News & Updates
JPHSA Employee News

Agency Reminders Prior to Hurricane Evacuation

Please be advised and aware of the following reminders as Hurricane Season reaches its peak:

Agency Closure: JPHSA’s Appointing Authority, Executive Director Michael E. Teague, has sole authority to close the Agency. JPHSA does follow Jefferson Parish when the Parish President closes parish services. However, all staff members are expected to remain at work until such time as Mr. Teague officially closes JPHSA services.

Please watch WWL TV Channel 4, visit their website, http://www.wwl.com/

or listen to 870 AM or FM 105.3 for information regarding Jefferson Parish office closures/openings. This is the official news sites for JPHSA employees to follow.

Agency ID:  Remember to bring your JPHSA ID with you when evacuating. In the event that you are called back to work before the rest of the parish returns, you will need your ID to re-enter Jefferson Parish. Additionally, you will need it if you volunteer to work at a state operated shelter.

If you have not taken your ID picture yet, please call the following Human Resources personnel:  (WB) Lutgarda Moses, HR Analyst, 349-8765, or (EB) Scott Leonard, 838-5750.

Agency Servers: Agency servers will be shut down.  Because the servers will be down, it will not be possible to receive or check JPHSA e-mail.  For updates on the Agency, please refer to your alternate e-mail address or to the Bulletin Board.

The following means will be utilized to communicate with employees in the event of a prolonged evacuation and/or phone difficulties:

JPHSA Internet Site: Information will be posted on the agency internet site www.jphsa.org .  Click on the link labeled “Important Information for Employees.” (The Agency’s internet site will be hosted in its current location and an alternate location to prevent loss of the site during a hurricane.)

Bulletin Board:  Instructions on how to access the Bulletin Board are located on the Agency intranet and in the Agency Newsletter folder located on the data drive (G). The Agency Bulletin Board is located at www.jphsa.org . Staff can access the Bulletin Board via username and password.  Your username is the same username used to log into your computer everyday.  Do not share your password with anyone outside of JPHSA. The Bulletin Board is for emergency use only and is used only when the Agency is shut down due to a disaster.

Via Personal Email: You may receive email via the email address you provide for the Agency Emergency Disaster Plan.  Also, you may receive an invitation via email to join a Yahoo group in order to communicate with everyone at one time. You do not need to have a Yahoo email to access a Yahoo group.  The information on how to access a Yahoo group will be placed on the Agency website. 

Civil Service: After Hurricane Katrina, many employees contacted Civil Service. If employees are unable to communicate with their supervisors via phone or to obtain Agency-related information via the internet, they may contact Civil Service.  Connie Dupard, Human Resources Director, will communicate regularly with Civil Service in the event of an evacuation.  However, you are asked to attempt to access information via internet or phone first.  Key information will be updated regularly via the Agency internet site.

Places to access the Internet: The following are recommendations for accessing computers if you are evacuated:

• Go to another state agency office in the area you evacuate if you remain in Louisiana.
• Go to a public library, school or university. 
• Some Red Cross shelters in other states had computers available for evacuees to attempt to locate family members.  Contact nearby shelters or Traveler’s Aid offices to ask for possible computer access.
• If you have a WI-FI enabled lap-top or hand-held device (e.g. Blackberry), you can access internet in public locations such as Starbucks, Borders, FedEx, Kinko's Office, and some hotel chains.

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