With potential Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico, St. Charles Parish residents are being urged to monitor weather reports and prepare by clearing drains and ditches around their homes.
The parish has declared a state of emergency.
Forecasts are calling for the potential of three to five feet of storm surge, as well as the tropical system becoming a tropical storm in the next 48 hours. Residents prone to storm surge flooding such as Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands should take the necessary precautions to protect their homes and property.
Today, the Department of Public Works has begun putting up HESCO Baskets along Bayou Des Allemands in anticipation of high water.
In preparation for the potential weather, the last day of the St. Charles Parish Summer Camps and the Summer Feeding Program will be today (July 10).
Sandbagging locations will be set up by 5 p.m. today at the following locations:
· East Bank Bridge Park
· West Bank Bridge Park
· Montz Recreation Park
· Des Allemands – Lafourche Parish will provide a sandbagging location under the bridge on Bridge Road at the intersection with Bayou Road.
The EOC is accepting sandbag requests from elderly and people with disabilities.
In discussions with officials in the National Weather Service River Forecast Center, there are no threats or concerns regarding overtopping of the Mississippi River levee in St. Charles Parish based on the current forecast.
The parish public school system is monitoring the tropical system and is in close contact with the parish’s Emergency Operations Center, said system spokeswoman Stevie Crovetto. Heavy rain is expected over the next several days. At this time, all operations are scheduled to take place as normal on Thursday (July 11).
However, all school and district activities, including summer camps and summer school, are cancelled on Friday (July 12). Employees should also not report to work on Friday.
Any questions may be directed to the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center at (985) 783-5050, 24 hours a day. Parish social media sites will be updated continuously at www.facebook.com/stcharlesgov and www.twitter.com/stcharlesgov.
Please call 1-800-ENTERGY for information on power outages.
For more information on hurricane preparedness and to download a copy of St. Charles Parish’s ‘BE PREPARED’ guide, visit www.stcharlesparish-la.gov/
According to NWS reports, heavy rain is anticipated with scattered to numerous thunderstorms forecast today (July 10). A few storms could become strong to severe producing with damaging wind gusts, very heavy rainfall and frequent lightning being the main threats.
The tropical system will bring the potential of flooding rainfall.
Totals are expected to range from 6 to 12 inches with localized higher amounts through Monday. The highest of these amounts are expected along and west of I-55 and the bulk of this rain is expected from late Thursday through Sunday.
A flash flood watch will likely be issued later today or tonight.
The NWS says coastal flooding is also expected to be an issue as tides rise to greater than 2 feet above normal levels starting late Thursday and lasting into the weekend. These numbers will be revised to expected depths if or when a tropical cyclone develops. Severe weather associated with this system will be possible with damaging winds, torrential rainfall and frequent lightning the main hazards through Thursday night. The addition of a tornadic threat will begin by Friday as well.
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