St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce members learned that the parish will open one and possibly two shelters for persons who refuse to evacuate in the wake of a hurricane threat to the parish’s coast.

FRANKLIN — David Arthur told the crowd that St. Mary Parish is ready for a hurricane.

The St. Mary Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness Director spoke to members of the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

“Size and speed will mean whether we evacuate for a Category 1 or a Category 2,” Arthur said. “Regardless, we know we’re calling for a mandatory evacuation if we’re faced with a Category 3.”

Arthur said regardless if a future storm is a Category 2 or 3, there are still plenty of good reasons why residents should pack up and leave. 

“However, flooding, lightning, tornadoes, severe winds and loss of utilities — if that’s not enough reasons to evacuate, I don’t know what is,” Arthur said.

Arthur said the parish has two staging areas in the event of an evacuation — one at Morgan City Junior High School and the other at Franklin High School for those individuals who do not have their own transportation.

Arthur said the St. Mary Parish Community Action would assist in picking up those residents who have no transportation and bring them to the staging areas, where they will board a St. Mary Parish Public School bus bound for the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria.

“In Alexandria, we’ve contracted with the Red Cross to provide three catered meals a day,” Arthur said.

St. Mary Parish also has ordered extra showers and restrooms to aid in such an event, and have contracted with a security service. 

In addition there is a rodeo arena behind the convention center where family pets would be kept, and where owners will be able to spend time with their animals on a daily basis.

Arthur joked, “But why go to an evacuation center? Don’t you realize people snore?”

In the event a hurricane is headed to the area, Arthur suggested a different evacuation route to bypass westbound traffic.  

“This is really a gift – this route can save you anywhere from one to three hours,” Arthur said.

That route begins off Louisiana Highway 182 at Ralph Darden Memorial Parkway, which is adjacent to Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel. The whole trip is about 35 miles once you bypass the casino and to take advantage of the timesaving route, Arthur said motorists should take Highway 182 as if they were going to the casino. 

After passing the casino, the road’s name changes to Chitimacha Trail. Arthur said motorists should continue down Chitimacha Trail and cross over Louisiana Highway 324 (also known as the Charenton Bridge). Shortly afterward, Arthur said motorists will approach Louisiana Highway 87. He said that’s where you turn right onto the Charenton Beach Road.

“That road goes straight to the levee bordering the Atchafalaya River,” Arthur said. “At Levee Road at the river, motorists should take a left and proceed west to Henderson. Exit at Henderson Highway and travel three miles to reach the interstate.”

Nicholas Gordon, American Red Cross Disaster Program Specialist, was in the chamber’s audience and chimed in with some advice as well.

“If you evacuate, pack at least enough food, clothing and medicine, in addition to a portable radio,” Gordon said. “Preparation and planning are key elements in protecting lives and staying safe.”