Lower Terrebonne begins cleanup process
September 5, 2012
Darkness lingers locally in Hurricane Isaac
September 5, 2012
Hurricane Isaac gave Port Fourchon its best punch, but the port hardly flinched and is ready to fight back by getting back to business.
Port Commission Executive Director Chett Chiasson said the port withstood Isaac without major damage, despite the storm’s eye brushing the local economic hub.
“The port fared pretty well all things considered,” Chiasson said. “The facilities are pretty much up and running and our tenants are moving things around trying to do the things necessary to get back to work. … It could have been worse. We really made out OK.”
Chiasson said that the port suffered some minor damages throughout the storm.
The executive director said water inundated some areas of the port.
He added that other structures had roof damage and also marshy grass washed onto the buildings.
But Chiasson added that those types of damages are expected when a storm approaches the area.
“Our tenant facilities are built to be resilient,” he said. “We’ve really beefed up since (hurricanes) Katrina and Gustav. The damages that we faced are not really comparable to the things that we’ve seen in years past, so that obviously is a very good thing.”
Electricity has not been restored to Fourchon at press time because Chiasson confirmed that a number of power poles fell when the storm rolled through the area.
He added that Fourchon caught a break in that none of the fallen poles landed on roadways as they dropped.
Chiasson said Fourchon is prepared for outages for a short period.
“We really don’t know how long it will take to get the power up and running because we know there were transmission line issues between here and Golden Meadow,” Chiasson said. “But we suspect that’ll be done, in the grand scheme of things, very quickly.
“We don’t want to be a month without power, obviously, but most of our tenants have generator power, so if it takes three days, four days, a week, whatever, it’s fine. We can move forward like that.”
Fourchon seemed to escape Isaac without crippling damage.
Chiasson said pulling off such a feat requires practice.
The executive director said that the biggest key to any hurricane is preparation.
He said that the port has learned the intricacies of storm planning through experience.
“Unfortunately, we’ve been here before,” Chiasson said. “Too many times.”
The first step in the hurricane plan is caution.
Chiasson said none of the port’s tenants take any chances when a storm looks like it’s threatening the area.
“We have to look at what the forecasts are saying and be very cautious,” Chiasson said.
Once a decision is made, the next step is evacuation.
Chiasson said the port wants to evacuate well before communities are called to do-so.
“The oil and gas industry and the tenants of Port Fourchon did a great job in both this storm and in other storms in doing the things to prepare and get out early,” Chiasson said. “We do that so we are not clogging the roads for the general public’s ability to evacuate.
“By Monday at 3 p.m., the port was empty. We did a great job getting everyone out.”
After evacuation, the next step in a storm plan is recovery and return.
Chiasson said the port was opened back up to port assessment teams on Thursday afternoon for damage inspection.
After that process, tenants and port workers were able to re-enter at 6 a.m. Friday morning.
“And they were ready as soon as they were allowed back to get back here,” Chiasson said.
Now with tenants back, it appears that Fourchon dodged the brunt of Isaac’s blow.
The executive director said he expects the port to be operating without restriction in the very near future.
“We’re moving along and we’re getting back to business,” he said. “Things are looking good for business. We’re coming back and we’re already back in business.
“We know that the rest of this country relies on the services of Port Fourchon. But we’re proud to be here to do that and we’re very ready to get back to work for our country.”
Officials stress
importance of LA-1
While Fourchon overcame Isaac’s wrath, the only road leading into the economic hub could be in peril for future storms, according to some officials.
La. Highway 1 is the only road to and from Port Fourchon and Grand Isle.
During storm events, water rises and often leaves the road under water.
Isaac did the same and topped the roadway, closing it for 78 hours.
Officials say the road persevered and escaped Isaac without serious damage.
“We had some road-shoulder washout,” Chiasson said. “But we’re already in the process of fixing that. … Nothing major.”
But one local said next time, our area may not be as lucky.
The LA 1 Coalition is a non-profit corporation working for highway improvements from U.S. Highway 90 to coastal Lafourche Parish.
Its executive director, Henri Boulet, said he urges officials to elevate the highway to avoid its demise.
“The highway is getting inundated with every storm,” he said. “Year by year, it starts earlier as each hurricane pushes to the coast.”
Plans are being discussed to get the road lifted for future events.
But time may not be on our area’s side.
“We need to have financing to get this elevated by 2030,” Boulet said.
Hurricane Isaac leaves extensive damage after having swept over La. Highway 1 between Port Fourchon and Grand Isle. LA-1 Coalition Executive Director Henri Boulet says this is an example of why immediate federal assistance is needed to build an elevated highway structure while restoring coastal integrity.
