Be Prepared! Hurricane Evacuation Apartment Checklist

Hurricane season is back. It’s a fact of life here in the Gulf South. We enjoy beautiful weather almost year round until hurricane season comes knocking. The most important element of hurricane season is preparation, and knowing when to evacuate.

Follow these tips to make sure you stay safe in event of an evacuation:

 

Make an evacuation plan.

If you’ll need to leave your home, make sure you have a place to evacuate to. Think about family members, friends and hotels. Once you’ve decided on a refuge, confirm that you and your family can stay there. You need to make sure your plan is concrete on both ends.

If you’re driving to your destination, be sure to fill up your gas tank before departure. You should also map out alternate routes as there will be huge amounts of traffic leaving the city.

Create communication channels.

Communication is key during times of severe weather and evacuations.

Once you have decided to evacuate, let all family members know, even those that aren’t coming with you. It is important that everyone knows your whereabouts in case of emergency.

To find out information about the storm, use the internet. Phones will most likely be useless until you reach dry ground. Facebook and Twitter are great resources for live updates.

Renters Insurance

If you have a lot of valuable possessions stored in your apartment, consider renter’s insurance. We found this helpful guide from The Zebra to help begin your Louisiana insurance search!

If your property is lost or damaged during a hurricane, renter’s insurance will recover the replacement cost.

Many renters insurance policies will also cover the cost of lodging if your apartment is damaged during the storm.

Supply kit

It’s always a smart idea to have a supply kit ready in case of a sudden evacuation.

Your kit should include one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, three day supply of non perishable food, battery powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, moist towelettes, garbage bags, local maps, phone chargers and enough clothes for three days.

Remember, hurricanes can occur at any time. Make sure you are always prepared. If this article was helpful, share on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Looking for a new apartment to call home? Let us help find you the perfect one today!

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Here’s What’s Open Now!

Now that Louisiana is in Phase Two of re-opening, you’re probably wondering which restaurants, stores and parks are finally open! See our list below and let us know if you have any spots to add! 

Restaurants:  

Metro New Orleans Area –

Andrea’s Restaurant, currently offering indoor/outdoor seating

Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon, currently offering indoor/outdoor seating

The Ruby Slipper Old Metairie, currently offering indoor/outdoor seating

Saba, currently offering indoor/outdoor seating

Superior Seafood, currently offering indoor seating

Copper Vine, currently offering indoor/outdoor seating

Bistro Byronz, currently offering indoor/outdoor seating

Coffee Rani Covington & Mandeville, currently offering indoor/outdoor seating

Here are the full lists of open St. Tammany, Jefferson and Orleans Parish restaurants 

Baton Rouge Area –

Bistro Byronz, currently offering indoor seating

Superior Grill, currently offering indoor seating

Here is a full list of open Baton Rouge restaurants 

Shops:

Metro New Orleans Area –

Lakeside Shopping Center, several stores open & offering curbside pickup with reduced hours

Riverwalk New Orleans, several stores open & are currently offering curbside pickup

Canal Place, several stores open & offering curbside pickup

River Chase & Fremaux Town Center, several stores open & offering curbside pickup

Pinnacle Nord du Lac Shopping Center, several stores open & offering curbside pickup

Baton Rouge Area –

Perkins Rowe, several stores open & offering curbside pickup

Mall of Louisiana, several stores open & offering curbside pickup

Outdoors:  

Metro New Orleans Area –

Audubon Nature Institute

Grand Isle State Park

Lafreniere Park

Fountainbleau State Park

See which St. Tammany, Jefferson and Orleans Parish campgrounds & parks are currently open

Baton Rouge Area –

BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Trail

BREC’s Dog Parks, several locations open

See which Baton Rouge campgrounds & parks are currently open

Travel:  

Metro New Orleans Area –

Louis Armstrong International Airport 

See which St. Tammany, Jefferson and Orleans Parish hotels are currently open

Baton Rouge Area –

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, currently operating with reduced flight frequency

See which Baton Rouge hotels are currently open

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Giving Back to Our Community

Our 1st Lake team is committed to helping our Greater New Orleans community by working with and donating to local non-profits.  Over the past few weeks, we’ve continued to serve alongside Second Harvest Food Bank, Jefferson Chamber, and Pigeon Caterers to provide food for families and frontline workers in our community.

Since January, we’ve also had the privilege of working with local groups like Wounded Warriors and ARNO. Our teams raised  $4,417.42 for our veterans and we raised $5,433.16 for the animals of ARNO. 

This week, we participated in Bites for Knights by donating $1,000 to provide meals to the frontline workers at Ochsner Hospital! In 2020, we’ve provided over 20,000 meals through Second Harvest and we’ve donated over $5,123.42 to help feed those in need! Each dollar donated provides four meals!

We’re looking forward to continued partnerships with these organizations, so we can keep strengthening our community from Jefferson Parish and beyond. 

 

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Business Resources for 1st Lake Commercial Tenants

1st Lake Commercial Properties is committed to being a resource to our tenants, especially now. If you need anything from our commercial team, you can continue to contact us phone or email with any questions or comments.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of resources for you that can offer further assistance during this time. 

Business Resources: Open Safely – Louisiana Protocols for reopening  BizNewOrleans Greater New Orleans, Inc. Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Entergy Charitable Relief Foundation – “Entergy shareholders are committing to $700,000 to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to help qualifying customers  with basic needs such as food and nutrition, rent and mortgage assistance, and other critical needs until financial situations become more stable.”   Resources for Financial Assistance: Coronavirus Loan Comparison Chart Small Business Loans Louisiana Unemployment and Benefits Louisiana Restaurant Associations (LRA) For Employee Relief Fund La. Workforce Commission helping those with reduced hours or not working, email:  EmployerServices@lwcla.gov American Jobs Center: 1801 Airline Hwy, Ste F, Metairie, LA 70001, 504-838-5678   Government Resources: Centers for Disease Control Centers for Disease Control Corona Virus disease US Dept of State Travel Advisory Louisiana Government   Jefferson Parish Council on Aging   Jefferson Parish

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Thrifty & Romantic Valentine’s Day Ideas

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and seemingly everyone with a significant other is looking for that perfect gift! While there are the tried and true go-to gifts such as chocolates or roses, sometimes it’s good to try something a little different.

A gesture that veers away from the classic gifts can show that you care even more, as it requires a bit more thought! There are several things you can do to show that special someone how much they mean to you while sticking to a budget as well. With finances being tight for a lot of people, there’s no need to break the bank just to make a sweet gesture on Valentine’s Day!

Breakfast in Bed

We think there’s no better way to start this love-centered day than by waking your boo up to breakfast. One gesture that goes a long way without having to spend a lot of money is to make a simple and delicious breakfast spread. Stacked pancakes, hot coffee, and a side of scrambled eggs–what more could we ask for? Plus, breakfast food is the least expensive of all so you won’t break the budget. 

Even if you’re no expert in the kitchen, looking up a special pancake recipe or giving homemade french toast a shot might be a sweet idea. Even if you come up a little short in your attempt to be a gourmet chef, the effort involved will certainly prove how much he or she means to you! Try finding a recipe that isn’t too heavily involved, and a meal that can be relatively mess free (since you’ll be eating it from the comfort of your sheets).

Here are 45 breakfast in bed ideas. 

Gifts From The Heart

Another way to show that you care on a budget is to create your own gift. Sometimes these gifts are the most meaningful, because they require genuine time and thought. Do you have a special talent that you can utilize? Perhaps you’re a great singer, photographer, or artist.

Take an inventory of the skills you can use to create a gift that shows you really care. If you can play a guitar or sing, try singing a song about your loved one.

Another idea that most anyone can do is to create a scrap book of your time together. You could include photos you’ve taken together, movie ticket stubs from your first date or dates thereafter, small mementos from trips you’ve taken together, and other sentimental scraps. The more thought and effort you put into your scrap book, the more special it will be.

A Sweet Retreat

Sometimes, the best gift you can give is a simple escape from everyday life. Take a brief trip with your loved one for Valentine’s Day. Perhaps you can manage a day off of work together and take a day trip to a close-by destination that you both enjoy. If you or your significant other isn’t able to take off of work, book a hotel room in your city or town! Even if it’s close by, simply being able to stay somewhere else, have someone else pick up after you, and be away from the normal stresses and tedium of home can be huge! Some hotels run specials, and you might be able to find a room fairly cheap. Try using one of our favorite apps/sites, Hotel Tonight to see day-of hotel specials in the area. In their own words, Hotel Tonight “partners with top-rated hotels, they give us their unsold rooms, and we show you each day’s best deals. You check out those deals, book the one you like and boom! You’re on your way to a great stay.” 

Get a little creative this Valentine’s Day, and you may find that not only can you save a little money, but the added sentiment of creativity can go a long way! Here’s to a safe and happy Valentine’s Day for everyone!

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