Jefferson is making the following preparations

• Sand will be loaded onto a number of dump trucks and pre-placed in locations on both the East Bank and West Bank of Jefferson Parish to address the potential icing of roads and bridges.
• The Water Department will have crews on stand-by throughout the event to repair broken water-lines as they are discovered.
• Water tank trucks will be filled and placed in strategic locations to respond to fires in the event water pressure is affected by interruptions in the water distribution system.
• The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office will inspect roads and bridges and provide regular reports to the 911 Center to address any icing problems as quickly as possible.
• The Jefferson Parish Emergency Management Department will be activated and on alert throughout this event.

Citizens and businesses of Jefferson Parish should prepare for the hard freeze that will occur this week by taking the following precautions:

• Wrap and insulate all exposed pipes and valves.
• Ensure that all pets are placed in a warm, protected area.
• If possible, avoid driving on icy or snow-covered roads.
• Follow all manufacturer guidelines when using space heaters; specifically do not place any objects closer than three (3) feet in the front of the heater.  Space heaters that use kerosene, diesel, or other fossil fuels should only be used in large, well ventilated areas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.  The use of these types of heaters inside of homes should only be done in strict conformance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and guidelines.
• Please keep in mind that severe cold weather can have adverse effects on automobiles and their batteries.  Some vehicles may be difficult to start in extremely cold weather.
• Homeowners should test the batteries in their smoke detectors and consider purchasing carbon monoxide detectors if they do not already have them.

For further information please call the Department of Emergency Management at 349-5360.