Parish prepping for heavy rains, possible flooding with severe weather

Sandbag locations ready for residents

With heavy rainfall anticipated with tonight’s severe weather forecast, St. Charles Parish officials have started taking precautions.

The River Parishes could get up to 4 inches of rain tonight and up to 5 inches tomorrow (March 11), said Jason Tastet, interim director of the parish’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The forecast put area rainfall at up to 2 inches on Saturday.

“That is a lot of rain for us,” Tastet said “It’s not an easy event. It’s a lot of work, but we can handle it.”

Areas of Louisiana started flash flooding yesterday, including Bossier City, as well as states including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas and Mississippi that got hit with up to 16 inches of rain. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for several parishes and sent the National Guard to assist with rescues.

Sandbag locations throughout the parish are ready for residents in case of flooding.

“We started pumping down all the pump stations this morning,” Tastet said of a move that increases the station’s capacity to handle added water from the rainfall.

To buffer the rising tide, the Sellers Canal sector gate at Pier 90 near Avondale in Luling was closed yesterday.

Public works employees started checking and clearing catch basins throughout the parish to lessen standing water and flooding, Tastet said. Workers have formed two shifts to provide 24-hour coverage of the parish, and their number has been boosted with workers from the parish’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

EOC also increased staff this morning (March 10) and met with parish administration and heads of key parish entities including public schools and fire protection.

Area residents are also urged to prepare for potential flooding by clearing drains and ditches near their residence and reporting any debris or blocked culverts to EOC at (985) 783-5050. They are also urged to secure items like garbage cans in case of strong winds.

Sandbag locations for parishwide use are at East and West bank bridge parks.

By district, the locations include the following:

District I

•    Hackberry Street southwest of the pump station between Gassen Street and Luling Estates Drive

•    Bamboo Street and Plantation Road

•    Pioneer Drive and Settlers Drive

•    King Street behind the school

•    End of River Park Drive

•    School House Road near railroad tracks

•    Boutte Estates at the curve

District II

•    Willowdale Boulevard and East Heather next to the levee

•    Rex Street between Davis Drive and Evelyn Drive east of Pump Station Road

•    Sugarhouse Road and Angus Drive

•    Bernard Avenue near the pump station

•    Ama Grain Field

•    Lakewood Elementary School

District III

•    Red Church Subdivision

•    Ormond Fire House on Ormond Boulevard

District IV

•    Paradis Pump Station at canal boat launch

•    Up the Bayou Road near the pump station

•    Twin Bridge Road and Down the Bayou Road

•    LA 631 (Old Spanish Trail) behind the church

•    LA 306 at Badeaux Lane East

•    Grand Bayou Road and Sunshine Drive

District V

•    Fourth Street

•    Bar None Subdivision

•    Charles Towne Subdivision

•    Fairfield Subdivision

•    I-310 Service Road

•    Oakland Subdivision

•    Preston Hollow and River Road

•    River View

•    Dianne Place

District VI

•    Montz Recreation Park

•    New Sarpy Recreation Park

•    Norco Elementary School and Apple Street

•    Norco Fire Station

District VII

•    George Cousins Road and West Heather Street

•    Valencia Drive and Primrose Drive

•    Primrose Drive West of the Lagatutta pump station between Wade Street and Oak Street

•    Lakewood Elementary School