Emergency Preparedness & Procedures
The Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. works closely with all local, regional, and state officials and agencies to ensure the safety of our team, members, clients, visitors, and community. We monitor inclement weather, hazardous conditions and/or threats closely and maintain communication with our partners before, during, and after a storm/emergency/disaster.
Sign up for general alerts from Jefferson Parish by texting JPALERT to 888-777. Spanish-speaking residents can text JPNOTICIAS to 888-777
Important Parish Updates Will Be Listed Below:
Jefferson Parish Updates (as of 1/24/25)
Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Center is still activated! Water break? Safety issue? Call (504) 349-5360.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Airlines at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport plan to resume operations in the afternoon on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Airlines will continue to evaluate if additional cancellations will occur on Thursday, Jan. 23 based on conditions in the local area as well as on the airfield.
Passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information and are advised not to come to the airport unless they have a confirmed departure. Airline specific updates can be found at flymsy.com/2025-winter-weather-updates.
Road Conditions
Jefferson Parish Public Works crews have been working alongside the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to clear snow and ice from roads all throughout Jefferson Parish. The Lapalco Bridge is now open with one lane eastbound and one lane westbound. There are still bridges and roadways in Jefferson Parish that remain closed. Visit www.511la.org for more information.
Parish Closures
Jefferson Parish government facilities will remain closed through Friday, January 24, 2025. This includes all Jefferson Parish libraries, Head Start and Early Head Start Centers, American Job Centers and JPRD parks and playgrounds. The 2025 Jefferson Parish Christmas Tree Recycling event scheduled for this Saturday, January 25, 2025 is postponed. All Jefferson Parish schools are closed Friday, January 24, 2025. Please look for specifics from your school.
Curbside Garbage Collection, Landfill and Drop-Off Sites
River Birch Renewable Energy plans to resume garbage collection for unincorporated Jefferson Parish and Jean Lafitte on Friday, January 24, 2025; however, please keep in mind that trucks may not be able to get to everyone, especially on Friday, due to road closures, limited crossing of bridges and traffic congestion. To make up for missed collection days, River Birch Renewable Energy will run the following schedule pending road conditions and will make every effort to collect all missed garbage pickups before ceasing collection operations on Sunday:
- For Thursday routes, trash will be collected on Friday, January 24
- For Friday routes, trash will be collected on Saturday, January 25
- For Saturday routes, trash will be collected on Sunday, January 26
- Normal trash collection and routes will resume on Monday, January 27
Water Conservation
Jefferson Parish residents are asked to continue limiting non-essential water usage, including activities like washing dishes and doing laundry, in an effort to minimize overloading the parish water system during freezing temperatures. Cold weather conditions could result in damage to unprotected pipes and conservation efforts are necessary to prevent widespread water outages. Some areas may experience lower water pressure due to broken water lines and leaks. Any exposed pipes should be wrapped with adequate insulating material. If you live in a raised home, allow a small drip from the faucet located furthest from the front of the home during temperatures below 30 degrees to keep water flowing and prevent freezing.
In conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Health, the Jefferson Parish Water Department has issued a boil water advisory for the Cheniere side of Grand Isle to Rosethorn Lane due to a loss of pressure in the distribution system caused by multiple broken water lines. Customers in this area will need to boil their water until the advisory has been rescinded; however, no other area in Jefferson Parish is under a boil water advisory at this time. This boil water advisory will remain in effect until rescinded by the Jefferson Parish Water Department or the Louisiana Department of Health. Bacteriological samples from the distribution system will be collected and analyzed to assure the water meets potable water standards.
Sheltering
Jefferson Parish will continue to operate two warming centers open for residents at Terrytown Playground (641 Heritage Ave., Terrytown, LA 70056) and Ree Alario Special Needs Center (6900 Saints Drive, Metairie, LA 70003). These centers will remain open through Saturday morning, January 25, 2025 for people and pets in need of a warm place during the cold. Residents with pets are asked to bring a pet carrier. The Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority will also assist individuals living outdoors seek temporary shelter. Those with questions or in need of transportation to the warming centers can contact the Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Center at (504) 349-5360.
For your convenience, we have compiled a list of helpful online resources:
State of Louisiana Emergency Website
Road Closure Map or dial 511 or 888-ROAD-511 (888-762-3511)
Jefferson Parish Police Department
State Shelter Information: text LASHELTER to 898211 or call 2-1-1
Louisiana Crisis Hotline: text REACHOUT to 741741 (available 24/7)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Louisiana
Department of Children & Family Services or CLICK HERE to locate a loved one
DSNAP or text LASNAP to 898211
Entergy help hotline: 1-800-368-3749 (ENTERGY)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or dial 1-800-624-FEMA (3362)
Jefferson Parish School District
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
LOCAL NEWS CHANNELS & RADIO STATIONS
- 4WWL - Channel 4
- WDSU - Channel 6
- WVUE - Channel 8
- WGNO - Channel 26
- WWL - 870 AM
- National Weather Alert Radio Stations: Louisiana
Medical Needs
Registering online is the best way to enroll, but if that is not available, you can call 504-323-1818 and leave a message. We will contact you once we have received your application to let you know if you qualify to be picked up at home during a mandatory evacuation. The Jefferson Parish Medical Needs Registry is not a guarantee of services, and the best method of evacuation is with your loved ones.
Public Assisted Evacuations
For individuals who do not have access to their own transportation outside of the parish, they can use public-assisted evacuation. Public-assisted evacuation will only be available in a mandatory evacuation. If you need to use public assisted Evacuation, Jefferson Transit buses will pick up individuals and their pets at all bus stops across the parish. Then you will be brought to a centralized location where you get onto buses, trains, or planes to be evacuated to large shelters in Northern Louisiana or a surrounding state. You won’t have a choice in what shelter you go to. You will be brought back to Jefferson Parish through the same system once it is safe to return to the parish.
All citizens entering the public-assisted evacuation must adhere to the following conditions:
- One suitcase or clothing bag per citizen that is no larger than 30” x 16” in size. All baggage must sit in the citizen’s lap and cannot be placed in the aisle of the bus.
- No pets of any type are allowed on the buses unless they are placed in a cage or kennel.
- No weapons of any kind, including firearms, knives, mace, etc., are allowed on the buses.
- No illegal drugs or substances are allowed on the buses.
- No alcohol will be allowed on the buses.
- No ice chests except those that are one gallon in size or smaller will be allowed.
- No other items, such as chairs, large radios, etc., will be allowed on the buses unless contained in the one 30 x 16-inch suitcase allowed to each evacuee.
- No smoking will be allowed inside of a bus at any time during the evacuation process.
Pets:
Most pets can be evacuated with their families. Please bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier with you to the bus stop. You will also want to bring the pet's medications, food, and vaccination records.
Helpful Business Links
- Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center
- Jefferson Parish Business Re-Entry System
- Disaster Help Desk for Businesses – US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Flood Insurance Facts from GNO, Inc.
- Preparing your business before a hurricane
- JEDCO
- Louisiana Workforce Commission
- Louisiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- Small Business Loan Program (SBA)
- Sea Grant Louisiana Hurricane Resources
- US Chamber of Commerce Disaster Response

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