Hurricane Rita Information - Beauregard Parish

News Release - Beauregard Parish Sheriff Department

News releases are in order by date with the most recent posted at the bottom of the page. Scroll down for the latest information.

Information From The 9:00 Am Incident Command Meeting September 26th.

  1. There is a Burn Ban effective immediately and until further notice for DeRidder and Beauregard Parish.
  2. There is a Dusk to Dawn Curfew for DeRidder effective immediately. Only authorized people will be allowed out after dark. Violators will be arrested.
  3. Concerning the ice and water trucks. Currently we are not being told when they are arriving, they are just showing up. Our plans are to find out ahead of time when they will be arriving so that proper notification concerning times and locations can be announced. Plans are to have distribution points throughout the parish.
  4. Drinking water in DeRidder is good, it is not contaminated, there is not a boil order in effect. All of DeRidder has water, rural Beauregard Parish is sporadic. South Beauregard Water and Merryville Water are working to get water up throughout the parish. There are no FEMA representatives in Beauregard Parish at this time to deal with FEMA complaints. When a phone number is established or a representatives are in Parish to meet with the public this will be announced.
  5. Red Cross can be contacted at 1-866-GET-INFO.
  6. Beauregard Parish Schools will be closed at least through the end of this week. However, if electricity is restored to certain parts of the parish, schools in one area may be opened before another area. School openings will be announced in advance of the school actually opening.
  7. The Office Of Community Services will be closed through the end of this week. If you have an OCS issue you can call 1-800-348-KIDS. If there is an abuse issue you can call your nearest law enforcement agency.
  8. Information concerning debris and trash pickup will be announced when available.

Information from 7:00 AM Incident Command Meeting on September 27th.

    There will be Water, Ice and Food Distribution today, Tuesday September 27th, 2005 at three locations at 5:00 PM.
  1. DeRidder - Dollar General Store - 827 Mahlon Street
  2. Merryville - Merryville High School Football Stadium - Hwy 110
  3. Longville - South Beauregard Elementary School - Hwy 171
    Anyone with electricity and water is asked not to take ice and water from these locations.

Information from the 7:00 AM ncident Command Meeting On September 28th.

  1. Sewer and Waste - There is no change.
  2. Water - Ragley pump, getting there soon!!! DeRidder is still up and running, no contamination, no boil order.
  3. CLECO and Beauregard Electric are making progress.
  4. Telephone service is coming up, some available most places in parish.
  5. Parish crews working, just about all roads open with at least one lane.
  6. Resource Center is closed today will open tomorrow for people to drive through and receive a box of food.
  7. Beauregard Memorial Hospital has temporarily established oxygen concentrator hook ups for comfort measures only, for approximately one hour.
  8. The Beauregard Memorial Hospital is not a shelter.
  9. More and more fueling stations are being opened, we are still asking that fuel be limited to $25.00 per family per day.
  10. If you know of anyone with special needs for food, water, and ice call the Beauregard Parish Sheriff Department and these requests will be forwarded to those who will be able to fill these requests.
  11. At approximately 12:00 noon there will be ice in downtown Singer.
  12. At 5:00 PM today, hot meals can be obtained at South Beauregard Elementary School and at Merryville High School football stadium.
  13. Beginning later today or first thing in the morning MRE's and water will be available for pickup at each fire station located in the parish.
  14. Please do not call the DeRidder City Police or the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Department requesting information on what laundromats are open or other such requests. These two agencies are being flooded with calls of this nature and are preventing these agencies from conducting disaster relief and law enforcement functions.
  15. The FEMA Office will be coming soon. You are suggested that in order to get quick assistance that you call 1-800-621-FEMA and get your ID / registration #. You need this number when you meet with a FEMA representative.
  16. At 5:00 PM today September 28th food, water and ice will be distributed at:
    Merryville High School - Hot Meals, Water and Ice East Beauregard High School - Food, Water and Ice South Beauregard High School - Hot Meal, Ice Remember to submit questions to me and I will get you the answers as soon as possible.
  17. There will be an information center set up at each location to answer questions and needs.
  18. People in shelters need to get their supplies from the shelters, not at these locations.
  19. Do not come to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff Department for ice, water or MRE's.
  20. Please contact family and friends and advise them of these distributions locations and times.
  21. We are asking that people try and put their ice chests in the shade to keep them as cool as possible to put their ice in.
  22. Fuel - stations are beginning to get electricity and fuel distribution is beginning. We are asking stations and customers to limit their purchases to $25.00 per family per day until power and supplies are restored and at that time the $25.00 limit will be relaxed.
  23. The Resource Center at the Old K-Mart building in DeRidder is currently closed and is in process of replenishing their supplies. When the Resource Center is ready to open the date and procedure for use will be announced.
  24. We are asking people to contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA or on the Internet at fema.gov to get your ID number.
  25. Other law enforcement agencies are sending deputies to assist local law enforcement and the National Guard in security duties. Currently Lincoln and Madison Parish Sheriff Departments are present in Beauregard Parish.
  26. This is to notify the criminal element that there is zero tolerance concerning looting. In the last two nights 6 people have been arrested for looting. Looting carries up to 15 years in the La Department of Corrections.
  27. The Police Jury states that they have opened a debris site at the East corner of HWY 190 and Old Airport Road. This site will be taking debris, logs and stumps. Larger pieces should be cut as close to stumps as possible in 20' pieces. There will be equipment and personal at the site to assist in unloading the debris. The hours of operation will be from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day. The City, Parish State and individuals are using this site. They are presently looking for other areas in the parish to use as site.
  28. The Incident Command to include the Sheriff, Mayor and Police Jury Preident would like to thank the Beauregard Parish Community for their patience and assistance during the disaster.

Information from the 7:00 AM Incident Command Meeting On September 29th.

  1. The Red Cross will serve hot meals today at noon and 5:00 PM at the Farmers Market and Bryant Park in DeRidder.
  2. The Red Cross will serve hot meals today at 5:00 PM at the Merryville High School Football Stadium , East Beauregard High School and South Beauregard Elementary School.
  3. The Red Cross will serve hot meals today at 6:00 PM at the Singer Fire Department.
  4. Ice distribution will be announced as soon as possible prior to distribution. Arrival time of the ice is generally unknown, so no specific times can be given. Distribution locations for the ice will be the same, Merryville High School Football Stadium, East Beauregard High School and South Beauregard Elementary. Arrangements are being made for distribution of ice to smaller communities but times and locations will also be announced later.
  5. Beauregard Parish Schools are still closed. Also see attached releases from Beauregard Parish School Board.
    Beauregard Parish School Board News Release
  6. The DeRidder and Beauregard Parish Public Works announced that BFI has begun partial trash pickup; Waste Management has not begun pickup as of this meeting.
  7. The Burn Ban is still in effect until further notice.
  8. Curfew for the City of DeRidder has been changed from dusk to dawn to 10:00 PM to 6: AM. This does not apply to people going to and from work or on legitimate business.
  9. The date for the arrival of FEMA to take claims is still unknown but should be soon, please contact FEMA by phone or Internet to get your registration number prior to this. This will help expedite your visit.
  10. The Beauregard Public Works again ask that people do not dump their debris on parish roads. Please take your debris to the East corner of HWY 190 and Old Airport Road.
  11. The Resource Center at the K-Mart building will be open today from 8:00 AM until noon only. Additional openings will be announced.
  12. People can pick up food and water at the following locations. Fire District #1 - Singer Fire Station, Pujo Fire Station, Bivens Fire Station, Macedonia Church (Junction), and Community Center (Pine Street) Merryville.
    Fire District #2 - Broadlands Fire Station, Ragley Fire Station, and Meadow Village Fire Station.
    Fire District #3 - Sugartown Wye Fire Station, Dry Creek (Foreman's Store), Kipling Store (Tommy Harper), Sam Leek residence (Harris Lane - Bundicks Lake).
    Fire District #4 - Pleasent Hill Baptist Church.

Updated information from the Incident Command Meeting on September 29th.

  1. Waste Management will not begin full service trash pickup until all utility lines are up, however, they will begin Monday October 3rd with pickup in areas that are clear of utility lines.
  2. For food and water pickup at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, please report to the gym.
  3. As of now approximately 13% of electric service has been restored by Beauregard Electric in Beauregard Parish and approximately 18% has been restored by CLECO in Beauregard Parish.
  4. At 5:00 PM today at East Beauregard High School, South Beauregard Elementary and Merryville High School Football Stadium in addition to the hot meals, ice, canned goods, MRE's and other non-perishable food items, water, and baby care will be distributed.
  5. There will be no school in Beauregard Parish through October 2, 2005. Please stay tuned to the TV radio and newspaper for when schools will open.

Information from the 7:00 Am Incident Command Meeting on September 30th

  1. Red Cross will be doing mobile feeding throughout the parish. They will ride up and down neighborhoods and announce over PA system. They will be doing this for noon and evening meals. One or the other of these meals will be served in an area, not both. There will be no more meals distributed at the parks in DeRidder or at the three distribution areas at East Beauregard High School, Merryville High School Football Stadium or South Beauregard Elementary at 5:00 PM.
  2. Efforts are being made to obtain large generators in order to get the water and sewer stations up and running for Merryville.
  3. CLECO announced that 67% of customers in Beauregard Parish now have power. There is still no power in Merryville. Approximately 75% + have power in DeRidder. CLECO is bringing in additional help to get Merryville up with power.
  4. Beauregard Electirc has approximately 20% of their customers with power in Beauregard Parish.
  5. Phone service has been restored to approximately 60% of beauregard Parish.
  6. Information regarding the re-opening of Beauregard Parish Schools will be announced as available. Up-to-the-minute information is posted on the BPSB website. Beauregard students should NOT enroll in another school system.
  7. We have been advised that Calcasieu Parish is now open. If you have any questions please contact Calcasieu Parish authorities for verification.
  8. The Burn Ban is still in effect for Beauregard Parish. This ban will not be lifted until the fuel situation is stabilized.
  9. Most city and parish roads are passable for at least one lane of traffic.
  10. Medical teams are being dispatched to the areas most hit by the hurricane. (Concentration will be in the south and west areas of the parish).
  11. Food, Water and Ice Distribution. Between 9:00AM and 11:00AM ice will be delivered to the below listed locations. Between Noon and 4:00PM food and water will be delivered to these same locations.

    Fire District #1 - Singer Fire Station, Bivins Fire Station, Macedonia Church (Junction), Merryville Community Center, Pujo Fire Station, Oretta Fire Station, Fields (Hyatt School Cafeteria) and Bancroft Election Center.
    Fire District #2 - Broadlands Fire Station, Ragley Fire Station, Meadow Village Fire Station.
    Fire District #3 - East Beauregard School, Hopewell Church, Sam Leeks.
    Fire District #4 - Three Pine Fire Station.
    This schedule will be in effect for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Monday there will be a re-assessment of this schedule, with any changes being announced at that time.
  12. Hot meals will be served at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. This will be a drive through process. You will need to enter by the south entrance of the church and drive north through the serving line. This will be done on the closed section of HWY US171. (old portion of Hwy 171.)
  13. There will be an incident command meeting on Saturday October 1, 2005 at 10:00AM with a news release following. There will be no meeting on Sunday October 2, 2005 with regular meetings resuming on Monday October 3, 2005 at 7:00AM.

Information from the 10:00AM Incident Command Meeting on October 1st

  1. Merryville sewer treatment plant, lift station and some water is up and running on a generator.
  2. CLECO announced that 84% of Beauregard Parish is restored. Electrical service is close to Merryville, hope service is restored in 2 to 4 days.
  3. Beauregard Electric as of 8:30AM today has 25% of service restored. Still estimating two to four weeks before total service restored.
  4. Burn ban is still in effect due to shortage of fuel for Fire Departments to respond to fires.
  5. The Red Cross served 7,500 hot meals, 1,500 sandwiches and 600 MRE's yesterday, Red Cross will be doing mobile feeding throughout the parish again today. They will ride up and down neighbothoods and announce over the PA system. They will be doing this for noon and evening meals. One or the other of these meals will be served in an area, not both.
  6. Food, Water and Ice Distribution. Between 9:00AM and 11:00AM ice will be delivered to the below listed locations. Between Noon and 4:00PM food and water will be delivered to these same locations.

    Fire District #1 - Singer Fire Station, Bivins Fire Station, Macedonia Church (Junction), Merrryville Fire Station, Pujo Fire Station, Oretta Fire Station, Fields (Hyatt School Cafeteria) and Gamble Church.
    Fire District #2 - Broadlands Fire Station, Ragley Fire Station, Meadow Village Fire Station and Gordon Fire Station.
    Fire District #3 - Kipling Corner Store and Hopewell Church.
    Fire Distruct #4 - Three Pines Fire Station.
    DeRidder - Missing Sock Laundry on West Drive.
  7. No 5:00PM distribution at East Beauregard High School, Merryville High School Football Stadium and South Beauregard Elementary School.
  8. Beauregard Parish Public Works announced that they are still taking debris at the east corner of Hwy 190 and Old Airport Road.
  9. DeRidder Public Works asks that residents separate natural debris from house debris (metal, shingles, etc) for pickup. They are not picking up house debris right now.
  10. All Parish and State government offices should be open for regular business in DeRidder beginning Monday October 3, 2005.
  11. The Beauregard Parish Schools will make an announcement Monday concerning the date of opening for some schools. Schools will re-open by community as electric power is restored and an adequate supply of fuel is available to sustain operations.
  12. The public can begin cleanup of their property even if a FEMA representative has not made it to your property. Be sure to take photographs of your property before you begin cleanup if you anticipate making any claims to FEMA.
  13. Hot meals will be served at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church from 11:00AM to 2:00PM and 4:00PM to 6:00PM. This will be a drive through process. You will need to enter by the south entrance of the church and drive north through the serving line. This will be done on the closed section of HWY 171 (old portion of Hwy 171).

Information from the 7:00AM Incident Command Meeting on October 3rd

  1. Hot meals will be served at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church from 11:00AM to 2:00PM and 4:00PM to 6:00PM. This will be a drive through process. You will need to enter by the south entrance of the church and drive north through the serving line. This will be done on the closed section of HWY 171 (old portion of Hwy 171).
  2. Food, Water and Ice Distribution. Between 9:00AM and 11:00AM ice will be delivered to the below listed locations. Between Noon and 4:00PM food and water will be delivered to these same locations.

    Fire District #1 - Singer Fire Station, Bivins Fire Station, Macedonia Church (Junction), Merrryville Fire Station, Pujo Fire Station, Oretta Fire Station, Fields (Hyatt School Cafeteria) and Gamble Church.
    Fire District #2 - Broadlands Fire Station, Ragley Fire Station, Meadow Village Fire Station and Gordon Fire Station.
    Fire District #3 - Kipling Corner Store and Hopewell Church.
    Fire Distruct #4 - Three Pines Fire Station.
    DeRidder - Missing Sock Laundry on West Drive. (24 hours)
  3. The DeRidder City Police has lifted the curfew. The curfew has been cancelled.
  4. CLECO announced that 96% of the electricity has been restored to Beauregard Parish. CLECO asks that if anyone in Beauregard Parish is without electricity to call the CLECO office and report an outage.
  5. Beauregard Electric announced this morning that 37% of Beauregard Parish now has electricity.
  6. The Red Cross continued its mobile feeding. They have opened a new kitchen in DeQuincy and this kitchen will serve residents in the Fields, Oretta and Singer areas. The Red Cross will continue to serve meals from its DeRidder location. Again, meals will be served at noon and evening, but only one meal per area, either noon or evening, not both.
  7. The Office of Family Services (Food Stamps) has not opened in DeRidder due to computer problems. An opening date and a date and location for the Disaster Food Stamp Program will be announced when thsi information is known.
  8. The Burn Ban in still active.
  9. Mosquito spraying for Beauregard Parish should take place in the next couple of days.
  10. Beauregard Parish Public Works announced they are continuing to work on roads and that Waste Management should be in the Parish today.
  11. The Beauregard Parish School System will announce later today school openings.

Updated Information From Incident Command for October 3, 2005

  1. The Office of Family Services (OFS/Food Stamps) will be taking applications for Disaster Food Stamp Program at the VFW for the next 7 days. Today they will be taking applications from noon until 5:30PM, Tuesday through Sunday they will be taking applications from 7:00AM until 5:30PM also at the VFW in DeRidder.
  2. We currently do not know when and where Red Cross or FEMA will be taking their assistance applications. We will notify you when we know.
  3. The Beauregard parish School Board has announced the following schedule for school openings:


Information from the 7:00AM Incident Command Meeting on October 4th

  1. The Beauregard parish School Board has announced the following schedule for school openings:
  2. CLECO announced that 96% of electric service has been restored in Beauregard Parish. If you are without electric service please call CLECO and report you outage.
  3. As of 7:30PM on October 3, 2005 Beauregard Electric has restored 50% of the electric service in Beauregard Parish.
  4. Mobile Feeding by Red Cross will continue through the end of the week. Drive through feed ing at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church will continue as of this time. The DeQuincy kitched will be up and running todat and will be serving south west Beauregard Parish.
  5. Red Cross is not located in Beauregard Parish at this time for taking applications. When the dates and locations for this is determined they will be announced.
  6. Mosquito spraying in Beauregard Parish began yesterday and hopes to continue until all of Beauregard Parish as been sprayed.
  7. Waste management will be back in DeRidder today. Also, three trucks will be stationed at the DeRidder airport, at the Police Jury Maintaince Yard in Merryville and the Police Jury Maintaince Yard on Hwy 171 for people who want to drop off their household garbage.
  8. The Police Jury will announce tomorrow the location of additional debris sites ion the Parish. There will be approcimately 10 total sites for debris drop off.
  9. The Resource Center in DeRidder announced plans to begin shutting down. The Sheriff's Department will continue to deliver to the following locationsTuesday and Wednesday; Hopewell Church, Meadow Village Fire Station, Singer Fire Station, Bevins Fire Station, Macedonia Church (Junction), Oretta Fire Station, Hyatt School cafeteria and Gamble Church. As long as supplies last they can be picked up at Kipling Store, Broadlands Fire Station, Ragley Fire Station, Three Pines Fire Station and Pujo Fire Station. Beginning Thursday through Sunday should any location require supplies they need to make arrangements to come to the Resource Center and pick them up. Effective Monday October 10, 2005 all resources will be sent to Phelps and all sourcing for the southwest portion of the parish should be sourced form that location. The Resource Center will be closed October 15, 2005.
  10. The Office of Family Services (OFS/Food Stamps) will be taking applications for Disaster Food Stamp Program at the VFW for the next six days. They will be taking applications from 7:00AM until 5:30PM through Sunday in DeRidder.
  11. We currently do not know when or where FEMA will be taking their assistance applications. You will be notified when this decision is made.

Updated Release from Incident Command for Tuesday October 4, 2005

  1. The Beauregard Parish School Board has announced the following schedule for school openings:
    Employees only will return to schools on the following days:
    Wednesday October 5, 2005: DeRidder Schools
    East Beauregard Schools
    Merryville Schools
    Thursday October 6, 2005: South Beauregard Schools
    Singer High School
    Hyatt High School

    Schools in DeRidder, East Beauregard and Merryville will be opened for students to report on Thursday October 6 and Friday October 7, 2005. These schools include: Beauregard Alternative School, K.R. Hanchey Elementary, Carver Elementary, Pine Wood Elementary, East Beauregard High School and Merryville High School.

    Schools at South Beauregard, Singer and Hyatt will be opened for students to return on Friday October 7, 2005. These schools include: South Beauregard Elementary, South Beauregard High School, Singer High School and Hyatt High School.

  2. Please do not go to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church to apply for Red Cross assistance. We do not know the dates or locations for this process yet.