Suspect charged in disturbance in Houma
August 31, 2017
Dorothy Rousse
September 1, 2017
Bayou Region parishes continue to closely monitor movement of storms related to the storm named Harvey into midweek, as the storm continued walloping Houston with rains of Biblical proportions.
Locally, Harvey’s tendrils circled and teased, soaking some streets with occasionally heavy downpours then easing up. The first tornado watch related to Harvey was issued Monday afternoon, and at that time authorities said the storm’s effects would likely be seen in Terrebonne and Lafourche through Thursday. A tornado warning for St. Charles Parish followed but there were no reports of a touchdown or damage.
Thunder – often distant and growling – warned that Harvey was not so far. But local effects were expected to be stretched over several days, more toler-
able than long-lasting deluges and giving drainage systems opportunities to recover.
On Monday morning Alma Street was closed at Westside Boulevard due to flooding. On Isle de Jean Charles there were concerns about whether school busses could travel on Island Road Monday afternoon.
Students made it home, and officials said they were taking things a day at a time in terms of determining what offices, schools or services would be opened or closed as the week progresses.
Sandbags were readily available prior to the arrival of Harvey’s remnants and raiments. In Terrebonne Parish muscle-power from Sheriff Jerry Larpenter’s inmate work program was joined with automation – the ability to fill sandbags by machine – to better aid locals concerned about flooding.
“We gave out almost 16,000 sand bags between Friday and Saturday. We have 700 bags on pallets/’ Parish President Gordon Dove said Sunday. “We will continue filling sandbags and having sand and bags at all locations till this system is definitely north of Houston or poses no flood threat to Terrebonne.”
Dove credited Mike Toups and his Public Works Department as well as Sheriff Larpenter for their vigilance and preparations.
On Monday afternoon elements of the Louisiana National Guard had been activated.
Staff Sgt. David Kirtland, a guard spokesman, said personnel with its 1st battalion had been activated, augmenting a standby already in place.
“Once we had an idea Harvey was coming in this general direction we started staging high water vehicles and boat teams in various areas,” Kirtland said. “They are adding more to prepare for missions if they are called out to do so.”
Pre-positioning was done in Calcasieu, Red River, Natchitoches, Caddo, Vermillion, Orleans, Lafayette and Rapides Parishes.
Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a statewide emergency. Rainfall amounts in western Louisiana were forecast to be as high as 15 inches.
“Feeder bands are coming over us,” said Reggie Dupre, director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District. “We’ll get a lot of rain and some high tide, so we have had some of the flood gates closed. This will be more of an annoyance for us unless a band stays too long over one neighborhood.”
For up-to-date information on gate closures Dupre said the best place to get information is at the board’s website www.tlcd.org.
The Pointe-aux-Chenes floodgate was closed Monday evening, its first full closure since it went operational.
Local volunteers said they are planning trips to Texas or western Louisiana parishes later this week, but were hanging back unless specifically requested in case help is needed closer to home.
“Fm playing it very cautious,” sad Ricky Whipple of Houma, a founder of the Cajun Navy of Terrebonne and Lafourche. He and other volunteers will be delivering emergency items to Texas and if need be to western Louisiana parishes by truck at the end of the week.
“I have a trailer and I am going to bring that also,” said Houma landscaper Nicole Li-rette, administrator of the popular local Facebook page The Buzz. “We’re going to bring diapers, toiletries, water, non-perishable items.”
Parish Council members urged residents Monday to retrieve sandbags, even though local flood threats are minimal.
“I am telling them don’t wait and see what this thing is going to do,” said Councilwoman Ar-landa Williams, who was calling constituents and encouraging them to pass the word. “I would rather they have the sandbags and save them for another time than not have them at all.”
