14-year-old Lao among THS’s Class of 2011
May 17, 2011Thursday, May 19
May 19, 2011
As anticipated, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened floodgates at the 60-year-old Morganza Spillway on Saturday for the first time in 38 years.
While swollen waters are being eased on the Mississippi River, with intentions of protecting Baton Rouge and New Orleans from massive damage, the flow began drowning 3,000 square miles of land along the Atchafalaya River and threatened bayou-connected communities along a winding trek to the Gulf of Mexico with backwater flooding.
With one 28-foot wide floodgate bay partially opened Saturday that released water at a rate of 10,000 cubic feet per second, corps officials said that more gates could gradually be opened to eventually release 125,000 cubic feet of water per second. Prior model estimates had that flow level reaching 300,000 cubic feet per second if needed.
On Sunday, the corps declined to speculate how many of the 125 bays might eventually be opened, but confirmed that up to 16 gates could be used to keep the Mississippi River at its current level.
Once making anticipated comparisons to the flood of 1973, forecasters later offered projections more in line with the flood of 1927, which caused $400 million in damage, killed 246 people in seven states, and left southern Louisiana as a lake for nearly a year, until waters subsided.
The primary difference between those landmark floods and the event of 2011 was the two example floods were accompanied by constant rain as well as water flowing downstream from one-third of the nation. According to the National Weather Service, the Tri-parish region should not see significant rainfall for the next few days.
Another major factor that long time residents said should make this flood different than those of the past are the levees and pumping systems that are now in place, which were not previously present. Yet, nobody questioned was willing to take the river’s power lightly.
Residents diligently filled sandbags and constructed barriers around their homes during the weekend. Terrebonne Parish crews made use of $1 million, approved by the parish council two weeks ago and confirmed for reimbursement by FEMA, to shore up flood protection defenses, and St. Mary Parish officials prepared to sink a barge in Bayou Chene to ease the flow of backwater.
In Gibson, neighbors were helping neighbors as they hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.
“I don’t think it will be as bad [as the flood of] 1973,” said Rory Marr Sr. as he and his son, Rory Jr., filled sandbags at the Gibson Volunteer Fire Department station and loaded them on a trailer to take home. “We have a lot of pumps and levees and things we didn’t have back then,” he said. “They just haven’t been tested yet.”
“I just hope the people in Baton Rouge pray for us,” said Carole Duval as she helped her neighbors, Sheila and Caroll McIntyre, build a wall of sandbags around their home. Duval’s house is raised so she was not as concerned about herself. Her efforts to help a friend and neighbor exemplified the common occurrence as residents worked and waited for unknown results.
“You just got to do it,” said Brad Brelton as he placed sandbags around the home of Herbert Johnson. Johnson was recovering from a kidney transplant and unable to lift sandbags himself.
During a Sunday evening telephone call, Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet told the Tri-Parish Times that levees were being shored up on the Intracoastal Waterway side of La. Highway 182, and levees were being strengthened in subdivisions suspected of being the most vulnerable to flooding.
“We are working the levees all the way from Savanne Road to Gibson,” Claudet said. Culverts are being blocked and gates closed in anticipation of fighting off floodwaters.
Current projections call for 11 feet above flood stage in Morgan City, once the river crest reaches that area, possibly on May 23. Water expectations in Terrebonne Parish have been posted as being up to 5 feet.
Claudet said that when waters have reached their greatest depth it could take a month or more for them to subside. He estimated seeing standing water into July.
“You’ve got to realize this is different from a hurricane,” Claudet said. “A hurricane comes from the lower parts of the parish and that is a real low part. It rushes in and it rushes almost right out. This is one where water is seeping into areas of our parish that has the force of gravity trying [to move it] and it is going to be a long time before it gets out. If this stuff stands, then that potentially is a major problem.”
Flood waters from the Morganza Spillway into the Atchafalaya Basin are expected to directly impact more than 25,000 people and destroy as many as 11,000 structures. Standing waters afterward would not only hurt individuals and families of the region, but could carry an economic blow that is felt throughout the nation.
According to corps projections, waters released from Morganza could reach St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes today. The corps also confirmed Sunday that the Morganza could remain open until the middle of June.
Rory Marr Sr. and Rory Marr Jr. prepare sandbags at the Gibson Volunteer Fire Department and prepare a load to take home in their effort to fight off approaching floodwaters. HOWARD J. CASTAY JR.
