DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / May 24, 2000

CONVENT – The second edition of the St. James Emergency PreparednessHandbook is in the works.

Due out in August, updated and added sections on gun, hunting, boating, senior citizen and child safety will be included, said Gerald Falgoust, director of the Emergency Operations Center.

The handbook is produced through the efforts of the Community Awareness Emergency Response group, which consists of many local industries and businesses. The handbook, first released in 1995, was designed to be a quickand easy guide to what should be done in emergency situations. From chokingto hurricanes to pediatric poisoning the book outlines the protocol and proper responses for the various emergencies that affect St. James citizens inevery day and out of the ordinary life.

Though not finalized, the new updated copy includes sections relevant to the local activities of the parish. The Ten Commandments of Shooting Safety isthe header of one list.

Falgoust is proud of the proactive measures the parish took in putting the first ever handbook together. The book was delivered door to door by theFiremen’s Association. Every house got a copy as well as all the classroomsin all schools and the libraries, said Falgoust.

He stressed the handbook should be read before it’s ever needed so that the citizens will know what to do in an emergency. On the back of the handbookinstructions are lined out for quick access in case the outdoor emergency warning equipment sounds.

This year the CAER group is producing the handbook and helping in the delivery. Volunteering vehicles and manpower, the local industries andbusinesses will again take the handbook to each home in the parish, assuring delivery. Falgoust stated anyone who doesn’t receive the handbook can callthe parish offices for their copy.

Every other year the parish also visits local elementary schools to deliver the same proactive emergency preparedness message. This year 1,600packets including refrigerator magnets, rulers, pencils and other school materials were delivered to the students around the parish.

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