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The Washington Parish Government, in conjunction with the Louisiana National Guard, is announcing that a POD (point of distribution) site will be open in Bogalusa throughout the “recovery phase” of Hurricane Ida.

The POD site is at Northshore Charter School, located at 111 Walker St. in Bogalusa, and opened Friday. It will remain open daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., until it is determined the POD is no longer needed.

Two bags of MREs, six bottles of water and one bag of ice should be available for every person in the vehicle. Rations have been determined by the National Guard and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Instructions are as follows:

• There is only one way to enter, and that is from Airport Road. Travel down Airport Road and turn left onto Industrial Parkway Drive. Continue all the way around, where you will be further directed into the parking lot of the school.
• Once the commodities are received, cars will then exit to Walker Street.
• Remain inside your vehicle at all times. Once it is your turn to receive your supplies, have your trunk open to keep contact as limited as possible.

There are numerous businesses in operation at the Industrial Park, so organizers ask that as you make your way around you do not block any entrance or exit to allow for employee ease of access.

The wait to receive commodities is forecast to be long, and with the heat, citizens are advised to come prepared with water on hand in the effort to prevent heat exhaustion.

There will also be a POD site open daily in Franklinton, at Franklinton High School (1 Demon Circle). Its hours will also be from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., while supplies last.

Schools set to reopen Tuesday

Most of the schools in Washington Parish will be re-opening Tuesday, although Northshore Technical Community College will remain closed about a week longer.

Officials with the Washington Parish Schools and Bogalusa City Schools confirmed that all schools in those districts will return to regular schedule on Tuesday (as Monday was a planned holiday for Labor Day). Annunciation Catholic School and Ben’s Ford Christian School will also return on that day.

According to Lauren Donaldson, public relations coordinator for NTCC, all college campuses will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 10. They are anticipated to re-open Monday, Sept. 13.

The 22nd Judicial District Court, which serves Washington and St. Tammany parishes, will reopen to the public on Monday, Sept. 13.