Calcasieu Parish Office Of Homeland Security And Emergency Preparedness Warn Of Flooding

Calcasieu Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness officials are advising area citizens to be prepared for potential flooding over the next few days.  A tropical disturbance in the western Gulf of Mexico, is expected to dump 1-3 inches of rain in Southwest Louisiana now through Wednesday.

Officials say because of the high tide and the already swollen rivers, the threat of heavy rain makes flooding likely.  The Calcasieu River is already at flood stage in some area, so any additional rainfall is going to cause a problem.  It's being predicted Tides are going to run between one, to 2 ½ feet above normal during this time.

Calcasieu OHSEP Director Dick Gremillion said of the inclement weather,

“We are asking Calcasieu citizens to take precautions.” he added, “Tropical systems like this can be very unpredictable.  They can stall out or cause isolated locations to receive tremendous amounts of rain in a short period of time.

 

Residents should make sure drainage systems around their homes are free of debris and obstructions.  Most importantly it’s crucial to avoid driving through flooded areas, as that’s the most common cause of loss of life in events like this.”

In the coming days the forecast calls for the disturbance to strike the Central Texas coast, but officials remind citizens that prediction can change in the blink of an eye.  They warn a slight turn toward the East, could increase the risks major flooding here in SWLA.  The National Hurricane Center reports as of 2 p.m. June 15 the storm, known as invest 91L, is expected to become a tropical storm this afternoon or this evening as moves northwest. It's predicted to touch-down on the Texas coast sometime on Tuesday.

Watch currant conditions and track the storm here on The Weather Channel or here on the National Hurricane Center.  Now is a good time to stock-up on non-perishable food items, batteries, water and other items to get you and your family ready for the impending weather.

If you need sandbags for your property, bring your shovel and your own bags to one of these locations in Calcasieu Parish:

• East Ward 1 Barn, 461 Parish Road, Moss Bluff
• East Ward 2 Barn, 7085 La. 14 East, Hayes
• East Ward 3 Old Bar,n 2320 Smith Road, Lake Charles
• East Ward 3 PW Facility, 5500 B Swift Plant Road, Lake Charles
• West Ward 4 PW Facilit,y 2915 Post Oak Road, Sulphur
• West Ward 5 Barn, 129 3rd Street, Starks
• West Ward 6 Barn, 1275 Plum Street, DeQuincy
• West Ward 7 Fire Station, 2205 Hwy 388, Vinton (Edgerly)
• East Ward 8 Barn, 1726 Parish Barn Road, Iowa