Bastrop officials open resource centers, urge residents to document storm damage and follow safety guidance

Bastrop city officials and Morehouse Parish emergency staff on Friday set up resource centers and rolled out safety and relief information for residents left without power after a recent storm.

The main information center is at Bastrop City Hall, 202 East Jefferson Avenue, offering phone chargers, water, blankets, flashlights and free lunch plates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Jan. 31, officials said. A West Monroe site at the West Monroe Community Center will also be open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and organizers announced an additional distribution point at 700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Lake Providence with Thursday and Saturday hours.

Why it matters: Officials said some households remain without power and that coordinating short-term needs — transport to medical appointments, food and temporary charging stations — is a priority while crews work to restore service.

James Morris, identified at the meeting as the homeland security director for Morehouse Parish, urged residents to document all damage to their primary residence related to the storm and to save receipts and photos. "Document any damage to your primary residence that you have related to this accident," Morris said, adding that federal assistance applications have moved online and that residents should call the sheriff's office at (318) 281-4141 to register contact information.

Smitha Glass, an outreach organizer working with offices connected to Senator Katrina Jackson and State Representative Adrian Fisher, said outreach teams will distribute $5 vouchers redeemable at local restaurants — including Wendy's and McDonald's — between Friday afternoon and Saturday night and that organizers will post distribution details on social media. "We have 300 meals that you would be eating," Glass said, and encouraged residents to monitor the offices' Facebook pages for updates.

Public safety officials described hands-on support. Chief Reed of the Bastrop Police Department asked residents to "remain calm" and said officers are assisting with transports to dialysis appointments and hospitals; he provided the department number, (318) 281-1322, for city residents who need help. Lisa Chapel of the Bastrop City Marshal's Office said the marshal's office is coordinating transportation with police and state agencies and offered a cell contact at (318) 282-3165.

From the fire-safety perspective, Timothy William, identified as a fire department chief, thanked responders and offered precautions for residents using portable generators or space heaters: "Keep that generator at least 20 foot away from the structure," he said, and urged residents to allow a generator to cool before refueling, to plug space heaters directly into outlets, and to maintain 3–5 foot clearances around heaters. He also said Bastrop will provide free smoke alarms; residents may request them by calling (318) 283-3353.

Officials thanked volunteers and local businesses that have assisted with relief efforts and said they may extend hours for resource centers depending on when power is restored. The meeting closed after a brief prayer and additional community acknowledgments; officials said they will provide further updates as conditions change.

What officials asked residents to do next: call the listed phone numbers for transport or safety needs, document storm damage to primary residences for potential FEMA assistance, and watch official social pages for details on voucher and meal distribution.