Here is some news and notes about Hurricane Ida:

Friday, August 27, 2021

  • Stay tuned for updates on the City of Slidell’s website at MySlidell.com and St. Tammany Parish’s website at STPgov.org. More information can also be found on the City of Slidell, Louisiana Facebook page, St. Tammany Parish Government Facebook page, and on the Slidell Police Department Facebook page.
  • Citizens are encouraged to check their storm drains near their homes to make sure they are cleared of debris and to clear their yards of any items that could be blown around by heavy winds.
  • From CLECO: Prepare now for potential Tropical Storm Ida. Begin putting together an emergency kit including items like flashlights, bottled water, nonperishable food and a first aid kit. Remember to account for elderly family members and pets. Check emergency equipment, such as generators and storm shutters.
  • All STPPS Schools and offices will be closed Monday, August 30 due to expected severe weather conditions.
  • In Preparation for Hurricane Ida, the City of Slidell will open their sand bag depot on Saturday, August 28, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the parking lot on the corner of Bayou Lane and Pennsylvania Avenue near Heritage Park – Slidell, La.  Drivers should enter the parking lot from the Bayou Lane entrance and follow the signage and barricades. Pre-filled sand bags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once those bag run out, it will become a self-service depot, but assistance will be available for citizens who can not fill their own bags. There is a limit of 15 sand bags per vehicle.
  • St. Tammany Parish Government had also has self-service sand bag locations open at these following locations near Slidell:
    • St. Tammany Parish Public Works – Airport Road Barn, 34583 Grantham College Rd
    • The Old Levee District Site, 61134 Military Road (Hwy. 190)
  • From Coasts Environmental Services: Due to the threat of Ida – which is projected to become a major Hurricane- we will not be running any routes on Monday August 30th.

Saturday, August 28, 2021

  • From Keep Slidell Beautiful: As we all prepare for Ida, please secure your garbage cans and any loose items near your homes or businesses. City crews are out checking and clearing storm drains, but please do your part and remove any debris that you may see. Businesses should also remove any temporary signage. Everyone please be safe!
  • From Coasts Environmental Services: As you make preparations around your house today for the arrival of winds and rain due to Hurricane Ida, we would ask the you please remove your cart(s) from the curb and place in a secure location so that the cart(s) will not float away should your area flood.

Sunday, August 29, 2021

  • Generator Safety Tips: Do not use inside any structure. Do not use near open windows and doors. Do not use in wet conditions. Do not use when overheated. Do not use a wall outlet.
  • Make sure your pets are safe and bring them inside during the storm.
  • From St. Tammany Parish Government:
    Shelters, of last resort, opening at 4 p.m. Saturday
    * Creekside Jr. High – General Population Electrically Dependent Shelter :
    – Shelter requirements:
    1) Must require electricity to sustain life
    2) Must have one caregiver 18 years or older (only one will be allowed) to accompany
    3) Must bring own linen and bedding, food and water, and medicines.
    * Lee Road Jr. High – General Population
    **Must bring own linen and bedding and food and water
  • An update from Cleco. Over 5,500 customers, mostly in the Slidell area, are without power due to a fallen tree. See below for more information from Cleco.
  • St. Tammany Parish Government has enacted a curfew for all residents in the parish starting at noon today.
  • From CLECO: As of 12:30 p.m., approximately 7,000 customers in St. Tammany Parish and 140 customers in St. Mary Parish were without power due to Hurricane Ida. Crews are still out working to make repairs, but will have to cease when conditions deteriorate.
  • From CLECO: St. Tammany Parish: Throughout the day, crews have been working in between feeder bands and pausing restoration efforts during heavy rain and high wind. As of 1:45 p.m., the wind began to increase and the decision was made to cease restoration efforts until after the storm passes and conditions are safe. Customers can report an outage by calling 1-800-622-6537.
  • From WSTE: We expect a long restoration effort and ask for your patience as crews work as quickly and safely as possible to restore your power.
    As soon as it is safe, WSTE will begin to assess the damage from Hurricane Ida. To report any outages you can use your free SmartHub app or call 1-866-672-9773

July 30, 2021

To the Citizens of Our Community:

Let me start by saying that I am grateful to our entire Legislative Delegation, our Parish Council Members and our Parish President for enabling our citizens to voice their feelings on gaming in St. Tammany Parish through a vote of the people. I trust our citizens to inform themselves on this issue and make the right decision for our community.

With that in mind, I have done my best to gather and review information on this issue. I have read numerous reports both pro and con, studied our budget and revised fiscal projections for the city, the parish and the project. Most importantly, I have listened to you voice your concerns on this, and have listened and heard the concerns of many of our local small businesses relating to this project.

I believe I have well prepared myself to answer the question that is asked of me on a daily basis. The question being “where do you stand on the casino?” My answer is that I will be voting NO on the casino referendum. I trust that you will take this time leading up to the November ballot to gather information and inform yourself on this issue to make the right decision for St. Tammany Parish.

Very Respectfully,

Greg Cromer

Mayor

 

Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer, the members of the Slidell City Council and Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day weekend!

In observation of Independence Day, city offices will be closed on Monday, July 5, and will reopen during regular hours on Tuesday, July 6. Essential personnel will remain on duty, should an emergency arise. If Slidell residents experience problems with their water or sewer service, they should call the City Services 24-hour emergency hotline at (985) 643-6140.

Just a reminder, it is illegal to buy, sell or shoot fireworks in the City of Slidell limits.

City of Slidell Code of Ordinances: Sec. 14-35. – Fireworks.

(a) Defined. The term “pyrotechnics,” whenever used in this section, shall be held to mean any sparkler, squib, rocket, firecracker, Roman candle, signal lights, fireworks, or other devices or composition used to obtain visible or audible pyrotechnic display.

(b) Possession or sale. It shall be unlawful for any person to have, keep, store, use, manufacture, offer to sell, handle or transport any pyrotechnics within the corporate limits except as provided in this section; it being the intention of this section to prohibit the sale of, distribution of or discharge of pyrotechnics of any kind or description whatsoever within the corporate limits. The use of indoor pyrotechnics is prohibited within the corporate limits.

(c) Exceptions. Nothing contained in this section shall be held to apply to:

(1) The possession or use of signaling devices for current daily consumption by railroads, trucks or vessels requiring them.

(2) Pyrotechnic display of fireworks in public parks or other open places, where a permit for such display has been issued by the fire chief of St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District No. 1.

(3) The possession, sale or use of normal stacks of flashlight compositions by photographers or dealers in photographic supplies.

(Code 1966, § 9-78; Ord. No. 3483, § 5, 7-22-2008; Ord. No. 3549, 10-13-2009)

Have a happy and safe Independence Day weekend!

Slidell Police Department Chief Administrative Officer Daniel Seuzeneau and St. Tammany Fire Protection District #1 Chris Kaufmann join City of Slidell, Louisiana Mayor Greg Cromer to talk about recovery in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Claudette and why it is important to report any storm damages to the State of Louisiana and St. Tammany Parish Government.

It’s important to self report any damages because it helps first responders identify new areas to focus during weather emergencies and gives the State sufficient numbers which could possibly allow funding for recovery assistance.

To report any storm-related damages, please visit the State website at damage.la.gov and also contact the St. Tammany Parish Permit Department at (985) 898-2574.

Please join The Northshore Collaborative and the City of Slidell for Slidell Mayor Cromer – State of the City Address on Wednesday, March 10, 5:30 pm at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell.