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: 56.6
with a NWS forecast
crest of 58.5 ft on 16
April.
Baton Rouge: 39.4 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:
The Governor’s Office of
Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness
maintain constant
contact with our
Federal, State and Local
partners during the
duration of this
incident.
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. The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers will
increase their
monitoring of levees
from 3 days a week to 7
days a week (USACE Level
2 Activation) beginning
7 April 2008.
Louisiana Department of
Transportation and
Development:
Through direct
coordination with Levee
Districts and the Corps
of Engineers, DOTD
District personnel and
Public Works personnel
are providing
supplemental levee
inspection teams and
hauling sand for sandbag
operations. District
crews are inspecting
bridges on smaller
rivers in the
potentially affected
areas where drift
build-up is likely to
occur. Any significant
build-up will be removed
to protect the bridge
structure.
Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals:
In addition to surveying
all health care
facilities in the
impacted areas to
determine their
readiness or
vulnerability to
flooding and their
ability to respond (see
chart below), the
Department of Health and
Hospitals is also taking
an inventory of sewerage
and drinking water
systems in the affected
parishes.
The goal of this
inventory is to
determine if flooding
may cause a drinking
water system to become
inoperable or
contaminated. DHH is
contacting and
monitoring the high-risk
sites with a goal of
determining the
potential number of
impacted systems and
residents. This testing
is critical to
determining if water is
safe to drink after a
system reestablishes
operations.
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 roll 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:
The Red River Landing
reading (at Angola )
remains at 56.6 ft. as
of 2:00 p.m. Crest is
still expected at 58.5
feet next week, although
there could be an upward
revision later this week
depending on rainfall
events to our north.
Correctional officers
continue to monitor
perimeter on a 24-hour
basis.
Operations at LSP are
normal and the prison is
secure. DOC remains in
constant contact with
state, federal and local
agencies assisting in
this endeavor.
United State Army Corps
of Engineers:
Our level of flood
fighting efforts has
been increased and the
Corps levee sector
personnel will conduct
surveillance of the
levee system seven days
per week in their
support of the Levee
Boards and LA DOTD.
We will continue to
assess the conditions as
they develop and
cooperate with our
partners and
stakeholders on our
activities. We will
continue to operate to
ensure the safety of the
public and national
interest.
Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries:
Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries’
watch efforts are
unchanged based on
information provided as
of April 8.
Louisiana Department of
Social Services:
Louisiana Department of
Social Services
continues to monitor the
situation and their
efforts remain unchanged
based on information
provided of April 8.
Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and
Forestry:
Agriculture and Forestry
Commissioner Mike Strain
sent a letter requesting
Governor Jindal to
contact the U.S.
Secretary of Agriculture
asking for an emergency
declaration for the
affected parishes. The
Governor has since sent
a formal request to the
USDA Secretary for a
disaster declaration.
State Veterinarian Henry
Moreau is assisting a
local cattle producer in
the event the producer
might need to relocate
about 200 head of
cattle.
We are still in
communication with both
local and state
emergency managers. At
this time we have not
received any requests
for assistance.
