Hurricane preparedness week proceeds

With hurricane season just around the corner it was a timely program for the Abbeville Rotarians Wednesday as they gathered for their weekly meeting.

Cile Guidry and David Moore who are with the LSU AgCenter and are Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Specialists spoke to Rotarians about strengthening their houses.

Much of the information given to homeowners is practical tips on how to keep a high wind from a hurricane or tornado from lifting the roof of a house, which is the major form of wind destruction.

Since Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, much work has gone into preparing homeowners for another disaster and helping them reinforce the structures, as well as appyling engineered for high wind practices for new construction.

Much of the information that is used in a two-hour seminar by Moore and Guidry can be accessed on the LSUAg Center website at www.LSUAgCenter.com/Homebuildingdc.Road2la.org.

This week is hurricane preparedness week, and the President of the United States, George W. Bush issued a proclamation stating, “I call upon government agencies, private organizations, schools and the media to share information about hurricane preparedness. I also urge all American living in vulnerable coastal areas to take appropriate measures and precautions to protect themselves, their homes, and their communities against the effects of hurricanes.”

Locally, the Vermilion Parish Police Jury administrative staff, jurors and municipal officials participated in a two-day seminar at the Vermilion Parish Library in order to become certified to act in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

The class, directed by Tim Creswell, Assistant Director of Vermilion Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness was required by all public officials that will work in an emergency capacity if the occasion arises.