By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Residents across St. John the Baptist Parish will have the opportunity this month to refine their plans for the 2012 hurricane season with information from the parish’s Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

The parish is hosting a series of public meetings in Reserve, Edgard, Garyville and LaPlace for residents to receive information on hurricane preparedness. St. John Parish Public Safety Director Jobe’ Boucvalt and Assistant Director Kathy Gilmore will be available for advice or to answer any questions that may come up from residents.

“We haven’t done these types of meetings in quite some time, and we felt that it was time to make sure our residents have that plan in place when they need it,” said St. John Spokesperson Paige Falgoust. “We had a scare last month with Tropical Storm Debbie, so that goes to show you it is never too early to get ready.”

The meetings will be held on the four remaining Mondays in July and each will begin at 6:30 p.m. The first will be Monday, July 9, at the St. John Parish Library’s Reserve branch, 170 W. 10th St., Reserve. The following meetings are July 16 at the West Bank Community Center, 173 E. Third St., Edgard, July 23 at the Garyville Fire Station, 418 Historic West St., Garyville, and July 30 at the Central Library Branch, 2920 U.S. 51, LaPlace.

Falgoust said flyers are being created for the meetings and information will be posted to the parish’s website and Facebook page. She said information will also appear on Channel 15, the parish’s government access network and forwarded to various civic groups.

“There are always things that people do not think about when they are preparing their hurricane plans,” Falgoust said. “The parish has put together a great deal of information that can be valuable in an emergency.”