Driving on a flooded street during a storm can lead to a citation from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, and driving during a curfew can get you arrested, according to Sgt. Jenni Barrette, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Barrette said there were few vehicles on the road Sept. 12, the day after Hurricane Francine hit the Louisiana coast as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm brought 8.51 inches of rain to the parish, according to the National Weather Service.
“Because it was a pleasant day outside [the day after the storm], people took the opportunity to get out,” Barrette said. “We don’t ask for residents to stay home just because, it’s for a reason and serves a purpose.”
She said in any emergency or tropical weather situation residents are asked to stay off the roads so deputies, EMS, fire and any other first responders can respond to emergencies quickly.
“As we saw in Francine and Ida, the parish got the worse weather after dark,” Barrette said. “Once it’s dark it’s difficult to see debris, standing water, downed trees, downed power lines.”
Barrette said that, during the storm, the Sheriff’s Office used social media and their app to let residents know not to drive on flooded roads.
“It seemed to be effective,” she said.
