The City of Lake Charles
The City of Lake Charles provides the following update for today, Thursday, September 3, 2020.
Trash/Garbage: Citizens can drop off spoiled goods from their refrigerators and freezers at the following locations between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
? Grace & Medora Park: 2720 Medora Street
? Henry Heights Recreation Center: 801 East School Street
? Weaver Park Ballfields: 4436 Weaver Road
Please note these sites are only accepting spoiled goods for today, Thursday, September 3. The National Guard will be assisting with this effort.
Beginning tomorrow, Friday, September 4, residents who are able to do so, can also bring their curbside trash receptacles to one of the locations listed above to be emptied. Please note this is for household cart contents only. Storm debris and white goods, such as refrigerators and freezers, are being collected separately by contractors as noted below.
The City anticipates resuming its normal collection routes on Monday, September 7, however, due to debris piles, low limbs and low hanging power lines, trucks may not be able to access every street. If you are able to, place your trash receptacle as close to the road as possible, away from debris piles and power lines.
Contractors have started the roadside debris collection process citywide. Residents should place debris as close to the roadside as possible without placing it in the roadway or ditches. Contractors cannot come onto private property to collect debris.
Vegetative debris, such as tree limbs, should be separated from other construction and demolition debris. White goods, such as refrigerators and freezers, should also be emptied out and secured shut before being placed roadside separately from other debris piles. Debris removal contractors will not collect bagged household garbage. These items should be placed in a residential garbage can and placed roadside on your normal collection day beginning Monday, September 7.
Debris removal contractors will make multiple passes throughout the City in the coming weeks.
Water Service: As water pressure continues to rise throughout the City, we continue to ask citizens to conserve water and use it only to complete essential tasks. A boil water advisory remains in place until further notice. If you see a water leak or broken line, we ask that you call 491-1442 and report it between the hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Curfew: A parish-wide dusk until dawn (7 p.m. until 6 a.m.) curfew remains in effect.
Traffic Safety: All intersections should be treated as 4-way stops. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution when traveling through the city and to proceed with reduced speeds as there are still downed power lines as well as a number of crews in the roadways working on recovery efforts.
Burn Ban: There is currently a parish-wide burn ban in place per the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal in effect as of 8 a.m. today, Monday, August 31. It will remain in effect until further notice.
Price Gouging: Once a state of emergency is declared, a ban on price-gouging takes effect. If you suspect price gouging, to Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Consumer Protection Section by calling 800-351-4889. When calling, be sure to include the name and address of the merchant as well as the price and receipt of the item or service.
Hiring a Contractor: Residents are urged to use caution when hiring contractor for services. Before securing services, be sure to check the businesses profile at www.BBB.org. Ask for references and ask for multiple quotes. Request proof of licensure and liability insurance and never pay in full up front. Get all quotes in writing and stagger your payments so your final payment is not due until the work is complete. If you suspect fraudulent activity on the part of a contractor or other vendor, contact the Better Business Bureau of Southwest Louisiana at 337-478-6253 or call the National Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.
Connect: The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has launched “Connect,” a way for families to locate loved ones who evacuated from Hurricane Laura to state-provided hotel rooms. The number to call is 225-342-2727 or families can fill out a form online by visiting https://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/form/dcfs-connect.