Sheriff says best way to gain re-entry is by using I-55

But now all routes into parish are open

St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne says that public officials are confident that residents can come back and not disrupt the work they have to do.

However, they may all have to take I-55 to do that.

‘We believe that the only place you will get re-entry, and its going to be inconvenient and there’s going to be a line, is I-55 south into the northeast corner of St. John Parish right at the Spillway,’ Champagne said. There they catch I-10 and take I-310 into the parish.This is the only place we can guarantee St. Charles Parish residents, that have to come back, that they can come through.’

When residents do arrive, Champagne says they need to remain home and let his department patrol the area. The more cars on the road, the harder that job becomes. Also, he says that residents that return need to be prepared to live in camp-like conditions.

‘But it’s not only camping,’ he said. ‘It’s hot, you’re going to sweat, you’re going to smell and you can’t run your washing machine. You can’t flush your toilet.’

Champagne says that since he knows that people in St. Charles Parish our resourceful, public officials have a level of confidence that those residents can return without interfering with the work that needs to be done.