Hurricane Season Information

The Homeowners Association wanted to make residents once again aware of preparations made in anticipation of this year’s hurricane season.

1. Please note the following number: 314 – 667 – 3081.If a storm occurs and normal communications are out, this number (a Missouri exchange) will be used to relay messages describing the conditions in Beau Chêne and leaving any relevant instructions for residents. Please note also messages should not be left by residents at this number, as it cannot serve as a message center for Beau Chêne’s 4,700 residents. The purpose of this number is to keep residents – especially evacuated residents – informed of conditions in Beau Chêne.
2. The Beau Chêne Homeowners Association website is being hosted through a server in Dallas, Texas. Therefore, by relating reports on conditions in Beau Chêne to personnel evacuated to areas where the internet is functioning, relevant messages can be posted on the website. Residents evacuated to areas with Internet service can then access the site for information.
3. A satellite phone will allow staff to make necessary calls out (such as to the message telephone number or to change / update Beau Chêne internet information messages) under conditions when the telephone system is not working.
4. Arrangements have been made with another supplier of fuel in addition to our normal supplier. Also, the Association now has a tank and trailer to haul fuel. This will help assure fuel is available to keep the permanent emergency generator for the water well and the portable generators for the sewer lift stations operating. Please note that under such emergency operation conditions residents should use water and sewer services as little as possible. Power to the water wells and sewer lift stations is provided by generators not at the level of normal CLECO service.
5. Old – style, non-electric telephones are available for each guard gate and the Association office. This will enable the use of telephones at these locations if electric power were out but portions for the telephone system would be working, as occurred after Katrina.
6. Preparations have been made to easily close off the Main entry (the Marina Entry already has gates, of course) with posts and chains and limit access to the East entry, should post-Katrina type security issues arise again. The chains can more easily be moved for emergency vehicles and personnel than the vehicles used to block the gate at night after Katrina.
7. Signs stating the Marina and Main gates are closed and directing traffic to the East gate, as well as signs relating to the status of the water system, have already been prepared.
8. Contact numbers have been obtained and better emergency coordination preparations made with entities such as CLECO and St. Tammany Parish.
9. Finally, residents are urged to make sure their leaves and pine straw do not impede drainage through their driveway culverts. The Association has drainage maintenance work to re-grade swales on-going as contractor – availability and weather permits, based on a priority – need list. Maintenance crews can also remove leaves and pine straw from culverts, but with some 1478 dwellings and limited personnel, the efforts of residents are essential to keeping culverts open. Thank you for your help!

We hope and pray there will again not be a significant tropical storm or hurricane event this year. Hopefully, implementation of emergency procedures will not be necessary.

If our lines are down call:
314-667-3081 for Beau Chene Info.