
20. Kipp Academy Houston 9634 Mesa Dr., Houston 77078

Texans needing disaster food stamps in Louisiana (Per LaDSS and DFS):

Eligible Texas evacuees receive the same DFSP card as Louisiana recipients. Louisiana does not certify Texas evacuees in the Texas system. We certify them in our Louisiana system as Texas evacuees. (So, they can go to the registration locations and apply for their disaster food stamp card, too!)

FEEDING SITES IN SW LA.

This is an active hot meal site in Calcasieu Parish for Saturday, Sept 20th

Second Harvest Food Bank with Church of the King/PRC at Vineyard Church
Gulf Highway, Cameron Parish line
water Saturday, noon - 7pm

Hot lunches served daily starting at 1pm, serving until meals are gone

DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank has many other food distribution/pantry sites in the region for non-perishable food - please call 211.

American Red Cross feeding sites in Calcasieu Parish -

Hot lunches are served at these locations between 11am - 1pm; hot dinners will be served between 4pm and 6pm:

• Vinton City Hall (Calcasieu Parish)
• West Calcasieu Arena in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
• Maplewood Baptist Church in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
• LaGrange Soccer Field in Lake Charles, behind the old Applebees (Calcasieu Parish)
• Managhan Center in Westlake (Calcasieu Parish)

These are active food sites in CAMERON Parish for Saturday, Sept 20th: FOR CAMERON PARISH RESIDENTS ONLY!

Salvation Army
Saturday, Sept 20th
Hot Lunch 11-1; Hot Dinner 4-6
At the Grand Lake High School, front parking lot

Salvation Army
Saturday, Sept 20th
Hot Lunch 11-1; Hot Dinner 4-6
Hackberry Post Office

Salvation Army
Saturday, Sept 20th
Hot Lunch 12-2
Big Lake School
Big Lake is open to residents only (enter through Lake Charles) can go 7-8am and have to stay day until 5-6pm

Salvation Army
Saturday, Sept 20th
Hot Lunch 12-2; Hot Dinner 4-6
Cleo

Cameron Parish in most areas still has 24 hour curfew. Only in areas previously mentioned and posted (such as Grand Lake/Sweet Lake) have curfew hours shifted from 8pm through 6am.

Check-in for services for Cameron Parish residents will be held at the Cameron Council on Aging (951 Hwy 834), and they will be assisted by Catholic Charities staff. You will be able to get passes based on residency for POD distributions only from this check-in location. Then, residents will be instructed to one of the sites: Council on Aging/Grand Lake Community Center, Big Lake Fire Station, or Hackberry Community Center.

Other distribution locations for disaster supplies for Cameron Parish residents

Sweet Lake Church
Water, MREs, cleaning supplies, other items, tarps

Additional sites will be opened as access to other areas is safe and only when approved through the Cameron Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness.

HELPFUL NUMBERS

Blue Roof Program (SW not yet approved, but changes are made daily)
1-888-766-3258

Disaster Food Stamps (SW IS APPROVED!)
1-888-542-3578 ext. 3

State Road Conditions
1-800-469-4828
www.511la.org

Texas Road Conditions
1-800-452-9292

Texas Shelter Locations
https://texas-nss.communityos.org/zf/nss/shelterpublicreport/state/tx

FEMA
1-800-621-3362
www.fema.gov

Red Cross

The financial support for Gustav and Ike is the same as it was for Katrina. It is based solely on damage to a person’s home. There is no financial support to reimburse evacuation expenses for these hurricanes or for Katrina. For questions on ARC Disaster Assistance, please contact 1-866-GET-INFO

Special Needs Evacuees
People may call (888) 777-5320 toll-free to help people local medical special needs evacuees. Phones will be answered from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily,

SW La. residents can apply for Disaster Food Stamps

Posted September 20, 2008 at 10:02 am
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has OK’d a state proposal to allow residents of Calcasieu, Beauregard, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes to receive Disaster Food Stamps.

Sites that will be open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday to take applications:

• Calcasieu Parish — Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive.
• Jeff Davis Parish — Multi-Purpose Building, 810 South Lake Arthur Ave., Jennings.
• Beauregard Parish — VFW Post 3619, 1115 La. 27, DeRidder.
• Vernon Parish — old Lowe’s building, 1111 Boone St., Leesville.

An additional site will open Monday, Sept. 22, for Jeff Davis residents at Father John Windt Hall, 515 Bryan St., Jennings.

To reduce lines during the initial round of applications, the state Department of Social Services has worked with local officials to institute a system that will sort application dates by using the last names of those seeking benefits.

Applicants will be handled as follows:

Sept. 19: A-C.
Sept. 20: D-G.
Sept. 21: H-L.
Sept. 22: M-R.
Sept. 23: S-Z.

Any applicant — regardless of name — can apply on Sept. 24 and 26.

The Disaster Food Stamp Program is for both Louisiana residents and evacuees from Texas who took refuge here from Hurricane Ike.

Those who have already received benefits from Hurricane Gustav do not need to reapply. Additional benefits will be automatically uploaded onto Electronic Benefit Cards.

Participants in the regular state Food Stamp Program do not need to apply for disaster aid because any revised benefits will automatically be added to their current cards.

People with disabilities can designate an authorized representative to apply for Disaster Food Stamps on their behalf. Also, each site manager has developed special procedures for assisting the disabled. Applicants with special needs should make themselves known to the site manager or staff at the site.

To help the elderly, council on aging staff members have been trained to administer Disaster Food Stamps. People 60 years of age or older should contact their local parish councils on aging for the nearest Disaster Food Stamp application site for seniors. If the local council is not available, seniors should contact the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs at 877-340-9100.

For more on the schedules of the sites and to learn who is eligible to receive Disaster Food Stamps visit, www.dss. state.la.us or call 888-524-3578.

Updated feeding sites, Thursday

Posted September 18, 2008 at 1:22 pm
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These are active food sites in Calcasieu Parish for Thursday, Sept. 18

Second Harvest Food Bank with Church of the King/PRC at Vineyard Church
Gulf Highway, Cameron Parish line
non-perishables, water, MREs
Wednesday, noon-7 p.m.
Hot lunches served daily starting at 1 p.m., serving until meals are gone
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank at Greater St. Mary’s
1401 Moeling Street, Lake Charles
clothing only
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank at Maplewood Baptist Church
4501 Maplewood (Sulphur)
cleaning items
Beginning Wednesday after lunch
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank has many other food distribution/pantry sites in the region - please check the spreadsheet for other locations or call 211.

American Red Cross feeding sites in Calcasieu Parish:

Hot lunches are served at these locations between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and hot dinners will be served at the same locations between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.:

Vinton City Hall (Calcasieu Parish)
West Calcasieu Arena in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
Maplewood Baptist Church in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
LaGrange Soccer Field in Lake Charles, behind the old Applebees (Calcasieu Parish)
Managhan Center in Westlake (Calcasieu Parish)

These are active food sites in CAMERON Parish for Thursday, Sept. 18: FOR CAMERON PARISH RESIDENTS ONLY!

Salvation Army
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Hot Lunch 11-1; Hot dinner 4-6 p.m.
At the Grand Lake High School, front parking lot

Salvation Army
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Hot Lunch 11-1; Hot dinner 4-6 p.m.
Hackberry Post Office

Cameron Parish in most areas still has a 24-hour curfew. Only in areas previously mentioned and posted (such as Grand Lake/Sweet Lake) have curfew hours shifted from 8 p.m. through 6 a.m.

Other distribution locations for Cameron Parish residents:

Sweet Lake Church
Water, MREs, cleaning supplies, other items, tarps

Additional sites will be opened as access to other areas is safe and only when approved through the Cameron Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness.

A mobile non-perishables distribution site has been established for Abbeville, Vermilion Parish for Thursday, Sept. 18, from 4-6 p.m. at:

Vermillion Health Care Center, Inc.
14008 Cheneau Road
(Off Hwy. 14 in Nunez)
Boxes for 250 individuals/families

Updated feeding sites

Posted September 17, 2008 at 11:05 am
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Calcasieu

Second Harvest Food Bank with Church of the King/PRC at Vineyard Church
Gulf Highway, Cameron Parish line
non-perishables, water, MREs
Wednesday, noon - 7 p.m.
Hot lunches served daily starting at 1 p.m., serving until meals are gone
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank at Greater St. Mary’s
1401 Moeling St., Lake Charles
pantry items, water, clothing, other supplies
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank at Maplewood Baptist Church
4501 Maplewood Drive (Sulphur)
cleaning items
Beginning Wednesday after lunch
DAILY

American Red Cross feeding sites in Calcasieu Parish:

Hot lunches are served at these locations between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and hot dinners will be served at the same locations between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.:

• Vinton City Hall (Calcasieu Parish)
• West Calcasieu Arena in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
• Maplewood Baptist Church in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
• LaGrange Soccer Field in Lake Charles, behind the old Applebee’s (Calcasieu Parish)
• Managhan Center in Westlake (Calcasieu Parish)

These are active food sites in CAMERON Parish for Wednesday, Sept. 17: FOR CAMERON PARISH RESIDENTS ONLY!

Salvation Army
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Hot Lunch 11-1; Hot dinner 4-6 p.m.
At the Grand Lake High School, front parking lot

Salvation Army
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Hot Lunch 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Hot dinner 4-6 p.m.
Hackberry Post Office

Check-in for services for Cameron Parish residents will be held at the Cameron Council on Aging (951 Hwy. 834), and they will be assisted by Catholic Charities staff. You will be able to get passes based on residency for POD distributions only from this check-in location. Then, residents will be instructed to one of the sites listed below:

Sweet Lake Church
Water, MREs, cleaning supplies, other items, tarps
Hours given out at POD site

Cameron Parish Council on Aging
Water, MREs, cleaning supplies, other items, tarps
Hours given out at POD site

Additional sites will be opened as access to other areas is safe and only when approved through the Cameron Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness.

A mobile site has been established for Abbeville, Vermilion Parish for Thursday, Sept. 18. The times for the distribution and other details will be released tomorrow on location.

Post-Ike Updates for Calcasieu Parish

Posted September 16, 2008 at 3:30 pm
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Residents with flood or wind damage are encouraged to visit www.calcasieustorm.com to fill out a damage survey. Parish officials will be using the information they receive to assess the need for further state and federal help in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Parish Planning and Public Works departments will use the information to help alleviate future flooding and drainage issues. Parish officials will be announcing a telephone number for citizens without Internet access to be used to report their damage.

Local officials have announced that the modified curfew, from 8 p.m. – 6 a.m., has been lifted. There are no curfews in place anymore for Calcasieu Parish.

Because of mechanical problems with the Grand Lake Pontoon Bridge, DOTD is changing the previously announced schedule for opening the pontoon bridges.

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 17, the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge will be opened to vehicular traffic only from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. and from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. daily.
Grand Lake Pontoon Bridge will not be opened to vehicular traffic at this time.

Recreational boat traffic is allowed in Calcasieu Parish for residents to check on property.

Waste Management has resumed their regular garbage collection routes. In addition, the parish will provide two manned drop-off sites for household solid waste only through Tuesday. This is not for debris from the storm. The sites are:

Post Oak Pavilion
2911 Post Oak Rd.,
Sulphur

Ward 1 Parish Barn
461 Parish Rd.
Moss Bluff
The sites will be open Tuesday only from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

All Calcasieu Parish Library locations have reopened.

Feeding and relief sites are at the following locations:

Second Harvest Food Bank at Church of the King
2145 Oakpark Blvd, Lake Charles
hot lunches at lunchtime, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items, blue tarps
Tuesday, Sept. 15, noon
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank with Church of the King/PRC at Vineyard Church
Gulf Highway, Cameron Parish line
non-perishables, water, MREs
Tuesday, noon - 7 p.m.
Hot Lunch beginning at 1 p.m. daily until meals are gone
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank with Church of the King/PRC (remote location)
Boone’s Corner (Hwy. 384/385)
hot lunch and dinner
Tuesday lunch and dinner-time
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank at Greater St. Mary’s
1401 Moeling Street, Lake Charles
pantry items, clothing, other supplies
Tuesday, Sept 15th, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank at Maplewood Church
4501 Maplewood (Sulphur)
cleaning items
Beginning Wednesday after lunch
DAILY

The Salvation Army
Nelson Road WalMart, Lake Charles
hot lunches and hot dinners available daily; also have clean-up kits as available
DAILY

The Salvation Army
starting Monday, Sept. 15
hot lunch and hot dinner at the Thrift Store; also have clean-up kits as available
2008 Sampson, Westlake
DAILY

The Salvation Army
starting Monday, Sept. 15, normal store hours
clean up kits only as available
Thrift Store, Moss Bluff (Sam Houston Blvd)
DAILY

Second Harvest Food Bank and Salvation Army will have additional mobile sites will be established for Cameron and Vermilion once it has been declared safe to enter those areas under mandatory evacuation and curfews have been lifted. Additional sites in parishes surrounding Calcasieu are available by contacting 211, visiting www.cppj.net or www.no-hunger.org and looking for the agency/feeding site information. Services available in the other southern parishes of Louisiana are available on the Second harvest website (www.no-hunger.org) or by contacting 211.

American Red Cross feeding sites -
hot lunches are served at these locations between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and hot dinners will be served at the same locations between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.:

Vinton City Hall (Calcasieu Parish)
West Calcasieu Arena in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
Maplewood Baptist Church in Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish)
Lagrange Soccer Field in Lake Charles, behind the old Applebees (Calcasieu Parish)
Managan Center in Westlake (Calcasieu Parish)

Calcasieu Parish Permitting Reminder:

Prior to commencement of work, all development within the unincorporated areas of Calcasieu Parish must receive permits from the Calcasieu Parish Permit Office. Development includes, but is not limited to, any electrical work, any plumbing work, demolition of structures, rebuilding, and placement of temporary residences. Priming of water wells does not require a permit. In most cases, FEMA and the SBA loan programs will require proof of permitting for file purposes. For additional information on the permitting process, call 337-721-3610 or visit http://www.cppj.net/dept/planning/devpermit.asp.

Business counseling center opens

Posted September 16, 2008 at 2:36 pm
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BATON ROUGE — Louisiana Economic Development (LED), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network (LSBDC) and the Southwest Louisiana (SWLA) Economic Development Alliance announced the opening of a Louisiana Business Counseling Center in Lake Charles to assist businesses adversely affected by Hurricanes Gustav or Ike. The Lake Charles center is one of six Business Counseling Centers recently launched. The centers provide free “one-stop” assistance in Lake Charles, Carencro, Baton Rouge, Metairie, Thibodaux, and Alexandria. The Business Counseling Centers specifically target businesses and are not associated with FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.

Business owners looking for assistance with SBA disaster loans, assessing business economic injury, evaluating the business’s strength, cash flow projections and reviewing all financial options can find answers at the Business Counseling Centers, coordinated by Louisiana Economic Development (LED). The centers will be manned by specialists from U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC), and other regional economic development partners. Business Counseling Centers will be open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm at the following locations:

SWLA Economic Development Alliance
120 W. Pujo Street
Lake Charles, LA 70602
337-433-3632
Staffed by SBA, LSBDC, SWLA Economic Development Alliance, SCORE

Enterprise Center of Louisiana
3419 N.W. Evangeline Thruway
Carencro, LA 70520-9000
337-896-9115
Staffed by SBA and LSBDC

Louisiana Technology Park, LLC
7117 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-218-1100
Staffed by SBA, LSBDC & Louisiana Business & Technology Center (LBTC)

LSBDC-Greater New Orleans Region
UNO Jefferson Center
3330 N. Causeway, Suite 422
Metairie, LA 70002
504-831-3730
Staffed by SBA, LSBDC & Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO)

South Louisiana Economic Business Assistance Center
629 East First St.
Thibodaux, LA 70301
985-446-6023
Staffed by SBA, LSBDC & South Louisiana Economic Council (SLEC)
additional expertise provided by South Central Planning & Development Commission

LSBDC at Alexandria
Dunbar Plaza, Suite 114
3600 Jackson Street Extension
Alexandria, LA 71303
Staffed by SBA and LSBDC consultants

Additionally, LSBDC will partner will Seedco Financial to offer specialized technical assistance to fisheries at:

The Southeast Louisiana Fisheries Assistance Center
212 Ave. G (near the Belle Chasse Ferry)
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
504-392-2454 or 504-520-5727
(Mondays-Fridays, 10 am-4 pm)

Businesses can also go to any LSBDC Regional Service Center, which can be found on www.lsbdc.org for hurricane assistance. For additional information on the state’s Business Counseling Center locations or to sign up for e-mail updates on business assistance, visit LouisianaForward.com/BizHelp.Louisiana.

LSBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Economic Development, and participating universities.