Pretty much says it all, sadly:

[jasons2k]

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1045 AM CDT WED AUG 31 2005

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE SHELTER TASK FORCE OF THE LOUISIANA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

THE FOLLOWING PARISHES IN LOUISIANA REMAIN CLOSED TO INCOMING TRAFFIC... JEFFERSON...ORLEANS...SAINT TAMMANY...SAINT BERNARD AND PLAQUEMINES. EVACUEES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED BACK INTO THESE PARISHES UNTIL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS DETERMINE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

EVACUEES NEED TO VERIFY THAT THEIR LOCAL PARISH HAS BEEN REOPENED TO INCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE RETURNING HOME.

AS THIS LOOKS TO BE A LONG TERM EVENT...INDIVIDUALS IN SHELTERS SHOULD CONSIDER MOVING IN WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

HOT WEATHER WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S. COMBINED WITH HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL BE RUNNING BETWEEN 105 AND 107 DEGREES.

A SLIGHT CHANCE OF MAINLY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY WITH AN INCREASED CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...CASH DONATIONS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE FORD PARK SHELTER IN BEAUMONT. THOSE WISHING TO MAKE CASH DONATIONS CAN OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION BY CALLING 409-832-1644. CHECKS CAN BE MADE OUT TO AMERICAN RED CROSS-BEAUMONT.

IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...CHECKS CAN BE MADE OUT TO AMERICAN RED CROSS-LAKE CHARLES.

[scostorms]

What is being done with the people in the parishes right now? I tried twice today to get in contact with out friends in St. Tammany Parish, but I get a message that the switch board is busy.

[Mello1]

What is being done with the people in the parishes right now? I tried twice today to get in contact with out friends in St. Tammany Parish, but I get a message that the switch board is busy.

If they cannot get power back on for weeks, then they will likely have to seek shelter out of the parishes. The sad reality here is that about a million people have to start to seriously make other living arrangements.

Actually, they need to make quite a few long term arrangements. Jobs, debt repayment alternatives (someone should petition Congress to delay the bankruptcy law implementation), housing, schools, etc. Life will be changed for those folk for at least a year, maybe more...