Individuals in the
effected areas are urged
to monitor local media
outlets for updated
information or contact
their local Office of
Emergency Preparedness (OEP).
Current Expected Weather
Impact:
North Louisiana:
Seasonal weather with a
30% chance of rain
today. Through Tuesday
of next week, no rain is
forecasted.
Central Louisiana:
Seasonal weather with a
40% chance of rain
today. Through Tuesday
of next week, no rain is
forecasted.
Southeast Louisiana:
Seasonal weather with a
60% chance of rain today
and 50% chance of rain
tonight. Through
Tuesday of next week, no
rain is forecasted.
Southwest Louisiana:
Seasonal weather with a
40% chance of rain today
and 30% chance of rain
tonight. Through
Tuesday of next week, no
rain is forecasted.
Current River Stages:
Red River Landing: 57.1
with a NWS forecast
crest of 58.5 ft on 16
April.
Baton Rouge: 39.9 with a
NWS forecast crest of
41.0 ft on 16 April.
Carrollton gage: 15.9 ft
with a NWS forecast
crest of 17.0 ft on 16
April.
Morgan City gage: 6.6 ft
with a NWS forecast
crest of 7.5 ft on 17
April.
Governor’s Office of
Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness:
GOHSEP is maintaining
constant contact with
our Federal, State and
Local partners during
the duration of this
incident.
On March 24th,
Governor Jindal declared
a State of Emergency due
to rivers cresting above
flood stage. This
declaration extends from
March 24 through April
22, 2008, unless
terminated sooner.
Precautionary measures
have also been taken at
the local level. St.
Martin, Pointe Coupee,
Concordia, Vernon,
Tensas, Sabine, East
Carroll, Madison,
Catahoula and LaSalle
Parishes have each also
declared a State of
Emergency.
The Bonnet Carre
Spillway was opened at
noon today for the first
time since 1997 in an
effort to divert water
from the rapidly rising
Mississippi River. The
order to open the
spillway was signed on
April 10th, 2008 by
Brig. Gen. Michael
Walsh, who serves as
president of the
Mississippi River
Commission.
Per the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers’ threat
assessment of the main
line levees on the
Mississippi River from
Northern Louisiana to
the Gulf of Mexico and
the main line levees in
the Atchafalaya River,
there is no expected
overtopping based on the
current river crest
forecast by the NWS at
this time.
United State Army Corps
of Engineers:
Protecting lives is our
number one priority.
That is the main reason
we are opening the
Bonnet Carré Spillway.
Other factors have
affected that decision —
the overall condition of
the levees and the
ability of the river to
pass flows. We have also
considered the effects
of high water and river
currents on vessels
navigating the river,
and the risk of vessels
contacting the levees.
The decision to pen the
Spillway structure was
made by Brig. Gen.
Michael Walsh,
Mississippi River
Commission President and
Commander of the Corps'
Mississippi
Valley Division in
Vicksburg, Miss. His
decision was based on my
recommendation as the
New Orleans District
Engineer. Though there
is always a residual
flood risk, the Corps is
fully committed to
reducing the risk of
flood damages to
property and, of course,
to human lives. Our
first weapon for
reducing risk is
communication.
The spillway may be open
for an estimated two to
four week period, during
which time the
Mississippi is expected
to crest at about 17
feet at New Orleans,
without operation of the
spillway. Operation of
the structure will
protect the integrity of
the flood protection
system and the public by
relieving pressure on
local levees, lowering
river stages, and
reducing the velocity of
the river current from
the spillway southward.
Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and
Forestry:
The Louisiana Department
of Agriculture and
Forestry has been in
contact with St. Martin
Parish OEP and is aware
of a poultry producer
who is mitigating
possible high water.
LDAF headquarters’
equipment has been
inspected to make sure
it is in proper working
order for possible
deployment. This
includes the Louisiana
Agriculture Emergency
Response Team trailer, a
portable cattle corral,
generator-powered light
towers and portable
livestock panels.
Agriculture and Forestry
Commissioner Mike
Strain, D.V.M., is
awaiting response from
USDA Secretary Ed
Schafer regarding a
disaster declaration.
Louisiana Department of
Transportation and
Development:
The Department of
Transportation and
Development (DOTD) has
closed the St.
Francisville and White
Castle ferries because
rising waters have
flooded access roads to
the ferries, making it
impossible for vehicles
to pass.
Ferry service at these
two locations is
suspended until water
levels recede.
Starting Friday morning,
DOTD will move the White
Castle ferry to the
Plaquemine ferry landing
and will run two boats
every 15 minutes – one
from each side – at the
Plaquemine landing from
5:30 a.m to 9:30 a.m and
3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
The St. Francisville
and Plaquemine ferries
each average 900
vehicles per day. The
White Castle Ferry
averages 230 vehicles
per day.
DOTD has stopped hauling
sand at the request of
the Fifth Louisiana
Levee District. As of
today, DOTD District 58
has hauled 4800 cubic
yards of sand to
sand-bagging sites in
Newellton and Vidalia,
while DOTD District 05
has hauled 6000 cubic
yards of sand to sites
at Madison Correctional
Facility, East Carroll
Correctional Facility
and the Fifth Louisiana
Levee District office.
DOTD District 58 and 05
continue to haul loaded
sandbags to locations
along the levee in
Tensas, Concordia, East
Carroll and Madison
parishes.
We have allocated 40
dump trucks with drivers
and fuel to this task as
well as 20 "Road Closed"
signs to Concordia
Parish Police jury, 5
"Road Closed" signs to
Madison parish, and at
the request of the Fifth
Louisiana Levee District
installed two road
blocks for two local
roads leading to a
section of the levee in
Lake Providence.
DOTD plans to continue
as needed and requested
by the Fifth Louisiana
Levee District.
Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals:
Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals
continues to survey
health care facilities,
sewage systems and
drinking water systems
to determine their
readiness or
vulnerability to
flooding and their
ability to respond.
Outlined below are
specific regional
issues.
·
Nursing homes in
Jefferson and East Baton
Rouge indicated they
would be at risk only if
the levees failed.
·
The planned opening of
the Bonne Carre spillway
near New Orleans poses
no risk to health care
facilities in the area
and is, in fact, a
preventive measure to
relieve pressure on
levees in the area and
to reduce the flow rate
of the river downstream.
·
The Lutcher Waterworks
is experiencing
difficulties repairing
the raw water pump
stations that are
located on the river
bature. The water pumps
have broken shafts
resulting in the
facility having to use
an emergency pump. High
water and swift currents
are making repairs to
the raw water pumps
difficult. Lutcher is
connected to St. Charles
and should be able to
switch over without
interruption in the
event they lose the
ability to pump raw
water. Repairs are
expected to take about
two weeks.
·
The town of Gramercy is
using floater pumps for
water intake due to high
water in river causing
silt residue in water
intake valve. No
assistance requested at
this time.
·
In the St. Martin area,
DHH is providing
residents with flyers
about health risks
associated with
flooding.
·
In Beauregard and
Calcasieu parishes, DHH
and the local Offices of
Emergency Preparedness
are preparing lists of
home health patients
that might need
assistance should
flooding occur.
Louisiana State Police:
LSP is coordinating with
GOHSEP, local officials,
Louisiana Sheriff’s
Association and the
Louisiana National
Guard, all of whom have
an active role in
providing personnel and
equipment as needed to
ensure public safety.
LSP is also providing
aerial surveillance
capabilities, as
requested, along the
Louisiana Levee System
for the monitoring of
water levels and levee
conditions.
LSP will continue to
support this mission
until such time as the
waters levels 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
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
continues to monitor the
current situation and
provide situational
awareness to LANG forces
24 hours a day.
Louisiana Department of
Public Safety and
Corrections:
This morning, the gauge
at Red River landing is
58.1 feet. The crest
projection at this time
is 59.5 feet on April
21.
Patrols continue along
the levees and officers
logged a total of 456
miles since yesterday.
In order to further
assist crew boat
crossings, Angola
cleared a section of
swamp willows in order
to move the pontoon
operations about a half
mile up the levee,
closer to the Blue Hole
(closer to the main
levee nearest Camp C).
No significant problems
were observed in shift
change this morning.
There is a tentative
meeting scheduled for
Monday between Angola
officials, the Corps of
Engineers and local law
enforcement authorities
to discuss evacuation
plans if necessary.
However, despite the
increased crest
projection, Angola
should be OK and
personnel are preparing
for normal activities
and planned events,
including the Spring
Rodeo next weekend.
We continue to reassure
the public and
offenders' families of
the Department's plans
to protect all life as
well as keep them aware
of the strength of the
levees, which are at an
all-time high since the
refortification after
the 1997 flood fight.
Angola employees living
on the grounds have also
been informed of
potential evacuation
plans and are being kept
aware of the daily
readings and crest
prediction.
The prison staff and
offender population
remain safe and secure.
Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries:
The Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and
Fisheries (LDWF) has
instituted an intensive
data collection project
to measure the effects
of the opening of the
Bonnet Carre Spillway on
the ecology of the Lake
Pontchartrain and Lake
Borgne area.
The project is designed
to collect information
about environmental
conditions in the system
as well as changes in
distribution of
important fish and
shellfish species and
oyster mortality related
to the opening. Previous
openings have resulted
in algal blooms within
the Lake, displacement
of saltwater species,
and short duration
oyster mortalities.
Long-term effects have
included reducing
density of oyster
predators, adding
beneficial nutrients,
and reducing salinities
in outer marshes. The
spillway opening may
also provide a pathway
for non-native species
such as silver carp into
the Pontchartrain
system.
The United States Army
Corps of Engineers
announced on Thursday,
April 10 that the Bonnet
Carre’ Spillway will
open on Friday, April
11. The spillway opening
was triggered by rising
water levels and flood
conditions on the lower
Mississippi River. The
spillway will divert a
portion of the
Mississippi River into
Lake Pontchartrain
upstream of New Orleans.
The Mississippi delta
region has experienced a
wet spring resulting in
increased freshwater
inflow from the Pearl
River and other rivers
into the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin.
Louisiana Department of
Social Services:
The Department of Social
Services has undertaken
several proactive
measures to ensure that
the DSS workforce, our
constituents and
partners are prepared in
the event that any
flooding should occur:
The Office of the
Secretary has engaged
licensed adult
residential facilities
within the potentially
affected areas to ensure
that their emergency
plans are in order and
that they are ready to
respond. Of the 228
adult residential
facilities that DSS
licenses, 53 are located
in the parishes of
concern.
The Office of Community
Services has contacted
the 25 child residential
providers in the
potential flood areas
with the same purpose to
ensure their readiness
regarding the children’s
safety in the event of
an emergency. The office
had also reached foster
families in the risk
areas to verify their
preparation for care of
foster children in the
event of any flooding.
Additionally, the Office
of Family Support has
notified its federal
partners in the U.S.
Department of
Agriculture to be
prepared in the event
that the Disaster Food
Stamp Program should
need to be activated.
