Lafayette, LA – In the aftermath of severe weather and flash flooding that recently impacted Lafayette Parish, local authorities are urging residents to report any damages to their homes using the state’s Damage.LA.Gov self-reporting tool. The platform, provided through the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), allows homeowners to quickly and securely share information about residential damages with parish, state, and federal emergency officials.
The tool is designed to help emergency management agencies assess the extent of damage in affected areas and coordinate recovery efforts more efficiently. By submitting reports, residents can play a crucial role in ensuring that recovery resources are allocated appropriately.
How to Report Damage
Homeowners who have experienced damage to their residences are encouraged to visit damage.la.gov to begin the reporting process. The platform is user-friendly and allows residents to easily submit details about the damage their homes have sustained.
Lafayette Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) has provided several helpful tips to ensure that damage reports are as accurate and effective as possible. These include:
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Submit Multiple Photos: Residents are asked to provide several photos from different angles, including close-up shots of specific damage as well as wide shots of the entire structure. Clear and well-lit images will assist emergency teams in evaluating the extent of the damage.
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Provide Context: In the comments section of the tool, residents should describe what happened and provide any relevant details that might help authorities understand the situation better.
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Verify Address and Location: To ensure accurate information, residents should double-check that the address and map pin on the submission form are correct.
What Not to Report
The tool is intended specifically for residential damage. Lafayette Parish OHSEP urges residents not to submit reports for:
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Non-residential structures such as barns, sheds, carports, or businesses
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Vehicles
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Multiple reports for the same residence
Safety First
Authorities emphasize that residents should not put themselves in harm’s way to gather information or take photos. Safety should always be the top priority when assessing or reporting damage.
Lafayette Parish OHSEP is urging all affected residents to submit their damage reports as soon as possible. The faster the information is gathered, the quicker emergency management agencies can begin working toward a coordinated recovery effort to support the community.
A Call for Swift Action
As the community recovers from the aftermath of the severe weather, timely and accurate reporting of damage will play a crucial role in helping agencies respond effectively and deliver much-needed assistance. The OHSEP is urging all Lafayette Parish residents who have experienced storm-related home damage to report it through the Damage.LA.Gov tool to ensure that the recovery process moves forward as quickly as possible.