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Governor Jindal, Coach Les Miles, Better than Ezra Kickoff Hurricane Preparedness Campaign, Encourage Residents to “Get a Gameplan”
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Band members of Better Than Ezra also spoke about the importance of hurricane readiness today. The band is a New Orleans-based rock group who hit the national scene in the early 1990s with the hit “Good,” and they have been helping in the recovery efforts following the storms of 2005 as well. With their Better Than Ezra Foundation, members Travis McNabb, Tom Drummond and Kevin Griffin have raised more than $500,000 in the past seven years. This year, the band made donations to New Orleans groups totaling $100,000. Governor Jindal awarded the group at the press conference with the “Spirit of Louisiana” award for their dedication to the recovery and rebuilding of South Louisiana.
Better Than Ezra and Coach Les Miles will also tape public service announcements to be aired on TV in Louisiana this summer to help get out the preparedness message for hurricane season.
During an emergency, crucial state public information may be released through GOHSEP with the help of other state agencies that may be involved in the response actions. Depending on the scope of the emergency or the type of situation, these messages may be initiated by either the parish or state emergency management organizations. During any type of major evacuation in the state, the Louisiana Emergency Alert System will broadcast evacuation information on all participating radio/TV stations for the affected areas.
Governor Jindal also announced today that Louisiana residents can purchase many of their hurricane preparedness items without any state sales tax this weekend during the 2008 Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25. During the two-day holiday, tax-free purchases are allowed for the first $1,500 of the sales price on several items. A list of these items can be found at www.rev.state.la.us, and many are also listed below:
- Self-powered light sources, such as flashlights and candles;
- Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, and weather-band radios;
- Tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting;
- Ground anchor systems or tie-down kits;
- Gas or diesel fuel tanks;
- Batteries – AAA, AA, C, D, 6-volt, or 9-volt (automobile batteries and boat batteries are not eligible);
- Cellular phone batteries and chargers;
- Non-electric food storage coolers and Portable generators;
- Storm shutter devices – Materials and products manufactured, rated, and marketed specifically for the purposes of preventing window damage from storms
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