Cassidy: Louisiana has answers for nation’s woes
May 31, 2011Katherine Newsom
June 2, 2011
Morgan City Mayor Tim Matte and Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet urged continued vigilance Monday, as the crest of the Atchafalaya River approached Morgan City and Terrebonne Parish.
Lafourche Parish leaders also continued their flood protection efforts as predictions across the Tri-parish region continued to shift regarding the arrival of a river crest and backwater flooding.
Matte said the National Guard is on 24-hour surveillance rounds for all levees in his city.
“They’re inspecting twice daily in shifts. A whole new team comes in the in evening and keeps watch overnight,” he said.
Twenty-two of the city’s 27 floodgates that border the Atchafalaya River are closed, and on Monday, Matte did not expect to activate the other five.
“What really amazes me, however, is how well that barge project is working,” Matte said. “It’s unbelievable how the present levels of Lake Palourde are two to three inches below original projections.”
One week ago, residents became concerned about cracks in Morgan City’s 22-foot seawall, part of a 15 mile stretch of levees that keep the Atchafalaya’s waters from entering the municipality.
St. Mary Parish Director of Emergency Preparedness Duval Arthur explained that cracks are a normal occurrence when concrete stretches. “The corps has assured us time and time again that they’re OK. … They’re keeping a watchful eye,” he said.
Lee LeBlanc and Gwen Hidalgo, who each operate businesses along Morgan City’s Front Street, said they have seen military officials check the levee seawalls daily.
Jackie Price, owner of The Frame Shop on Front Street, said she isn’t concerned. “I was here in the ’80s when they were constructing this protection,” she said. “I thought they were going to take forever.”
“This event is a matter of being vigilant,” Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said. “I believe God is giving us a break after experiencing Hurricane Gustav and the BP oil spill. This [event] is going to be another two, maybe three more weeks [of uncertainty].”
Claudet complimented St. Mary Parish Levee District President Bill Hidalgo for his organization’s work on a backwater flood control project at Bayou Chene. “The barge project has made all the difference in Donner and Gibson,” Claudet said. “Frankly, it’s been a tremendous salvation.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Edward Fleming said that if the barge complex were not in place on Bayou Chene, Terrebonne Parish residents would be faced with 32 to 36 inches of water almost instantly rushing their property. More than 300,000 sandbags have been distributed to help fight the flood threat in the western reaches of Terrebonne Parish.
On Friday, the state Department of Transportation deployed 10 dump trucks to the Grand Isle Shipyard in Galliano, to be placed on standby, and hauled approximately 500 cubic yards of sand to the Lafourche Levee District, in support of ongoing sandbagging efforts.
Rising water nears “Morgan City” along the waterfront Monday. The Atchafalaya River was expected to crest in St. Mary Parish yesterday. HOWARD CASTAY
