Rita's Aftermath: The Rebuilding Begins - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana

12:01 pm Monday - Iowa Police Chief Charles Ipes says there is a curfew for all Iowa residents from 6pm to 6 am.   He says that there are many tin buildings in the area that are destroyed.  Captain Robert Lane of the Iowa Police Department says there are no medical facilities, no fuel, no power and that emergency officials are working around the clock. There is drinkable water if you are within the city limits.  Food, ice and FEMA will be located at Iowa High School and there is a limit of one bag of ice per car.  Officials say it is hot outside, make sure you get to the Civic Center buses, don't come home and there is no way to get into the area.

8:00 PM Sunday:

SHEILA MATTE FROM ENTERGY SAYS:

AT LEAST A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS TO GET TRANSMISSION LINES ENERGIZED

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE WORK ON POWERLINES IN NEIGHBORHOODS

SUBSTATIONS HAVE MINIMAL DAMAGE

7,000 CREWMEN AND LINEMEN INTO THE AREA - MORE THAN ANTICIPATED

SCOUTING NEIGHBORHOODS FOR DAMAGE ON MONDAY, ACTUAL WORK BEGINS TUESDAY

DO NOT HOOK YOUR GENERATORS INTO YOUR BREAKER SYSTEM - YOU CAN ACTUALLY ENERGIZE DOWNED POWER LINES - PLUG APPLIANCES DIRECTLY INTO YOUR GENERATOR

BE CAUTIOUS WHEN CLEANING YOU YARD - DOWNED POWER LINES COULD BE LIVE

PLEASE DO NOT STOP ENTERGY WORKERS - PLEASE ALLOW THEM TO DO THEIR JOB IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY POSSIBLE

BEST GUESS ON WHEN POWER WILL BE BACK ON: TWO WEEKS BEFORE ANY POWER IS RESTORED TO THE AREA

LAKE CHARLES POLICE CHIEF DON DIXON SAYS:

DO NOT COME HOME

LAW ENFORCEMENT CANNOT PROTECT YOU

LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL PROTECT PROPERTY

SEVERAL ARMED INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED TODAY

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT VIOLATING THE DUSK TO DAWN CURFEW, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED

NO KNOWN FATALITIES AT THIS TIME

SULPHUR MAYOR RON LELEUX SAYS:

SULPHUR LOOKS "VERY VERY BAD"

BOIL WATER ORDER FOR SULPHUR

RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT RETURN: NO WATER, NO SEWER, NO ELECTRICITY

STAY OFF THE STREETS

WORKING ON RE-ENTRY PROGRAM

NO TOLERANCE FOR LOOTING

EMPLOYERS WHO NEED EMERGENCY PERSONEL: CONTACT OEP AT 337-721-3800

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WESTLAKE MAYOR DUDLEY DIXON SAYS:

DO NOT GET IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE TRYING TO CLEAN UP

DO NOT COME BACK UNTIL OFFICIALS TELL YOU

CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY PRESIDENT HAL MCMILLIN SAYS:

'A LOT OF DEVASTATION'

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TEAM FROM NEW ORLEANS - GENERAL HONORE - IS ALREADY IN PLACE IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

GOVERNMENT & EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ARE MEETING ENDLESSLY TO SHARE INFORMATION

'CALCASIEU PARISH TOOK A LICK'

ASSESS PROPERTY IF YOU MUST, BUT DO NOT BRING WHOLE FAMILIES, THEN LEAVE THE PARISH

ESSENTIAL ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL PERSONEL MAY RETURN

LAKE CHARLES MAYOR RANDY ROACH SAYS:

'OUR SISTER PARISH TO THE SOUTH ... DEVASTATION THROUGHOUT CAMERON PARISH'

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A HURRICANE

EXPECT PLAN ANNOUNCEMENT MONDAY

REGISTER YOUR FAMILY FOR FEMA TODAY AND THERE WILL BE MONEY ON THE WAY IN 24 HOURS

WE CANNOT PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION OUR RESIDENTS NEED

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LAKE CHARLES MAYOR RANDY ROACH SAYS:

ENTERGY HAS HAD SETBACKS IN RESTORING POWER TO LAKE CHARLES

DAMAGE ESTIMATES WILL BE IN THE MILLIONS, BUT NO HARD NUMBERS ARE AVAILABLE YET.

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WESTLAKE MAYOR DUDLEY DIXON SAYS:

CHEMICAL PLANTS FAIRED WELL

INDUSTRIAL OFFICAILS WILL BEGIN GETTING EMPLOYEES BACK TO RE-START OPERATIONS

SMOKE FROM PLANTS MEANS THEY'RE BACK IN BUSINESS AND MAY BE COMMON OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS

LAKE CHARLES MAYOR RANDY ROACH SAYS:

IF YOU CAN GET TO THE CIVIC CENTER, BUSES PROVIDED BY FEMA WILL BE LEAVING FOR SHELTERS

LAKE CHARLES FIRE CHIEF:

FIRE TRUCKS ARE RESPONDING TO RESCUE CALLS

MAKE SURE GENERATORS ARE USED OUTSIDE ONLY

WATCH CANDLES - THERE IS NO WATER PRESSURE TO RESPOND TO FIRES

911 IS FUNCTIONING

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WESTLAKE MAYOR DUDLEY DIXON SAYS:

DON'T TIE YOUR GENERATOR INTO YOUR HOUSE .. IT WILL FEED DOWNED POWER LINES

NEXT PRESS BRIEFING WILL BE TOMORROW AT 4 PM.

OCTOBER 3RD RETURN DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED. DO NOT COME BACK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.