From the Garden District Security District:
Now that hurricane season is here again, we can assure you that your neighborhood security is ready and able to handle emergency situations that may arise due to a hurricane or major flooding. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions from our security provider, New Orleans Private Patrol:
Will the patrol remain in the neighborhood during a hurricane? The GDSD/ NOPP officers will remain on patrol during a Category 1 or 2 hurricane or a tropical storm as long as it is reasonably safe for the officers to be in the area. The severity of the storm may dictate that they take cover for the hardest hit hours before regaining their post. In the case of a Category 3 or above, the officers will be directed by their supervisors to secure the area as best as possible, take cover in local NOPP shelters or evacuate to the Baton Rouge office, then return to their posts as soon as it is safe to patrol.
GDSD patrol officers will only leave the city during a mandatory evacuation and will return to patrol as soon as city/state authorities permit patrol companies to enter. NOPP now has satellite offices in Baton Rouge and housing available for their staff if New Orleans locations are not accessible or safe new tanker vehicles which can provide gasoline for the patrol cars if local gas stations are not operable. Larger rough terrain, high water vehicles have been purchased and will be used for access to flooded or hard to reach areas if necessary. If the city receives a mandatory evacuation order, the patrol must comply, but will return as soon as possible.
How will I know what is going on in my neighborhood while I am evacuated? If you supply us with your email address now, you will receive periodic email updates from the us and /or the patrol about the neighborhood, including the status of utilities, streetlights, security, etc. as often as communications permit.
What kind of phone or radio communication will be available if utilities are down? NOPP/GDSD has set up duplicative systems for computer, phone and radio systems that can operate from other states if the local communications systems are inoperable. This new system will be activated within minutes to avoid interruption of service. For your own home, you may want to install what has been referred to as a ‘princess’ phone, the old fashioned corded phone. Many land lines still worked during Katrina, but because the electricity was out in many areas, those with cordless phones were out of luck, while many with stationary phones were able to dial out and receive calls.
FYI: NOLA Ready Alert System
The City of New Orleans has also set up the NOLA Ready Alert System, which is a new high-tech emergency text and voice notification system. This emergency alert system, will send real-time emergency information that may include rain storms, evacuations, threatening levee breaches, loss of power and communication disruptions to first responders, emergency managers, business owners, tourists and registered residents. The messages will be sent via email, cell phones, pagers, Blackberry’s and Treo’s. To register for NOLA Ready all citizens can log onto the website at www.nolaready.info
The GDSD Security Patrol is available for your use 24 hours per day.
Call 899-4373(GDSD) or 525-7111.
If you have any concerns, please call our administrative office at 525-7911.
STAY IN THE LOOP DURING AN EVACUATION
Send an email with your name and address to
gardendistrictno@bellsouth.net
to join our email list for periodic neighborhood announcements
Visit the GDSD website at www.gdsdpatrol.org
