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LAPLACE — The air quality in Louisiana affects everyone, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) offers an easy way to keep the public informed.

EnviroFlash is an automated notification system designed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available free of charge. It’s a convenient way for the public to receive air quality information, air quality alerts and alerts on how air quality is affected by singular events such as fires and dust.

EnviroFlash is a partnership between EPA and LDEQ. Information can be received via email or phone. Locals can subscribe to receive information daily or on-demand.

When the ozone level is high or if the particle pollution is expected to be high, EnviroFlash sends an Air Quality Awareness advisory with air quality information and actions people can take. The system is also set up to send notifications of unusual events, such as fires, that might affect air quality.

To sign up for forecast emails, visit www.enviroflash.info, select “LA” from the state menu, then select the forecast area. The public can also can visit any of the direct links listed below:

http://batonrougearea.enviroflash.info

http://neworleansarea.enviroflash.info

For more information on current air quality, visit https:airquality.deq.louisiana.gov to see real-time data. The interactive EPA website, www.airnow.gov, provides more regional information as well as local.

With EnviroFlash, the user can pick the level at which he or she wants to be notified about air quality:

GOOD – Green

MODERATE – Yellow

UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS – Orange – An advisory is issued at this level

UNHEALTHY – Red

VERY UNHEALTHY – Purple

Persons concerned about small children and people with cardio-pulmonary health problems (such as asthma) usually select to be notified when the air quality is predicted to be UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS. People who work or exercise

strenuously may also select this category due to their increased deep respiration.

Please visit www.deq.louisiana.gov/enviroflash for more information.