East Baton Rouge--Disaster Impact and Needs Assessment 

The impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on East Baton Rouge Parish was significant.  The following data reveal the overall impact of the influx of population into the parish after the storms. 

Economic and Workforce Development

Labor force statistics show a large increase in unemployment due to the employment status of displaced residents relocated to EBR.  Demand for qualified workers, however, has increased dramatically - especially for engineers, architects, construction workers, healthcare workers, and service workers such as hotel clerks, restaurant and fast food employees.

Workforce

• Unemployment Nov. 2004:  5.3% (JHSC)
• Unemployment Nov. 2005:  10.6% (JHSC)
• Unemployment Claims Aug. 2005:  2,610 (JHSC)
• Unemployment Claims Dec. 2005:  8,823 (JHSC)
• Claims Increase:  238%

Conventions

Two major conventions were cancelled when the River Center was converted to an evacuee shelter.  Hotels may not be available to host conventions for the next 18 months due to high occupancy rates (Convention and Visitors Bureau). 

Office Space

Office and retail space is currently very limited.  Baton Rouge is the center of operations for FEMA response and recovery, and there are thousands of response and recovery workers in converted and rented office space.  The Downtown Development District lreports the leasing of 400,000 square feet of office and retail space in the first two weeks following Hurricane Katrina (DDD). 

Tourism

Tourist destinations such as the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum and the U.S.S. Kidd have had a downturn in receipts as the hotels are occupied by displaced residents rather than tourists (CVB).

Environmental Management

Air Quality--East Baton Rouge Parish is currently a severe ozone non-attainment area. The increased traffic could worsen existing air pollution levels and impact public health.  The U. S. EPA may require additional restrictions on gasoline and industry, which may put an increased burden on consumers and have a negative effect on business attraction. (BR Chamber of Commerce)

Open Green Space--There was significant damage to trees and plants.  About 35 percent of the city’s trees and open space was destroyed.

Landfill--The current parish of East Baton Rouge sanitary and landfill is located at 16001 Samuel’s Road.  The average monthly trash and garbage tonnage for the parish in 2005 F.Y. was 33,000 tons. In January, 2006 the monthly tonnage was 31,000 tons. Based on this usage, the landfill has 30 years of remaining life.

Education

• Public enrollment Aug. 2005 (one day before Katrina):  46,212
• Public enrollment Sept. 2005:  52,212
• Public enrollment Feb. 2006:  50,274
• Displaced students in public schools Sept. 2005:  6,000 (13% increase)
• Displaced students in public schools Feb. 2006:  4,062 (9% increase) (EBR School System)

Private school enrollment increases:  8,470 displaced student reimbursement forms Dec. 1 (The Advocate 2/4/06)

Catholic school enrollment increases:  3,900 displaced students at peak (Advocate 2/4/06); Diocese of Baton Rouge experienced 25% increase in students (Dominican Life News, 9/22/05)

Many children in the trailer parks are not currently enrolled in school (The Advocate and EBR School System).

Public Health and Healthcare

The State Department of Health and Hospitals addresses current medical system problems and needs for the Capital Metropolitan District.

• Earl K. Long Hospital in-patient admits:  doubled post-hurricanes
• Earl K. Long out-patient clinic visits:  30-40% increase
• Earl K. Long non-elective surgeries:  20-25% increase
• Office of Public Health:  4% increase in infants receiving WIC benefits (Data source:  CAHS Baton Rouge Area Hurricane Recovery Plan)
  
• Level One Trauma Centers in Louisiana pre-storm:  3 (Shreveport, New Orleans, Baton Rouge)
• Level One Trauma Centers in Louisiana post-storm:  2 ( Shreveport and Baton Rouge, although Baton Rouge Earl K. Long Hospital is scheduled to be closed and replaced with a clinic with no Level One Trauma capabilities).
  
• Earl K. Long Hospital pre-Katrina wait for appointments:  3 weeks
• Earl K. Long Hospital post-Katrina wait for appointments:  17 weeks
• Earl K. Long Hospital emergency room use:  9% increase (Data source: Chapman Lee, President LSU Health System, Focus Group Meeting 2/21/06)

Baton Rouge hospitals have not been reimbursed for medical services provided to New Orleans evacuees, which has caused a strain on the medical systems and services.

Baton Rouge cannot identify persons with HIV/AIDS that were originally treated in New Orleans ; however, as a result of the influx in population there is an increase in the number of new cases of HIV visits.

• Woman’s Hospital current facility capacity:  at 2012 pre-Katrina projections (Advocate 2/25/06)
• BR hospital bed needed pre-Katrina:  250
• BR hospital bed needed post-Katrina:  estimated at least 350 (Data source: Lee Chapman, President LSU Health System, Focus Group Meeting 2/21/06)
  
• New Orleans LSU teaching hospitals pre-Katrina:  10
• New Orleans LSU teaching hospitals post-Katrina:  3 (Data source: Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, 1/17-1/30/2006)

Proposed University Hospital in Baton Rouge is intended to replace outdated Earl K. Long Hospital and serve as the main teaching hospital for LSU Health Sciences Center.

Behavioral Health

• Earl K. Long Hospital :  57% increase in clients evaluated for behavioral health problems
• 40 additional adult psychiatric bed days/month needed for current demand.
• Crisis Hotline:  suicide calls doubled
• Mobile Children’s Crisis Team:  calls doubled
• Capital Area Health Services District:  40% increase in mental health clinic visits (Data source:  CAHS Baton Rouge Area Hurricane Recovery Plan)

Homeless population: about 20% increase (estimate - waiting on results from Feb. 2006 homeless Point-in-Time survey)

Public Safety

Traffic accidents

• Pre-Katrina:  1,600/mo.
• Post-Katrina:  1,900/mo.
• 19% increase

911 Calls

• Pre-Katrina:  600/day
• Immediately Post-Katrina:  1,100/day
• February 2006:  750/day
• 25% increase

Arrests - state and municipal charges

• 2004:  24,000
• 2005:  30,000
• 25% increase

Homicides

• 2005:  5 (average 0.42/mo.)
• Jan-Feb 8, 2006:  6 (average 4.5/mo.)
• 900% increase

Collisions to fleet

• Pre-Katrina:  7-8/mo.
• Post-Katrina:  20/mo.
• 150% increase

Immediate Needs

• $100,000 for equipment (phones, boats) for next hurricane season

Transportation and Infrastructure

Transportation/Roads

Traffic volume has increased by 37%. The 2027 traffic volume projections have already been reached.  Congestion and wait times have increased significantly at intersections, highways, and on secondary routes. Travel times have more than doubled during rush hour to and from Ascension Parish (up to two hours if there are any accidents.)

Mass transit services are needed for displaced residents in the trailer parks as well as for those with our cars.  Mass transit would help to relieve the additional traffic congestion.

Infrastructure

Water Demand--The parish has a capacity of 102 MGP for water flow.  The average parish water flow usage was 46 MGD before Hurricane Katrina. After the storm, the peak high usage was of 65 MGD. As the population steadies, the department projects that the parish water flow usage will level out to 58 MGD.

Wastewater Treatment--Currently the city of Baton Rouge has three sewage treatment plants that have a current total treatment capacity of (315 MGD while expected peak flow is 460 MGD. Additional capacity is needed by adding surface storage facilities.)

Housing and Community Development

Housing

Habitable Housing Units: 176,006 ( Joint Housing Solution Center , Jan. 2006)

• Vacant pre-Katrina: 13,200 (7.5%) (JHSC)
• Vacant Jan. 2006: 748 (0.4%) (JHSC)

Households pre-Katrina: 153,600 (JHSC)

• Current Households: 175,258 (JHSC)
• Increase in Households:  22,863 (14.9%) (JHSC)

EBR Hotel Rooms:  7,500 (close to 100% occupancy) (Convention and Visitors Bureau)

• Adjacent Parishes Hotel Rooms:  1,000 (also close to 100% occupancy) (CVB)

Occupied FEMA travel trailer and mobile home units Jan. 2006:  1,114 (FEMA website)

• February 2006; 1205 occupied and 350 unoccupied (Mayor’s report)

Population

City of Baton Rouge :  224,097

East Baton Rouge Parish:  412,852 (2000 Census)

• Initial Population Increase: Sept. 2005: 235,000 (57%)
• Estimated Remaining Population Jan. 2006:  50,000-100,000 (12-24%) (BR Chamber of Commerce and anecdotal evidence)

There has not been a clear population figure established, therefore it must be estimated.  Households can be established in several ways including new homes or apartments; trailer communities and those living with friends and family.  Calculating the new households established from the Joint Housing Solution Center at 22,863 x 4 persons per household totals 91,452 additional people or a 22% increase.  Louisiana Tech reports an increase from a Pre-Katrina population of 417,218 to 448,500 people or a total of 31,282 additional people or a 7-1/2% increase.