Jackson Free Press

The City of Jackson and the Hinds County EOC will conduct briefings twice daily to update information in the continuing recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Briefings are at 9:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. The pressroom at the Hinds EOC is available. Highlights from today's afternoon briefing:

POWER
• Entergy officials reported Friday afternoon 33,999 customers remain without power, down from the 38,446 announced earlier in the day. The company states that progress is being made, but reminds citizens that storm debris is still being cleared for crews to reach certain areas. After the storm Monday night, the number of customers without power was 72,000.

PUBLIC WORKS
• The boil water notice for Jackson water customers who receive their water from the surface water system has been lifted. Multiple tests performed indicate the water from that system is safe. However, the notice has not been lifted for those customers receiving water from the well system. Samples will be pulled from the well system Saturday and Sunday. Jackson customers who are still affected are in the following areas: West of Westhaven Blvd, in addition to N. Westhaven Dr., East Westhaven Dr., South Westhaven Dr.Westwood Dr. and Sunnybrook Dr. Also, south of I-20, west of Robinson Rd. extension, west of Robinson Rd. ext/Suncrest Dr. to Cooper Rd. This also includes west and south of Forest Hill Rd and west of I-55.

POLICE
• Curfew remains in effect for persons under the age of 18 years old. The hours of curfew are between 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. A curfew for businesses will be enforced between the hours of 12 a.m. – 6 a.m. JPD has had requests from the cities of Hattiesburg and Biloxi for officers to assist in patrol and security for those areas. A decision could be made as early as the weekend regarding the requests of assistance. Also, the Police Department continues monitoring long lines at gas stations and is providing escorts for fuel tankers coming to Jackson to off-load fuel.

FIRE
• Only five of the city's 21 fire stations remain without power, down from seven on Thursday. Those without power are located south of Hwy. 80 include #24 Wiggins Rd., #15 Clinton Blvd., #11 Terry Rd., #14 Lynch St. and #12 McFadden Rd. The station at Flag Chapel Rd. still has no telephone service. Chief Chandler advised that several city firefighters have volunteered to help with recovery efforts on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

PARKS
• Parks and Recreation are preparing community centers for use as possible shelters for evacuees or residents who need them. Facilities include Grove Park, Medgar Evers and Champion, which now has power. Smith-Wills Stadium is being used by utility companies as housing for work crews. Members of the Jackson Senators management will be providing food to utility workers on-site. The ASA National Softball championships to be held in Jackson have been moved to Albany, Ga.

BUS SERVICE
• Mayor Frank E. Melton issued an executive order Thursday allowing all citizens and visitors to ride JATRAN buses at no charge. The order will remain in effect until further notice from the Office of the Mayor.

WATER & ICE
• Water and ice is being made available again on Friday at the Mississippi Fairgrounds. Distribution is limited to city and county residents and begins at 8 a.m. Proof of residency is required either by drivers license or student identification card for local college students. Water remains plentiful and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has dispatched 50 more trucks of ice to the Fairgrounds to be available on Friday.

Water and ice can also be found at the Raymond campus of Hinds Community College on the north parking lot.

SHELTERS
• Seventy-five evacuees have been moved from T.L Love Community Center to the Trademart on the Fairgrounds, where there are cots and showers. Another 25 are leaving today for other accommodations in Georgia. Human and Cultural Services expects to find shelter space for 75 medical personnel arriving from the VA in New Orleans today, possibly re-opening Champion Community Center. They report that about 450 meals are being delivered to senior citizens every day. Please call the Mayor's Action Line at (601) 960-1111 to volunteer in shelters or to aid seniors.