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Officials begin final preparations for rising river
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008
VIDALIA — With less than a foot to rise before the Mississippi River reaches flood stage, local officials began to take final precautionary measures Tuesday.
The river is expected to reach flood stage when it rises to 48 feet above gauge zero at the Natchez-Vidalia pass today.
The river is expected to crest at 53.5 feet April 7.
When the river reaches that point, Carthage Point Road will be submerged, and by Thursday will be under a half-foot of water, Adams County Emergency Management Director Stan Owens said.
By the time the river crests, the road will be under approximately 5 feet of water, and it was already closed to through traffic Tuesday.
If someone comes upon water covering a road, they should not try to cross it, Owens said.
“You don’t know what might have washed out from under you to begin with, not to mention the currents of the Mississippi River,” Owens said.
The District 5 Levee Board and the U.S. Corps of Engineers are already in a phase I flood fight, which means they conduct patrols on the levees to watch for signs of weaknesses.
A phase I flood flight would be more rightly called flood preparations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Spokesperson Frank Whorley said.
“I don’t want to give anyone the impression that a major flood is coming, because as predictions stand right now, that’s not the case,” Whorley said.
A phase II flood fight begins when the water approaches the top of the levees, levee board member Reynold Minsky said.
Right now, sand boils are the levee board’s biggest concern, Minsky said.
Sand boils are places where water has forced its way under the levee and the pressure it exerts pushes the soil up through the ground surface until the water can run through.
The way the levee board addresses sand boils is to essentially build wells of sand bags around the boils, which collects the water until the water pressure equalizes and only water instead of soil material brims out of the top, Minsky said.
The fifth Louisiana levee district covers Concordia, East Carroll, Madison and Tensas parishes.
The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office began increased patrols along the levee roadways Tuesday, especially around the Deer Park and Minorca areas.
“We are providing extra patrols of these areas of the levees where many people are forced to park their vehicles during this high water stage,” Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell said.
Maxwell urged those who need to access the levee areas to use extreme caution, but asked those who don’t have any reason to go to those areas to refrain from doing so.
“We are asking area residents to refrain from driving along the levee roads to sightsee as the water rises,” Maxwell said. “These areas simply cannot bear this type of traffic flow problem.”
Minksy and Owens both said they do not expect to see the rising water create any major problems.
“The flooding isn’t going to anywhere near where it was in 1997, when the water passed 56 feet, but it is going to be a complete nuisance,” Owens said.
Comments
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Minorca is already flooding and people are boating into their homes!i have to agree with maxwell the levees definatly need to not be pack cause the people who live in these homes are parking on the levees.
Posted by deerparkla (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am the manager of Deer Park Lake Campground.The picture of the building with the American Flag on top is the bunk house and office. Water started coming in on the floor yesterday. Deer Park does have families living here boating in and out. Our Deer Park Neighborhood Watch people do patrol the high waters watching for those that do not need to be in here during this time. I am personally thankful that the Concordia Parish officers are patroling the levees more during high water to help keep us all safer.
Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not live on old river but I do have a trailer there that i go to to get away from home from time to time and i put my boat in yesterday at J&J boat ramp! I did it to mainly check on my trailer there and make sure nothing has been stolen so far! I do agree with keeping as many people off the levee's as possible cause they don't need that traffic on them right now! The more people u keep out of that area the less that will be stolen!
Posted by Dd (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sadly ..during times like this some people take advantage of the situation and steal....Lock up what you can and everyone watch for strange boat traffic.
There should be a deputy on the levee at all times..asking questions and checking Id's....sure it might take longer,but it might stop the theft.
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hang in there folks. The river will fall; I realize that those are not very comforting wording words but it is the truth. Prayers are sent.
To the theives:
You are scumbags and remember "what goes around, comes around".
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the farmers get their livestock out before the river floods. When the river starts to fall the fishing sure will be great. Wonder how Hydro is dealing with the high water and trash coming down river.
Posted by babyblu2001 (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
“I don’t want to give anyone the impression that a major flood is coming, because as predictions stand right now, that’s not the case,” Whorley said.
~~~~Hope for you all that these are not the same folks that predicted Katrina's damage before the hurricane!! They were oh, so wrong!
Posted by jack (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw the Adams county sheriff's office boat in the river today. two deputies in it , Guys be careful, this is a great idea of patrolling the river to stop crime. I just never thought about it or ever saw it in the MIss Lou Randy Maxwelldeputies needs to follow Ronnie Browns deputies and protect this side of the river. Criminals have broke into camps in the past during high water on both sides of the river
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yes water up criminals always looking for a way to steal something who is checking on the oil wells to see that they do not put oil in the river thanks law enforcement adams sheriff dept for your job in protecting citizens property crooks will find a way
Posted by plpriest (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in Deerpark and you better believe it that if there is a strange boat or automobile here we find out who and what they are doing in here. I am a block captain here and we are watching day and night for crooks.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jack, I thought Ronny Brown was gonna get rid of the sheriff's boat after the way he used it in his election campaign. It is never parked at the sheriff's department anymore. I assumed he (RB) was honorable and got rid of it since he said it was a luxury. This leaves me feeling sooooo used. I feel like floor dust.
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