Individuals in the affected areas are urged to monitor local media outlets for updated information or contact their local Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP).

Current Expected Weather Impact:

Southeast Louisiana:  Seasonal weather with a 20% chance of precipitation Tuesday through Thursday.

Southwest Louisiana:  Seasonal weather with a 20% chance of precipitation Tuesday through Thursday. 

Northeast Louisiana:  Seasonal weather with a 20%-30% chance of precipitation Tuesday through Thursday.

Current River Stages:

Red River Landing: 56.2 with a NWS forecast crest of 58.5 ft on 16 April

Baton Rouge: 39.0 with a NWS forecast crest of 41.0 ft on 16 April

Carrolton gage: 15.6 ft with a NWS forecast crest of 17.0 ft on 16 April

Morgan City gage: 6.4 ft with a NWS forecast crest of7.5 ft on 17 April 

Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness:

Today GOHSEP Director, Mark Cooper, Col. Mike Edmonson, LSP, and MG Bennett Landreneau Adjutant General, LANG met with local officials to review plans regarding potential flooding around Lake Larto, Sandy Lake, and Enterprise.  The parish discussed their overall preparedness, plans for providing notification to affected citizens, and citizens identified with special needs.  The parish has picked up 13,000 sand bags and has also had sand donated.  Notification of the available sand bags will be included in the local newspaper which is published on Wednesday.  The sandbags will be available at the Parish Maintenance Barn. 

At this time flooding is occurring in the Morganza Spillway Forebay area in Pointe Coupee Parish, as it has done in prior years. All support has been suspended with the exception of the security operations in order to ensure no one enters the area out of safety concerns. 

Although preparedness efforts are underway, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) assessment determined that there is no expected overtopping based on the current river crest forecast by the National Weather Service.  We will continue to monitor area rainfall and its possible effect on flood stage levels throughout the levee system.

Department of Health and Hospitals:

Although no flooding has yet to occur, the Department of Health and Hospitals is surveying all 24-hour health care facilities (hospitals, nursing homes intermediate care facilities for people with developmental disabilities, etc.) in the impacted areas to determine their readiness or vulnerability to flooding and their ability to respond.

The survey is the agency’s initial effort to begin discussions with the CEO or administrator of 100 percent of the facilities that might be at-risk and determine what assistance might be needed. As of today, DHH has contacted 131 facilities. The agency will remain in contact with the facilities throughout the duration of the flood threat.

DHH is working with the Louisiana Hospital Association, the Louisiana Nursing Home Association and other local agencies to complete the survey.

Louisiana State Police:

The Louisiana State Police (LSP) is providing security personnel and equipment in the Morganza Spillway Forebay area.  Security Force personnel are patrolling the area around the Morganza Spillway in an effort to keep unauthorized persons out of the area and ensure public safety. LSP is coordinating with the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff's Office, the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association and the Louisiana National Guard all of whom have an active roll in providing personnel and equipment for this security detail.

At 1:30 a.m., the "Potato Levee" at Morganza Spillway was breached and water began to enter the spillway. At 11 a.m., there were 5 breached areas in the Morganza "Potato Levee" with water entering the spillway.

LSP is also providing aerial surveillance capabilities along the Louisiana Levee System for the monitoring of water levels and levee conditions. Today, LSP Air Support provided a fly over of the levee system for Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police, Major General Bennett Landreneau, Louisiana National Guard and Mark Cooper, GOHSEP Director.  They flew from Baton Rouge north along the Mississippi River Levee System to Catahoula Parish.   They also landed in Catahoula Parish where they visited with local officials to address any concerns.

LSP will continue to support this mission until such time as the flood waters recede or the need for security no longer exists

Louisiana National Guard:

The Louisiana National Guard remains on alert for possible support to state and local agencies in anticipation of possible future flood conditions.  Across the State, LANG units continue to ensure that transportation; debris removal, high water rescue, aircraft, and emergency support equipment are prepared for any potential mission. LANG

Soldiers and Airmen are prepared to provide engineering, transportation, security, communication, and aviation assets in support of emergency operations anywhere in the state.

The Louisiana National Guard’s Joint Operation Center in coordination with several other military command centers throughout the state continues to monitor the current situation and provide situational awareness to LANG forces 24 hours a day.

Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections:

Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections hosted a meeting today regarding the rising Mississippi River at Angola.  Present were officials from DPS&C -- Headquarters, Louisiana State Penitentiary Warden Burl Cain and other LSP staff, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Mike Cazes (representing the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association), West Feliciana Sheriff Austin Daniel and representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Department, through the Incident Command Center at Headquarters, has been working on and continues to work on contingency plans which are being reviewed and amended as necessary.   The Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the Louisiana State Police, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and the Army Corps of Engineers are all working very closely to monitor the situation and act as quickly as necessary to ensure public safety in this situation.  
 
The projected crest of the Mississippi River at Red River Landing (Angola) has not changed -- crest is forecast for April 16, 2008 at 58.5 feet.  However the crest projection may be adjusted upward in the next few days due to heavy flooding in the upper Mississippi river valley.

United State Army Corps of Engineers:

Flood fighting efforts have been increased and the levee sector personnel will conduct surveillance of the levee system seven days per week in their support of the Levee Boards and Louisiana DOTD.

USACE will continue to assess the conditions as they develop and cooperate with our partners and stakeholders on our activities. We will be transparent in our communications as we determine the best course of action in ensuring the safety of the public and the national interest. 

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries:

LDWF’s Enforcement Division continues to support river flood protection efforts to minimize levee breech incidents related to river traffic. Two patrol boats and four agents are patrolling the Mississippi River within Pointe Coupee Parish between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. through April 11 or as conditions dictate.

Additionally, LDWF will have a patrol boat and two agents on the Atchafalaya River in lower St. Martin Parish (Stephensville area) for a second consecutive weekend on April 12-13.

The patrols support parish emergency personnel in their efforts to protect property that could be damaged if levees are breeched by excessive wake action from shipping vessels.

Department of Social Services

The Department of Social Services is working closely with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security to offer our full support in the event that any parish will have to open a shelter.  

Secretary Ann Silverberg Williamson said, “We urge all residents to monitor the latest information, have your alternate location for safety identified and check on your friends and family to help them in identifying their safe relocation site should it become necessary.”

Louisiana Department of Social Services:

Louisiana Department of Social Services watch efforts are unchanged based on information provided of April 6.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry: