April 03, 2008 “Operation Prepare” Readies Louisiana Residents for Emergencies

Baton Rouge – Over the next two weeks, employees from the Department of Health – Office of Public Health and agency partners will be visiting communities throughout Louisiana to educate citizens firsthand about how to prepare for emergency scenarios. 

 The effort, called “Operation Prepare,” aims to help citizens in vulnerable areas get prepared for an emergency.  Emergency preparedness information will be distributed to assist residents in planning and remaining safe.  Nurses will also be on hand to perform blood pressure checks and offer a variety of health-related information.

 “Disasters usually strike when it’s least expected, which is why it’s so critical that residents create emergency readiness plans for their families now to be prepared for different urgent situations,” said M. Rony Francois, M.D., M.S.P.H., Ph.D., assistant secretary for the Office of Public Health.  “Hurricane season is only two months away, and with two years of fairly quiet seasons behind us, we don’t want people to begin letting their guard down.”

 

April 4 – Lake Charles Area

DHH-OPH Regional Office

911 Hodges St.

Lake Charles, La.

8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

April 5 – Baton Rouge Area

West Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit

685 Louisiana Ave.

Port Allen, La.

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 April 5 – Monroe Area

Ouachita Parish Health Unit

1650 Desiard St.

Monroe, La.

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

 April 10 – Hammond Area

Greater Turner Chapel Church

831 Turner Chapel Rd.

Greensburg, La.

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

 April 11 – Alexandria Area

First Baptist Church

911 Main St.

Colfax, La.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

 April 11-12 – New Orleans Area

Louisiana Superdome

1500 Poydras St.

New Orleans, La.

10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. each day