Southeastern NEWS
                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           
    Date: May 31, 2000
      Contact:                           Rene Abadie  or Christina Chapple    1


SOUTHEASTERN TESTS HURRICANE READINESS

     HAMMOND   The Kinesiology and Health Studies Building at Southeastern Louisiana
University in Hammond served as a regional special needs shelter in a mock hurricane disaster
exercise conducted on the campus on Wednesday (May 31).
     As a special needs shelter, the university can receive only non-hospitalized individuals with
medical problems who are receiving home health care services. In the event of a real storm,
individuals not meeting the special needs criteria will be directed to other regional shelters.
     Southeastern is able to house up to 200 individuals in its shelter and will receive home health
patients from all nearby parishes until reaching capacity. 
     In the exercise, "Hurricane Louise," a category 3 storm, was expected to approach the
Louisiana coast in the Morgan City area with winds of 115 mph. Approximately 30 volunteers
played the roles of home health patients.
     In addition to Southeastern personnel, others participating in the drill included the state
Department of Social Services, the Office of Public Health, the Office of Emergency
Preparedness, and North Oaks Medical Center Home Health in Hammond. In an actual
hurricane, Acadian Ambulance will provide transportation services, and the U.S. Army National
Guard will assist in setting up and maintaining the shelter.
                             -SLU-