Now that Hurricane Laura has passed the state is busy surveying damage and sheltering those who lost their homes.
The I-10 Bridge in Lake Charles is currently being inspected after the Isle of Capri riverboat casino barge got loose in the lake and lodged itself under the bridge. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says they’re working to figure out if the collision did any structural damage.
“We will commence the bridge inspection process via drone, and contingent upon the chlorine incident that is ongoing in the vicinity of that bridge, we will then complete the inspection which requires inspectors to actually put eyes on the bridge and see that it is there,” says Wilson.
The bridge was already declared structurally deficient by the US Department of Transportation, a designation Louisiana DOTD disputed.
Governor Edwards says 2,100 people are currently being sheltered by the state, 1,900 of them in hotels and motels. Edwards says it is crucial that anyone needing housing stay out of congregate settings.
“We do have approximately 800 more under contract primarily in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area, and if we need any more we will find the space,” says Edwards.
Those needing shelter are encouraged to text LA Shelter to 898-211.
Disaster SNAP assistance is not yet available but Edwards is encouraging residents in impacted areas to pre-register.
“It is not yet available, I want to repeat that, and it may take some time to turn it o and we actually have to find who lost electricity and for how long to determine who is eligible,” says Edwards.
You can pre-register at dcfs.louisiana.gov
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