Despite damage, public safety agencies keep things rolling on
Published 5:00 am Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Considering the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Katrinaand the ongoing confusion in its aftermath, area law enforcementand emergency personnel say things are good.
Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson said his department willconduct regular patrols today.
Henderson said he has canceled all days off in order to provideadequate police protection for the city.
The department spent approximately 12 hours Tuesday providingtraffic assistance on Brookway Boulevard when power was restored togas pumps in that area, he said.
“We literally had to get out and work it,” Henderson said,referring to the long lines of traffic.
Southern Pawn at 119 N. Whitworth Ave. was the scene of an earlymorning break-in today, Henderson said. He said he didn’t have anyspecific information to release this morning.
Currently, the city of Brookhaven isn’t under a curfew.Henderson said he didn’t feel it was necessary at this point.
Assistant Brookhaven Fire Chief Fred Smith said his departmenthas responded to several calls over the past 24 hours.
At 10:10 p.m. Tuesday, units were called to 1078 S. First St.for a stove fire in a mobile home. Smith said there was minimaldamage to the kitchen.
At 11:20 p.m., units responded to a call at CloverdaleApartments. On arrival, firefighters saw flames rolling out of abedroom window. Firefighters extinguished the fire in theapartment, which is occupied by Tonya Jackson. Smith estimated theloss of 25 percent of the building and at least 50 percent of thecontents.
In Wesson, Police Chief Steve Carlisle said they are “doinggood.” He said a portion of the town has power this morning butmost of the residential sections remain without power.
He said a curfew was in place Monday night but no longer is.
“Most of the citizens are going in at dark,” Carlisle said.
Lawrence County is still without power this morning, said CarlYoung, of the civil defense office. He said emergency crews werecurrently at the county’s hospital and nursing home trying torestore power.
Young said telephone service to the town of Monticello isminimal. Currently trucks of ice are being brought in to the firedepartment and he is expects meals ready to eat, tarps and water tobe brought in later in the day.
Young said he heard over the radio there was a curfew at dark inplace for Lawrence County.
Franklin County spokeswoman Sheila Wright said most of thecounty is still without power and crews are out clearing trees. Shesaid the Sheriff’s Department was operating on generated power.Telephone and electrical service was spotty throughout thecounty.
Wright said as far as she knew, no gas stations had fuel andonly a few small convenience stores were open.