Dear Parish Residents,  

The Parish Council, Department of Emergency Preparedness and St. James Parish Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) are proud to present this information packet to you. The primary purpose of this guide is to provide information and guidance for disaster preparedness in an effort to help save lives and property. Please keep this Emergency Preparedness Guide in a convenient location for easy reference. In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, the Parish, Sheriffs Office and local industry have developed specific actions and procedures to enhance survival and minimize damages. Some of these actions recommended in this handbook are general in nature and should supplement specific instructions issued by the Parish or other agencies. With the cooperation and support of local industry, we have been able to install many state-of-the-art mechanisms that provide for the safety of St. James Parish residents. Our local industry continues to conduct emergency response drills and provides important planning and information seminars at local schools and senior citizen centers.

Additionally, this guide provides specific instructions on what you should do in the event of specific types of emergencies. Accident prevention and safety awareness tips are provided throughout this book. Please take time to carefully review this information and discuss the various topics with your family, friends and neighbors.

The Parish Council and I are committed to keeping our great Parish a safe place to work, live and prosper. I welcome any comments you may have and encourage any suggestions. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me or the St. James Parish Department of Emergency Preparedness at: (225) 562-2310 or P.O. Box 106, Convent, LA 70723.

Sincerely,