Families flee rising river

    Avoyelles Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Joey Frank said there were an undetermined number of families in Moncla and Fifth Ward who had also been displaced by the flooding as of Thursday.

The parish OEP issued an evacuation advisory for areas of Brouillette threatened by the rising water. In an advisory evacuation, officials visit homes in the area one on one. The office also issued a voluntary evacuation notice for Spring Bayou, Grassy Lake, Old River and Grand Lake areas.   The Red is expected to crest at 40.5 in Alexandria. If that holds true, it will be the first time it has topped 40 feet since 1958 and would be its highest level since May 9, 1942 when it reached 40.65 feet. 

    The crest at Lock & Dam No. 1 will be 60.7 ft. The lowest section of levee in that area is 61 ft.

    “It will be very, very close to the top of the levee,” Frank said.

   Jessie Lachney, a retired civil engineer/surveyor and avid river watcher, said the  levels on the Red and Black rivers ae “bad news for Brouillette and Spring Bayou.” He said the water from up north “is coming in fast.”

    Officials feel the Red River levels will be higher than in 1973. However, as of Friday morning, it appears the backwater levels will not reach the flooding of 1973 because of the water level of Atchafalaya.  

The Atchafalaya is well below flood stage of 46.  It was to crest at 38 feet yesterday. However, the water may be coming in faster than the Atchafalaya can take it, causing some backwater flooding.

    “For comparison, the backwater level at Brouillette was 46 ft. in 2011, so it is expected to be four feet higher than it was in 2011,” Lachney said. 

Lachney is particularly concerned with a projected Black River crest at Acme of 53 feet.

   “That is almost where it was in 1975,” which was a high-water event.

   The National Weather Service  (NWS) upgraded its warning for the Acme area from minor flooding to moderate flooding. It  hit flood stage of 48 feet this past  Wednesday.

  “At 52 feet, widespread lowland flooding is occurring,” the Weather Service advised in a report. “Evacuation of livestock and equipment is recommended.” Lachney said that with the Red, Black and Mississippi Rivers near or above flood stage,  the water in Avoyelles is running out of places to go.

  “Sand and sandbags have been placed at Fifth Ward Fire Department, Brouillette Fire Department and Effie Fire Department for the public to use for protecting their properties,” Frank said. He reminds people to bring a shovel to fill their bags.

   There were efforts in lower Vick and Brouillette on Thursday  and Friday to shore up levees and increase their height to prevent the rising Red from intruding past the levee line. 

Inmates of the Avoyelles Sheriff’s Office filled sandbags which were then used by employees of the Red River-Atchafalaya and Boeuf Levee Board to strengthen the levee system.

   The National Guard responded quickly to Frank’s request for high-water trucks.  The vehicles were taken to the National Guard Armory in Marksville to be used to rescue people and pets who might get trapped by the rising water.

   Red Cross was also notified to be on stand-by for the possibility of opening shelters in the parish. Residents of the affected areas reported that Cleco employees had advised that electricity would be cut off to homes in immediate danger of flooding.

   To serve those who may be affected by flooding conditions, the Avoyelles Journal will be available at stores near those flooded areas or at the newspaper office. Call 253-5413.