Baton Rouge –The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) along with key Federal, State and Local agencies are actively monitoring flood stage levels along the Louisiana levee system.

On March 24^th, Governor Bobby 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 declared a State of Emergency.

Current River Stages:

Red River Landing: 59.11 with a NWS forecast crest of 60.0 ft on 22 April.

Baton Rouge: 41.8 with a NWS forecast crest of 42.5 ft on 22 April.

Carrollton gage: 16.6 ft with a NWS forecast crest of 17.0 ft on 13 April.

Morgan City gage: 7.1 ft with a NWS forecast crest of 7.6 ft on 24 April.

Lake Pontchartrain: 0.13 ft at the 17^th street canal.

Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness:

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 on the Atchafalaya River, there is no expected overtopping based on the current river crest forecast by the NWS at this time.

United States Army Corps of Engineers:

The Corps release said, “There are 84 bays open in the Bonnet Carre spillway as we continue to divert excess flood waters in accordance with the water control plan.  Our flood fighting teams are continuing surveillance of the levee system seven days per week in support of the Levee Boards and LA DOTD.  The National Weather Service (NWS) has no rain in the forecast for the lower Mississippi basin until the weekend.  We will continue to assess the conditions as they develop and coordinate with our partners and stakeholders on our activities. We will operate the flood control system with the primary concern for the safety of the public and the national interest.”

 Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry:

The Department is continuing daily coordination with other state agencies as well as the Louisiana State Animal Response Team.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development:

DOTD continues to support the levee districts by hauling sand and sandbags and providing supplemental levee inspections.  Traffic barricades have been provided to Sabine and Pointe Coupee Parishes and road closure signs have been provided to Concordia and Madison Parishes.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals:

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, in partnership with the Louisiana oyster industry, is considering a precautionary closure of oyster growing waters in some areas impacted by flooding from the opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway.

A decision to issue such a closure order will occur only after DHH conducts water testing of samples drawn from shellfish harvesting areas. Currently, the department is conducting this series of tests. DHH has notified the oyster industry about the possibility of a closure and will provide additional information if and when such a decision is made.

Should this action be taken, DHH will continue to test the harvest areas. Reopening of the waters will occur as soon as it is determined that environmental conditions are within the requirements specified by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program.

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:

Levee patrols are ongoing as well as searches for sand boils and monitoring of sandbags laid around the sand boil found near Camp H.  Prison is safe and secure.

The Angola crew boat resumed operation this morning for employees crossing the river to get to work. Angola staff has been in contact with most employees who suffered injuries in the crew boat accident Sunday evening to assess their status.

Inmates from Steve Hoyle Correctional Center are assisting Madison and Tensas Parish officials with sandbags for local levee operations.                                                                                                          

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, 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 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.