[StBernard] St. Bernard winter weather update

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard winter weather update

wwltv.com

Posted on January 27, 2014 at 5:36 PM

Updated today at 5:38 PM

Sheriff Pohlmann advises residents to stay off roadways if possible because
of weather conditions Tuesday: Freezing rain forecast and could be closings
of area bridges because of icing; Administrative offices of sheriff to close
Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sheriff James Pohlmann is advising residents to stay off roadways if
possible Tuesday because of anticipated sleeting and freezing conditions and
to expect possible closings of area bridges because of icing.

"Residents should be careful of bad weather conditions predicted for
Tuesday, including sleeting and freezing that could lead to dangerous
streets,'' Sheriff Pohlmann said. The National Weather Service has called
for a Winter Storm alert beginning at 6 a.m. Tuesday and predicted freezing
rains could start by mid-morning on the South Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Icing on tree limbs could also lead to problems with electrical lines,
causing power outages, the sheriff said.

Administrative offices of the Sheriff's Office in the annex building on
Packingham Drive behind the Parish Courthouse will be closed Tuesday and
Wednesday.

Anyone with an emergency of any type can call 911 or the Sheriff's Office
number at (504) 271-2501.

"The Sheriff's Office will be prepared to respond to any problems,''
including traffic control if red lights go out because of power problems,
Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The sheriff said area bridges could be affected by icing, although the state
said efforts are being made to keep open the Paris Road bridge in New
Orleans over the MR-GO connecting St. Bernard Parish to eastern New Orleans,
which was closed some 18 hours Friday night and Saturday because of icing
and a 20-vehicle pile-up.

St. Bernard sheriff's deputies remained at the approach of the bridge after
that accident, handling traffic and turning it back to St. Bernard because
of the bridge closure. St. Bernard Parish firefighters were also on the
scene Friday night after the accident, helping victims of the crashes on the
bridge, along with emergency medical service personnel from New Orleans.

Bridges over the Industrial Canal in New Orleans, including the Claiborne
Avenue bridge, the St. Claude Avenue bridge and the Florida Avenue bridge
could also be affected by icing on Tuesday.

Freezing temperatures are expected on Wednesday also, with wamer weather on
Thursday.

In St. Bernard, the Violet Canal bridge on East Judge Perez Drive and
smaller bridges will be monitored.