Parish IT staff restores communication after storm disruption in emergency operations center

St. Charles Parish officials addressed communication challenges during the June 16, 2025, council meeting, highlighting the importance of reliable emergency response systems. Councilman Pillier praised the parish's alert system, which provided timely updates during a recent outage caused by a suspected lightning strike. Despite losing communication temporarily, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) managed to retain critical data from local weather stations, ensuring that rainfall measurements were still recorded.

Mr. Toste, a key official, confirmed that while communication was disrupted, the data collected by the stations remained intact for a limited time. This capability is crucial for assessing weather impacts and planning responses. Councilwoman O'Daniels raised concerns about citizens' ability to reach the EOC during emergencies, noting that some residents resorted to social media for updates. Toste acknowledged the challenges and mentioned that backup systems, including MiFi units and spare cell phones, are being established to enhance communication resilience.

In the event of future outages, Toste suggested that residents could contact the sheriff's non-emergency number if they cannot reach the EOC. The council emphasized the need for clear communication channels to ensure public safety during emergencies. As St. Charles Parish continues to improve its emergency response infrastructure, these discussions underscore the community's commitment to maintaining effective communication in times of crisis.