Help someone stranded on I-10

Copied from the New Orleans community on LiveJournal and cross-posted to the Post Offers of Inland Shelter Here by BenGoshi:

help if you are able
I have two friends who are stuck in traffic near Baton Rouge and need to find a place to stay immediately. They told me they can't find any hotel or shelter that can take them. They are nice and clean etc etc. If you have any leads or perhaps a windowless room for them from Baton Rouge towards Lafayette please call me. 407-484-4332.

Thanks. and Please.

Sheryl

...

Someone please help these people! Map below the cut.

Here is a map of the immediate area.

•  Nothing Between BR and Lafayette But Swamp.

  It'll have to be BR or closeby, and good luck.  Knock on some doors - Louisianans are hospitable to a fault, they just need to know about you.

  by Lush on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 07:35:28 PM PDT

•  If they can continue on they should try to do so.

  I cannot make predictions, but from what I have seen, I would go West or WNW - not east or north and I would not stay in LA.

  by inclusiveheart on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 07:42:43 PM PDT

•  Why aren't they opening lanes of traffic?

  The other lanes are practically empty - OPEN MORE LANES!

  by Rinaldo on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 07:42:48 PM PDT

•  If I could, if I could . . .

  
   . . . update this later, when you can, please.  Concern and prayers for them, and all in their situation.  We who are further North up the line, stand ready to help as we can.

   BenGoshi
  __________________

   

  by BenGoshi on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 07:49:53 PM PDT

  •  The stranded ones.

    I'll update this anytime I hear any news about their status. Unfortunately, it is a traffic jam out there (from what I hear), so I imagine they aren't the only ones.

    If anyone pops up in either Baton Rouge or especially Lafayette, send them to my diary please.

    Thanks for your good work.

    by harveythechainsaw on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 07:52:36 PM PDT

•  "Contra Flow"

  http://www.jeffparish.net/index.cfm?DocID=2272

  When it is determined that there is a need for an expedited evacuation due to a storm with catastrophic surge potential approaching Southeast Louisiana and a heavier volume of traffic is presented, the State Police will implement the Contra-Flow Plan. All inbound lanes of I-10 to New Orleans will be converted to outbound or "Contra-Flow." Contra-Flow evacuation will be directed by LA State Police and all specifics of Contra-Flow are determined by the specifics of the storm. Specific information will be communicated by LA State Police at that time.

  For Contraflow information and route maps, you can obtain the Louisiana Citizen Awareness & Disaster Evacuation Guide by contacting:

  Louisiana State Police

  American Red Cross

  Louisiana Office of Homeland

  Secutiry & Emergency Preparedness

  1-800-469-4828

  1-800-229-8191

  1-800-256-7036 or

  1-225-925-7500

  Or you can visit the State Police web site at www.lsp.org

  You can also get information from Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development at 1-225-379-1232 or visit their web site at www.dotd.louisiana.gov.

  by sunzoo on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 08:08:36 PM PDT

•  Contra Flow

  view contraflow map:  http://www.lsp.org/contraflowmap2.html

  I-10 West Contraflow Lanes:

      * The eastbound and westbound lanes of I-10 from Clearview Parkway in Metairie to I-55 North in LaPlace will be used as westbound lanes. On the Contraflow Plan, the normal westbound lanes are shown with BROWN arrows and the Contraflow (eastbound) lanes are shown with BLUE arrows.
      * All I-10 West entrances through New Orleans, Metairie and Kenner will be used in their normal manner to gain access to I-10 West.

  I-55 North Contraflow Lanes:

      * The northbound and southbound lanes of I-55 from I-12 in Hammond to the Mississippi state line will be used as northbound lanes. On the Contraflow Plan, the normal northbound lanes are shown with RED arrows and the Contraflow (southbound) lanes are shown with BROWN arrows.
      * Traffic traveling I-55 North (BROWN) will be diverted onto I-55 North Contraflow and will only be allowed to exit at two locations: Exit 47 (LA-16) in Amite and Exit 61 (LA-38) in Kentwood.

  I-59 North Contraflow Lanes:

      * The northbound and southbound lanes of I-59, north of the I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange, will be used as northbound lanes. On the Contraflow Plan, the normal northbound lanes are shown with PURPLE arrows and the Contraflow (southbound) lanes are shown with GREEN arrows.

  BROWN Arrows (I-10/I-55 North to Hammond and Mississippi):

      * In LaPlace, the I-10 West (BROWN) lanes will be diverted to I-55 North toward Hammond and Mississippi. Traffic will not be allowed to continue on I-10 West at this interchange.
      * All traffic traveling on I-55 North will travel in the existing northbound lanes.
      * When traffic traveling on I-55 North reaches the I-55/I-12 interchange in Hammond, I-55 will begin to Contraflow (both the north and south lanes will travel north into Mississippi).

  BLUE Arrows (I-10 West to Baton Rouge):

      * Traffic destined for Baton Rouge may enter the Contraflow (eastbound) lanes from Clearview Parkway, Veterans Boulevard or Williams Boulevard in New Orleans (see diagrams).
      * Traffic destined for Baton Rouge may enter the Contraflow (eastbound) lanes from I-10 West via a cross- over at the Clearview Parkway overpass. This is the only opportunity to enter the Contraflow (eastbound) lanes from I-10 West without exiting and re-entering the interstate.
      * In LaPlace, I-10 Contraflow traffic (BLUE) will be diverted onto the westbound lanes of I-10 and will continue west on I-10 toward Baton Rouge.

  RED Arrows (Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to Covington, I-12, Hammond, Mississippi):

      * Northbound traffic on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (RED) will be diverted onto I-12 West (RED) at the US-190/I-12 interchange and will continue on I-12 West to Hammond.
      * I-12 West (RED) will be diverted onto I-55 North (RED) at the I-12/I-55 interchange in Hammond.
      * I-55 North (RED) will continue north into Mississippi.

  GREEN Arrows (I-10 East to I-59, North to Slidell, Mississippi):

      * I-10 East traffic (GREEN) from New Orleans will cross the I-10 Twin Spans using the three eastbound lanes.
      * Contraflow of I-59 will begin at the I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange.
      * At the I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange, the left and center lanes of eastbound I-10 will be diverted onto southbound I-59 (GREEN). Only the right lane will continue onto I-59 North (PURPLE).
      * The I-10 East (GREEN) traffic will not be allowed to continue on I-10 East or enter I-12 West.

  PURPLE Arrows (I-59 North to Mississippi from I-10 West):

      * I-10 East traffic (GREEN) from New Orleans will cross the I-10 East Twin Spans using the three eastbound lanes.
      * Only the right lane (GREEN) will continue onto I-59 North (PURPLE).
      * All traffic on I-10 West (PURPLE) from Mississippi will be diverted on I-59 North (PURPLE) at the I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange.
      * I-10 West traffic will not be allowed to continue westbound on I-10 or I-12.

  ORANGE Arrows (I-12 Westbound - Covington/Hammond):

      * Traffic traveling on I-12 West (RED) between Covington (US-190) and Hammond (I-55) will NOT be allowed to continue on I-12 West. This traffic must divert onto I-55 North.
      * Traffic traveling on I-12 West between Slidell (I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange) and Covington (US-190) will NOT be allowed to continue I-12 West. This traffic will be diverted onto US-190 West.
      * Traffic traveling on US-190 West will be allowed to continue to Baton Rouge.
  

  by sunzoo on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 08:13:11 PM PDT

  •  They keep talking about this

    but then you see one side of the highway packed with cars while the other is empty or nearly empty.  Wtf?

    by tryptamine on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 08:22:23 PM PDT

•  The Hospital?

  I was just watching CNN and they talked about a hospital in Baton Rouge that has moved its emergency services to the 3rd floor.  They doctor said they don't expect flooding, but its better to be safe than sorry.

  I can't imagine them turning someone away at this hour.

  Tim

  by ttagaris on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 09:15:07 PM PDT