Friday, July 23, Tropical Depression Three was officially Tropical Storm Bonnie and emergency personnel in the parish were following storm updates and preparing for the storm. At press time, Saturday morning, it appeared the storm moving toward Louisiana and Mississippi was not going to be as strong as first predicted since it was once again being referred to as Tropical Depression Bonnie.

Liz Hill, director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, had taken part in several statewide conference calls to review the state’s plans for severe weather, as well as make sure Evangeline Parish was prepared for the worst if the storm strengthened. She said conference calls included representatives from Louisiana State Police, other Office of Emergency Preparedness directors, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services, formerly known as DSS).

Saturday morning, Hill said Roger Erickson with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles was predicting the storm would bring one-half inch to one-and-a-half inches of rain to Southeast Louisiana. She said this area would receive rain bordering those numbers. She said Erickson said Southwest Louisiana would have a minimal impact from the storm.

However on Friday, Hill and other leaders were beginning preparations for a storm in case the storm gained momentum once it hit the Gulf of Mexico or changed its course.

On Thursday, July 22, Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency for the State of Louisiana in preparation for the storm. Hill said Friday afternoon, Evangeline Parish, along with several other neighboring parishes, did the same thing by issuing a state of emergency for the parish.

“We did it just as a precautionary measure. It was Friday, and we were unsure what the storm was going to do,” Hill said.

Hill was joined by Monica Devillier, representing the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office; Ville Platte Mayor Bill Jeanmard, Ville Platte Fire Chief Ted Demoruelle, CenturyLink’s Benny Fontenot and Ward Five Fire District Chief Bobby Guilbeau to review plans. She also touched base with several other emergency leaders as the parish planned for the worst from this storm.

Hill said despite the impact of the storm being minimal to this area, residents who lived in areas where flooding occurred when heavy or large amounts of rain fell should take precautions and prepare for flooding. She said the same was true for those who lost electrical service easily during storms. She said residents should take precautions, so they would be prepared if flooding or electrical outages occurred due to the rain associated with the storm.

On Facebook, the parish’s site is Evangeline Parish 911/OEP. Hill recommended residents make sure they had batteries, gas, medicine, water, food, first aid kits and had checked their generators. It’s better to be prepared and not need the items than to be not be prepared and need those items.

To prepare for disasters, FEMA says remember to:

•Develop a family plan. Your family’s plan should be based on your vulnerability to the Hurricane Hazards. You should keep a written plan and share your plan with other friends or family.

•Create a disaster supply kit. There are certain items you need to have regardless of where you ride out a hurricane. The disaster supply kit is a useful tool when you evacuate as well as making you as safe as possible in your home.

The kit should include water, food, blankets and pillows, clothing, first aid kit with medicines and prescription drugs, special items for babies and elderly, toiletries and hygiene items, flashlight and batteries, radio, fully charged telephones, cash and credit cards, keys, toys, important documents, tools, vehicle fuel tanks filled and pet care items.

•Have a place to go.

•Secure your home. There are things that you can do to make your home more secure and able to withstand stronger storms.

•Have a pet plan.

For more information, visit www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml.

Don’t forget to keep track of weather bulletins, so you will be informed of what to expect as storms make landfall or dangerous situations begin to exist.