Jefferson Davis Parish--Disaster Impact and Needs Assessment

Economic and Workforce Development

• Unemployment increased by 1,843 persons, from 5.1% in July to 12.2% in November.  December 2005 claims were at 559 (4.2%) of the labor force (from the Louisiana Department of Labor, Local Market Information Bulletins, May 2005 - January 2006).
• Labor force shrank from 14,870 to 13,347 persons, possibly a temporary result of recovery related efforts and migration to other areas with more attractive hurricane-related opportunities (from Mr. Eddie Eskew, County Agent, LSU Agricultural Extension Services).

Environmental Management

• Drainage ditches throughout the parish sustained clogging and choking due to debris snagged in downed trees.

Human Services

• Damage to refineries, transportation facilities, etc. reduced the supply of and increased the cost of necessities.
• There was a mandatory evacuation of the Parish.  Many seniors and disabled people were stranded without transportation.

Public Health and Healthcare

• Electrical service was disabled

Public Safety

• Change in Hurricane Rita’s landfall location resulted in late evacuation, and evacuees from other areas were stranded in Jefferson Davis Parish.  An estimated 35% of the Parish population could not evacuate due to heavy traffic.
• Emergency Services personnel were the last ones to leave, and since all shelters were full, there was no place to house them.
• Due to poor communications assets (e.g. failure of communications antennae in Welsh), and improper prior coordination between agencies, there were many "control centers" (State Police, Sheriff's Department, Police, Fire Department, various City Halls).

Transportation and Infrastructure

• The hurricane caused the loss of electrical power, interruption of drinking water supplies, sewer backups, overflows at wastewater lift stations, excessive infiltration/inflow into sanitary sewers, and discharge of untreated effluent into surface waters. 
• Emergency evacuation of Jefferson Davis Parish and parishes to the south caused major backups on roads not designed for that amount of traffic.
• 55% of homes (6,379) and 40% of public buildings incurred some damage according to data from FEMA’s ESF-5 unit.

Housing and Community Development

• Lake Arthur sustained severe erosion to its beach and waterfront facilities.
• Hurricane winds and tornadoes caused building damage and flooding in the lakefront central business district.
• Lake Arthur's waterfront City Hall, Police Station and Fire Department suffered major damage from Hurricane Rita. 
• Residential neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown were flooded.
• 1,900 families (an increase of 16%) moved into Jefferson Davis Parish during the storm.
• Devastation in Cameron Parish will likely lead many people to permanently relocate to Jefferson Davis Parish.