Lake Charles volunteers rescue 150-plus in New Orleans; employees continue to provide relief assistance

Lake Charles’ employee helps to rescue a family from a balcony in New Orleans.

September 7, 2005 - Six members of the emergency response squad at PPG’s Lake Charles, La., chemicals complex saved more than 150 people last Wednesday and Thursday in search-and-rescue efforts in New Orleans.

The Calcasieu Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Planning specifically requested assistance from Lake Chales’ highly trained confined-space rescue team in the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

The PPG volunteers, maneuvering their boats through New Orleans’ flooded streets, plucked hurricane survivors from apartment balconies and makeshift water craft, according to Clyde Dennis, manager of emergency planning and response at Lake Charles, and one of the volunteers.

“It gives us extreme personal satisfaction that we were able to save people’s lives,” Dennis said.

“Most of the people we saved didn’t speak a word. They were dehydrated, numb and overwhelmed. We witnessed indescribable destruction and human suffering, but feel proud we were able to help people.”

The squad left for New Orleans early last Wednesday with two boats, river navigation and search-and-rescue equipment, a camper and a week’s supply of food. The wife of one of the squad members went along to prepare meals for the crew.

In addition to search-and-rescue, the PPG volunteers assisted with distribution of food and water, and staffing helicopter landing zones last Wednesday night.

A second set of Lake Charles emergency response squad volunteers left for New Orleans early Thursday morning.

All of the volunteers were asked to leave Thursday afternoon when state officials ordered the evacuation of New Orleans – under the threat of enacting martial law – in an effort to restore security and safety, according to Jim Rock, director of environment, health and safety at the Lake Charles complex.

The Lake Charles emergency responders don’t expect to return to New Orleans since the search-and-rescue efforts have given way to searching and recovering of bodies, but Rock said Lake Charles employees are helping in other ways including:

• An employee and his wife coordinating donations at the Burton Coliseum in the City of Lake Charles where more than 1,000 evacuees are being temporarily housed;
   
• An employee taking a week’s vacation to help in the relief effort; and
   
• Dozens of other employees volunteering to assist the more than 2,500 evacuees at the Lake Charles Civic Center and those at Burton Coliseum

“We’re very proud of these employees and their willingness to give of themselves, to step up and help in a time of such tremendous need,” Rock said. “Our prayers are with all of those affected by this horrific natural disaster; with our local, state and federal leaders; and with our employee volunteers who are trying their best to help piece these people’s lives back together.”

This photo was taken as a boat carrying Lake Charles’ emergency response squad members nears an apartment house on the flooded streets of New Orleans.	Lake Charles emergency responders in New Orleans, Louisiana.