Natural Disaster Could Also Bring Sex Offenders

Caddo Parish was a safe haven for Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees now a new law could allow up to 400 sex offenders to be housed in case of a natural disaster. According to Sheriff Prator, the Department of Social Services has targeted two buildings across the street from the Hirsch Coliseum, where thousands of general evacuees could be staying. "It`s ridiculous, the thought of it is ridiculous it shouldn`t have ever been considered and now that is in place right now. If there is a hurricane in Louisiana sex offenders are going to be told to report across from the Hirsch," commented Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator. "We do have a contract with the state about using the fairgrounds as an evacuation center in case of a hurricane, there wasn`t a discussion about the types of people that would come to the fair grounds," said Chris Giordano, General Manager of the State Fair of Louisiana. The measure requires the state to provide separate evacuation shelters for sex offenders but the sheriff admits it`s an impossible situation. "Everybody is just kind of mingling around and so how are you going to determine who the sex offenders are? You can`t keep them locked up, they are not in jail," explained Sheriff Prator. Fair officials had no idea the grounds were being considered until the law was signed, sealed and delivered. "We had no idea, we want to be good partners with the state and we want to help out in the event of a hurricane but I don`t think this is the right place for the sex offenders," commented Giordano. This issue is not going to go unnoticed. "I`ve contacted our legislators, I`ve filed an official complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Social Services and so I`m doing what I can," said Sheriff Prator.