Our City Department heads recently convened our annual meeting in preparation for hurricane season. Here are some takeaways: | |
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Prior to a storm, the Fire, Police(PD) and Public Works (PW) departments will be servicing their equipment and vehicles. Fire will be doing a well-check on the city’s most vulnerable residents (they will do this again after the storm). PW will ensure generators are operating properly and that fuel is topped off for sewer lift stations, water wells and the sewer treatment plant. PW will also inspect our drainage system and remove blockages.
Approximately 24 hours before landfall many city workers will be sent home … giving them time to prepare their families for the storm. Essential personnel will return to ride out the storm at their respective buildings: PD at Police Department headquarters, Fire at Stations #1 and #2 and PW at the Public Works barn. Side note: Currently, a stormproof area in the Public Works barn does not exist. Budgeting for this is considered a high priority.
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All personnel are required to hunker down once wind speeds exceed 39 mph. They are not allowed to return to the streets until wind speeds drop below 40 mph.
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After the storm, PD and Fire’s first priorities are search and rescue as well as responding to the backlog of 911 emergency calls. PD will enact a curfew if warranted.
PD, Fire and PW will coordinate after the storm to clear the streets. Using chain saws and tractors, Fire will begin with Jefferson Ave. to 8th and then 8th Ave. to the hospital. Public Works will begin with Tyler Street. These two routes together will allow emergency vehicles access to the hospital.
PD will begin patrols protecting homes and businesses.
The City Engineer will begin assessing damage to city infrastructure and the City’s Floodplain Administrator will begin assessing damage to private property for FEMA reporting purposes. Administration (Admin) has in place a process to document every work hour logged, every piece of equipment used and for what purpose it was used. This bureaucratic nightmare is the foundation for submitting claims to FEMA for reimbursement. Side note: After Hurricane Ida, the city spent almost $5M on recovery. Admin has submitted for reimbursement and continues to this day to work with FEMA on a daily basis to verify our claims. It is a long, tedious, and unsung task.
This is a lot to digest, but I hope it offers one an idea of the effort put forth by city employees before and after a storm. For them, evacuating is not an option. Much is expected and we are fortunate to have such dedicated public servants.
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Hurricane Recovery
Order of Operations
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1) Clear streets for emergency vehicles (Fire, Public Works, residents, city contractor (Ceres) and independent tree services).
2) Restore power grid (CLECO).
3) Re-establish garbage pick-up (Coastal).
4) Clear drainage ways near cross-roads (Public Works).
5) Re-establish communications (AT&T, Charter/Spectrum).
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6) Remove vegetative debris, first pass (Ceres).
6a) Remove construction and demolition debris.
6b) Clear near schools, churches and businesses.
6c) 2nd pass to remove vegetative debris where possible.
6d) 3rd pass to remove vegetative debris.
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CLECO's Restoration of the Power Grid | |
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Order of Operation
1) Hospitals
2) Nursing homes and Rehab centers
3) Sewer lift stations, water wells, wastewater treatment plants
4) Major traffic signals / corridors
5) Residential
Hence, if you're near the hospital grid, a key sewer lift station or a traffic signal you might get lucky with when your power is restored. This explains why some folks get power sooner than others.
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Residential priority: Repairs that restore the most customers the quickest are done first. Individuals / small groups with heavy damage near them, unfortunately, will be last. Neither the City nor the Mayor have the authority to direct CLECO to fix one business, residence or area in lieu of another. We do coordinate restoring sewer lift stations. That's a good thing.
Residential areas with few trees and underground utilities are the easiest to repair and generally are re-energized first. Areas with gridded street systems will see power crews sooner than “dead end” areas. Post-Ida, three “dead end” areas were our priority (4th, 5th, 6th between hospital and river, Old Landing and Cherokee Lane). Despite being our priority, they are still typically the last to have power restored.
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FEMA and the Community
Hurricane relief to individuals is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and by church and service organizations. The city works to connect those who have resources with those in need.
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State Law forbids municipalities of giving anything of value away to individuals. Interestingly (at least to me), this includes relief supplies. The city cannot simply buy food, water or ice and then "give it away."
Post-Ida our community learned how blessed we are with outreach from across the nation and from our own residents.
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Another Eagle Scout Project : ) | | |
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Pedestrian Pathway on 15th Ave
Life Scout Eddie D'Hemecourt conceived the idea of adding permanent distance markers on the 15th Avenue pathway from Hubie Gallagher Park to River Forest.
Eddie raised the funds, designed the markers, built the markers, coordinated with the City their installation and supervised their installation with the help of his fellow Scouts in Troop 310. Thanks to Jill and Joel Champagne for underwriting the project.
We're happy another Eagle Scout project makes our City a better place. Appreciation to Facilities Director Amy Tucker who serves as our liaison with the Boy Scouts.
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Thank You to Our Vets
and to the
Covington Heritage Foundation
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Memorial Day
Veterans, active duty personnel and civilians gathered together at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center to remember and honor those soldiers who gave their lives for our country.
It was a good thing.
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Afterwards, the Covington Heritage Foundation honored veterans and their families with lunch, music and door prizes.
Truly a community effort, appreciation to Coastal Environmental Services for BBQ chicken and jambalaya.
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Chef Pat Gallagher provided the crawfish cakes and Zoe's Bakery satisfied the sweet tooth with a beautifully decorated cake.
Gretchen Simpkin of CJ's Florist provided the wonderful centerpiece floral arrangements.
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CHF Board members and family handled logistics while volunteers from the Church of Latter Day Saints served the lunch.
Elder Sula from Samoa delighted the crowd with a Haku.
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CHF president Councilman Mark Verrett distributed door prizes to the oldest veteran, the longest serving veteran and raffle winners.
Special thanks to CHF Board member Jose Balli for the wonderful door prizes.
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Covington High School's Kellen Meyers and instructor Brian Hanson delighted the audience with patriotic music including a medley of each service branches' theme.
Special Treat: The Movie Tavern provided free passes to Top Gun 2 : )
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Sometimes we're Mayberry. Sometimes we're Mayberry on steroids. | | |
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Happy to report that Karen and I were able to slip out of town for a wonderful vacay. Joining old friends, we were able to visit some fantastic historical sites in Greece and Turkey. We know how the Mayor loves history ; )
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Above: Our gang at the Parthenon atop the acropolis in Athens, Greece.
Right: The dome of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Ladies don headwear inside the mosque.
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The western Roman Empire collapsed with the advent of the Dark Ages (capital city Rome). But the eastern Roman Empire aka Byzantine lasted another One Thousand Years (capital city Constantinople, today Istanbul). It was eventually conquered by the Ottomans (famous for living room footstools) who used a handy military apparatus called a "cannon" … a real game changer. The Ottoman Sultans reigned 600 years until they mistakenly allied with the Germans in WWI.
A little bit of history and a lot of good food, good friends & good times : )
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Ephesus
One of my all-time favorite visits is the Roman ruins of Ephesus, Turkey. Approximately 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul preached on this very stage. Later, he wrote his letters to the "Ephesians."
Very powerful.
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Big Thanks to Chief Administrative Officer Erin Bivona (who served as acting mayor in my absence) and to PD Chief Mike Ferrell, FD Chief Gary Blocker and Public Works Director Jim O'Berry who helped hold the fort down. By the way, Covington is still one of the coolest cities in the world : ) | | |
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Please share this e-mail with whoever you believe may find it of value.
Replies to this e-mail go directly to Mayor Mark.
(And Yes, I know where the new Dakota Restaurant will be : )
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Rooted in History, Focused on the Future | | | | | |
