[StBernard] WWL Ike headlines by community 8:00pmCDT

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Fri Sep 12 21:15:39 EDT 2008


Water levels in Southeast Louisiana are beginning to recede and are
cresting in south-central Louisiana. Water is rising in Southwestern
portions of the state. The federal flood protection system (Grand Isle
notwithstanding) has not been compromised; no breaches or overtopping
reported. Many non-federal/back levees have been and continue to be
overtopped.

(Parishes listed east to west)

St Tammany: Madisonville streets are inundated resulting in numerous road
closures below US 190 including Hwy 22. The parish has opened a shelter in
Mandeville. Water is expected to rise to Rita levels. No mandatory
evacuations have been declared.

St. Bernard: Louisiana National Guard Blackhawk helicopter is in route for
visual inspection of levees. Federal protection system is holding, but
non-federal protection has been overtopped. Communities of Hopedale, Shell
Beach, and Yscloskey are flooded. Water level gage at Bay Gardene south of
Caernarvon shows water level is beginning to fall.

Plaquemines: National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter is in route for visual
inspection of levees. Seven feet of water has been reported on Hwy 39 at
White Ditch. A 50-foot wide, five-foot deep scour has been confirmed near
Scarsdale. Parish is addressing. Louisiana National Guard is mobilizing
500,000 sandbags to send to the site. Water has crested and is receding.
Active flood fights on both east and west banks continue. East bank
communities of Braithwaite, Port Nichols and Scarsdale are threatened by
flooding. Plaquemines Parish officials report no confirmed home flooding.
There are about 1000 homes in the area. The Caernarvon diversion structure
has been opened to drain the protected area between river levee and back
levee into the Mississippi River. Reports are that the Myrtle Grove back
levee, on the west side of the Mississippi River is overtopping.

Orleans/Jefferson: Levees are intact with no breaches or overtopping
reported. Pumps are fully functional. London Avenue and 17th Street Canal
gates on Lake Pontchartrain have been closed. Harvey Canal Gate on
westbank of Jefferson is closed.

IHNC: Current water elevation is eight feet. Flood walls are built to 12
feet. Water not expected to threaten walls. No ships/boats dislodged.

Lafitte: Lower points on levees and interim protection overtopped.
Citizens evacuated. Sandbagging of lower areas continues.

Grand Isle: Louisiana National Guardsmen on site report water is beginning
to recede. Island is currently cut off due to three-four foot inundation
of La. Hwy 1 below Leeville. Military staged to respond as soon as water
recedes. Mayor David Camardelle reported 3-feet of water over Hwy 1. All
temporary sand-levee work destroyed and several breaches have formed in
original levee on east end of island. Gages in Barataria Bay have
indicated peak surge was equal to or slightly higher than Gustav peak.

Lafourche: All areas below Golden Meadow floodgate are inundated.

Terrebonne: Town of Theriot, north of Falgout Canal, is now experiencing
water coming over roads. Non-federal levees in lower Terrebonne have been
compromised. Communities of Point Aux Chenes, Montegut, Dulac, and Dularge
are flooded. Ten-12 inches of water on streets in communities but main
roads continue to be passable. Expectations are that Chauvin is flooded as
well but that is not confirmed. Monitoring stations offshore of Timbalier
Island reported surge heights approaching Gustav levels, with wave heights
of 11 feet. Wind and wave heights measured off Timbalier Island have
leveled off.

St. Mary: Bayou Sale levees (Hwy 317) west of Berwick are being
overtopped. Two feet of inundation in lower parish. Hwy 387 is closed.

Iberia: Water continues to rise as of 3:30 p.m. Hayes Road and Railroad
Road are inundated with one-foot of water and are impassable to civilian
traffic. Areas south of Hwy 90 and east of Hwy 675 evacuated. Assets are
in place should further evacuations be necessary.

Vermilion: All locks/floodgates are closed and undamaged, as are levees.
Sheriff reported all residents of Pecan Island, Forked Island, and
Intracoastal City have evacuated. Water levels reported as five feet above
normal. All assets are on standby. Floodgates and levees okay. Water on
road at Avery Island bridge.

Calcasieu: Calcasieu locks all closed, expected to reopen 8:00 a.m.
Sunday. National Guard assets in place.

Cameron: Two feet of water reported over HWY 27 north of Hackberry.
Louisiana National Guard reported it rescued a Parish Deputy stranded in
vehicle. Hwy 82 to Texas line (including Cameron Court House) and Hwy 27
along coast are inundated with up to five feet of water. National Guard
has high water vehicles and boats in place for assistance with
evacuations. Parish EOC has moved to Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office.

For the latest information on Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, visit
emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at
1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date
information

Stay with WWL-AM-FM & WWL.com for the latest.





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