Louisiana app provides emergency information for disaster recovery

Looking for a distribution center for ice, food, water, or tarps? There’s an app for that.

Jaques Thibodeaux, director of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said the department has created an app that people recovering from disasters can use to easily locate distribution centers, also known as PODs. The app is called “Get A Game Plan,” which stands for distribution point.

In his speech in Houma on Friday, Thibodeaux said he wanted to improve the location of distribution sites and was proud of the department’s work.

“Go to the ‘get a game plan app’ and you’ll see all the POD locations,” Thibodeaux said. “It’s like a movie theater. Watch it.”

Thibodeaux pressed two buttons on his phone, bringing up a list of six distribution centers. A third button opened Google Map directions to the Bayou Blue Fire Department Central Station distribution center, where people can get water, ice and meals.

Those looking for it should ideally download it from getagameplan.org, the GOHSEP website, as the Android Store has a collection of sports apps. The app provides a collection of tools for everything hurricane-related, Thibodeaux said.

“You want a supply list, you click on it and tell it how many adults, babies, pets to go next, and it creates a supply list of everything you need,” he said. “Pretty cool.”

Includes shopping suggestions, storm planning, emergency contact numbers, hurricane updates, evacuation orders, where to report price gouging, and a list of distribution centers.

More: Where to Get Food, Water, and Ice in Terrebonne Parish After Hurricane Francine

More: Terrebonne Libraries Reopen, Offer Air Conditioning, Power

To locate a distribution center, click on the icon that looks like a pin in the upper right corner. Then a page with distribution locations opens, the app calls out the PODs in alphabetical order. Under the name of each location is the address, under it the hours that the distributions will take place, and under it are two buttons to view the location on Google Maps.

Donaldsonville residents should keep that in mind as the department plans to open a distribution center in Ascension Parish on Saturday, September 14, according to Thibodeaux.