Storms flood downtown Houma

The 10 inches of rain dropped on northern Terrebonne in a short period last Thursday night, and the flooding of 197 structures that followed, prompted the Terrebonne Parish Council to call an emergency meeting Friday afternoon.

Earl Eues, director of the Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, told the parish council the drainage system had been pumped down beforehand anticipating the rain Thursday. The same was being done for the heavy rain predicted for Friday night.

Parish President Michel Claudet told residents to be wary.

“No pumps can handle that amount (of rain),” he said.

Large areas of water that needed to be emptied were draining slowly, Eues said, partly because winds from the south and southeast were keeping water in the bayous.

Three manhole covers were pressured out, causing an automobile accident with no injuries. In addition, a truck avoiding high water rode on top of a section of levee and damaged it, said Council members Johnny Pizzolatto and Clayton Voisin.

Three sewer lift stations lost power in the storm, but power companies reported no general outages.

As of Friday, the parish had received permission from the federal government for the drainage system to bypass the plant and discharge directly into the pond, Eues said.

Councilman Billy Hebert said many homes in the Broadmoor section of his Bayou Cane district were flooded by the rains Thursday, even though pumps were working. Parts of Broadmoor have been vulnerable to flooding in recent years.

“I don’t know what to tell people anymore,” Hebert said. “Maybe we can ask for assistance to elevate homes.”

Hebert said he hoped residents could receive fair prices for their homes if they decide to move.

Councilwoman Teri Cavalier, who represents Gray and northern Terrebonne, said culverts in Bayou Terrebonne were badly blocked.

Communication among parish workers was good, she said, but was poorer with the sheriff’s department. She said some residents waved guns from their porches at people making waves in the street.

Councilman Kevin Voisin said the new Valhi Boulevard extension also experienced problems with blocked culverts.

Although most council members had high water in their districts, the members, along with Claudet, praised Parish Public Works personnel for their efficiency during the storm.

Vehicles move slowly through standing water near Grinage Street in Houma. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF