Gustav; Important Phone Numbers

Red Cross:
1-800-RED-CROSS
(1-800-733-2767)

MDOT Traffic Information Line:
1-866-521-MDOT
(1-866-521-6368)

MEMA Public Information Line:
1-866-519-MEMA
(1-866-519-6362)

Gustav; Updated Shelter List

As of 3:00 a.m., Sunday, August 31, 2008:

GENERAL POPULATION SHELTERS OPEN SATURDAY 8/30/08:

Central UMC, 1004 23rd Ave., Meridian (Lauderdale County)
Batesville First Baptist Church, 104 Panola Ave., Batesville (Panola County) (Pet
Friendly)
Richland High School gym, Hwy 49, Richland (Rankin County)
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 13146 Hwy 51 South, Hazlehurst
Highland Baptist Church, 505 North Jackson St., Crystal Springs
First Baptist Church, Caldwell Dr., Hazlehurst
Sylvarena Baptist Church, Sylvarena Road, Wesson

SHELTERS TO OPEN SUNDAY 8/31/08

Family Y, 3719 Veteran Memorial Drive
Forrest Co. Multi Purpose Ctr., Highway 49 South
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 1101 North Main Street
Petal Civic Center, 712 South Main Street
Oak Grove Sr. High School, 5198 Old Highway 11
Perry Central High School, Highway 98 (New Augusta)
Beaumont Attendance Center, 1300 Beaumont-Brooklyn Rd. (Beaumont)
Magnolia Baptist Church, 1040 Wansley Road, Laurel (Jones County)

JACKSON COUNTY SHELTERS

St. Martin East Elementary, 7605 Rose Farm Rd., Ocean Springs
Vancleave High School, 12412 Hwy 57, Vancleave
East Central High, 21700 Slider Rd., Moss Point
East Central Community Center (those with special needs must go through Medical
Triage to be admitted), 4300 Hwy 614, Moss Point
Vancleave Vo-Tech (Pet Shelter)

PET FRIENDLY SHELTERS

Magnolia Baptist Church, 1040 Wansley Rd., Laurel (Jones County)

Gustav Preparations; Correction on Medical Shelters

Here's a correction on the previous list, released by the Mississippi Department of Health, of special shelters for medical needs. The only shelter open at this time is the shelter in Jackson at Hinds Community College. Once that shelter is at 80% capacity, other shelters will be open.


Hinds Community College
501 Main St.
Raymond, MS 39154
Dr. Clyde Muse, President
Thomas Wasson, VP Facilities


Here's the official release from the Mississippi Department of Health.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) will open the first shelter for Mississippians with Special Medical Needs today (Saturday) at 4 p.m. at Hinds Community College, 501 Main Street in Raymond.

Special Medical Needs Shelters are available to citizens who suffer from a health or medical condition that meets the following criteria:

Individuals who are in need of assistance for routine care such as eating, walking and using the bathroom.
Individuals who require ambulatory care, with or without the use of assistive devices.
Individuals in need of assistance for managing health care, including taking medications or using medical equipment.
Individuals with the following stable or non-complicated medical issues: diabetes, Foley catheter maintenance, medication maintenance, blood pressure monitoring, severe arthritis, naso-gastric or gastrostomy tubes (home maintenance), ostomy, Alzheimer's Disease, stable stroke, stable cardiac, stable cancer, stable oxygen and nebulizer therapy (e.g. COPD, Asthma), dressings (must have nursing care plan and supplies) and hospice, if there are no complex issues.
Other individuals with disabilities including those who are blind, hearing impaired, mobility impaired or with any minor medical condition not listed above.
Residents may bring a caregiver with them to the shelter. The caregiver may be a family member or a healthcare provider. Those persons who are bedridden and require total care may be admitted to a Special Medical Needs Shelter if they are accompanied and cared for by a responsible caregiver and do not require a hospital bed. Conditions in the Special Medical Needs Shelters require that individuals be able to safely sleep on a cot or mat.

Individuals with medical conditions that require more complex care than is available at a Special Needs Medical Shelter should make arrangements with their physician for admission to a hospital or nursing facility.

Residents should bring their medication, medical supplies and equipment along with the contact information of their physician, pharmacy and, if applicable, oxygen supplier. At least seven days of prescription and non-prescription medication and oxygen, if used, is needed.

Additionally, residents should bring important papers and telephone numbers, sheets, blankets and pillows, personal hygiene items, non-perishable special dietary items, personal snacks and drinks, and a flashlight and batteries.

Single parents with young children who qualify for a Special Medical Needs Shelter may bring the children with them if no other plans can be made for their care.

Special Medical Needs residents may bring their pets with them, however, only service dogs are allowed inside the residents' shelter. Another nearby location on the Hinds Community College campus will be made available to house other pets and residents will be able to visit their pets at that location.

For more information on hurricane preparedness and safety, or if you would like to volunteer during emergencies, visit the MSDH website or call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-866-HLTHY4U (1-866-458-4948).

Gustav Preparations; More Communication Tips

Tips for Disasters from the Wireless Foundation


The link above also provides invaluable tips for wireless customers during a disaster.

Gustav Preparations; Phone Numbers

Here's more information on phone numbers related to Gustav preparations. I'll pass on information as I receive it. So far, no evacuations have been issued.

MDOT. 1-866-521-MDOT (1-866-521-6368).
. . . . . www.GoMDOT.com & www.MSTraffic.com

American Red Cross . 1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . www.redcross.org

MEMA . 1-800-222-MEMA (1-800-222-6362).
. . . . . . . . . . . . www.msema.org

FEMA. . . . . . . . 1-866-877-6075.
. . . . . . . . . . . . www.fema.org

MS Hwy. Safety Patrol . 601-987-1212 (*hp from any cell).
. . . . . . . . . . . . www.dps.state.ms.us

Lodging (Mississippi Tourism). 1-866-SEE-MISS.
. . . . . . . (1-866-733-6477) www.visitmississippi.org

Campsites (MS Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks) . 1-800-GO-PARKS.
. . . . . . . . . (1-800-467-2757) www.mdwfp.com

Animal Shelters (MS Board of Animal Health). . 1-888-722-3106.
. . . . . . . . . . . www.mbah.state.ms.us

Louisiana DOTD. . . 1-877-4LA-DOTD (1-877-452-3683)
. . . . . . . . . . . . www.dotd.state.la.us

Louisiana State Police . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-469-4828.
. . . . . . . . . . . . www.lsp.org

Alabama DOT. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-334-242-6358.
. . . . . . . . . . . . www.dot.state.al.us

MS Division of Medicaid . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-421-2408.
. . . . . . . . . . . . www.dom.state.ms.us

MS Insurance Department . 1-800-562-2957.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.doi.state.ms.us

Gustav Preparations; Governor Issues State of Emergency

Here's a press release from the Governor's Office.

STATE OF EMERGENCY ISSUED FOR HURRICANE GUSTAV

Governor urges residents to prepare now for potential impact of storm

(JACKSON, Mississippi)—Today Governor Haley Barbour issued a State of Emergency for the State of Mississippi due to the threat posed by Hurricane Gustav, which has demonstrated potential to severely impact the entire state according to current predictions by the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center.

“I urge all Mississippians to please take this storm seriously. One of the most important lessons we learned after Hurricane Katrina was that there is no substitute for awareness and self-help, especially in the days before a hurricane is predicted to hit,” Governor Barbour said. “Now is the time to prepare yourself, your family and your friends.”

Residents should take preparation steps by developing a family communications and evacuation plan and ensuring that key items like bottled water, canned food, and flashlights are readily available, the Governor said.

Below is the full text of Governor Barbour’s State of Emergency:

WHEREAS, the current predictions of the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center demonstrate the potential for the entire State of Mississippi to be severely impacted by Hurricane Gustav, beginning on August 31, 2008, which may include sheltering of evacuees from other states, hurricane and tropical storm force winds, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and possible tornadoes; and

WHEREAS, this storm system is expected to cause personal injuries, damage to homes, businesses, public property, and threaten the safety of the citizens and property throughout the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in consideration of the health and safety of the residents and the protection of their property within the affected areas, and in the public interest, all steps should be taken to protect people and property:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Haley Barbour, Governor of the State of Mississippi, pursuant to the authority vested in me under the Constitution of the State of Mississippi and Sections 33-15-11(b)(17) and (18), Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, and in the public interest and for the general welfare, do hereby proclaim a State of Emergency to exist in the areas of the State of Mississippi impacted by this tropical severe weather system; and, do hereby designate all areas south of the I-20 East/West corridor and located in the State of Mississippi as the emergency impact area as defined and contemplated by Sections 33-15-1 through 33-15-49, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended. The provisions of this proclamation shall exist and remain in effect until such time as this threat to public safety shall cease to exist as prescribed in Sections 33-15-11(b)(17) and (18), Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.

FURTHER, all agencies of the State of Mississippi shall discharge their emergency responsibilities as deemed necessary and as set forth in the State of Mississippi Emergency Operations Plan and Executive Order No. 653, dated November 16, 1990.

Gustav Preparations; Communication Tips

As I receive email from the Governor's Office, MEMA and other emergency-related entities, I'll post it on this blog.

This came in from Cellular South. While I'm not a customer, this information might be relevant to some people.

JACKSON, Miss., (August 28, 2008) – With Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast residents preparing for a possible onslaught by Hurricane Gustav next week, Cellular South is offering its wireless customers some important disaster planning and communications reminders to use before, during and after any storm.

Before the Storm
• Charge your primary wireless phone battery and secure back-up batteries and a vehicle charger in a dry, accessible location.
• Program emergency numbers and contact information for neighbors, family and friends into your mobile phone address book.
• Give your emergency contact information to those who may need it, including neighbors, family and friends.
• Track weather and storm-related information through the mobile web on your wireless phone.
• During an evacuation, use Google SMS and the mobile web to get news, maps and to find hotels.
• To find the best gas prices, use the Gas Buddy mobile web link.

During and After the Storm
• Place voice calls only when necessary. Limit your personal calls so that capacity is available for 9-1-1 calls and emergency responders.
• When possible, send text messages instead of placing voice calls. Text messages require less network capacity and are more likely than voice calls to reach their destination during periods of network congestion.
• Call #STORM or 1-888-CSOUTH5 for updates on the status of the Cellular South network, retail store operations and other information.
• Go to www.cellularsouth.com/hurricane on your personal computer or via the mobile web on your wireless device at the Cellular South main page under an icon called “Hurricane Gustav” for complete updates, information and details on weather, traffic, power outages, gasoline prices, service restoration and hotel information.
• Charge your mobile phone in your car during commercial power outages. If a car charger is unavailable, buy an AC adapter for your vehicle and you can use your wall charger
• Turn off your Bluetooth, data connections, such as auto sync for PDA and smartphone users, turn backlight down to the minimum levels to conserve battery life. When the batter is extremely low, turn phone off unless in use.
Camera phone owners can use their handsets to document damage to personal property, homes or businesses and use Use Pic Sender to send them to insurance agencies or other contacts.


To help customers prepare for the Hurricane and its aftermath, the company is launching a website with links and information on hurricane resources, weather, traffic, gasoline prices, evacuation routes, emergency response details and hotel information. The site can be accessed through the Internet at www.cellularsouth.com/hurricane or via the mobile web at the Cellular South main page under an icon called “Hurricane Gustav.”

Cellular South also is activating its #STORM hotline or 1-888-CSOUTH5 for customer updates on storm-related wireless service and network capabilities, store hours and openings for retail locations in affected areas and for other disaster relief information.

Gustav Preparations; MEMA Numbers

Hopefully you will not need these, but just in case:

866-519-6362 - Public Information
800-222-6362 - To report Emergencies i.e. hazardous spills, downed power lines, flooding, etc.