Caddo Parish Officials Respond to Rising Flood Waters
The rains we received last month have made it the wettest December of record since 1884 and it looks as though we're not out of the woods yet.
In Caddo Parish yesterday, parish and city leaders met to discuss the impact of weather in the area.The National Weather Service briefed those attending the meeting on current and anticipated conditions, saying the local area received twice the normal amount of rainfall in December and could see up to another inch in the coming days.
Caddo Sheriff and Homeland Security Director Steve Prator said officials are monitoring the conditions day by day and hour by hour. No homes have reported flooding and no evacuations have been ordered but city and parish departments are preparing a response based on how much rain is received and how fast it drains.
Citizens living in south Caddo and the Wallace Lake area will likely see the greatest impact. The flood stage at Cypress Bayou on Wallace Lake is 151 feet, but was at 151.72 Thursday morning and could possibly rise to near 156 feet by Saturday morning. At that level, cattle should be moved to higher ground, motorists should expect access roadways to be flooded, and several roads would be closed.
Current road closures are Keithville Kingston at Missile Base Road near the Desoto Parish line, Linwood at Tyre, Linwood at Southern Loop, and Barron at Linwood. Sheriff’s deputies report that motorists have repeatedly moved the barricades and signs placed there for the public’s protection. As a result, deputies are citing motorists for moving and/or driving around barricades.
Shreveport residents needing sandbags can pick them up from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the city’s Streets and Drainage Facilities located at 1935 Claiborne and 3825 Mansfield Road.
Parish residents can get sandbags from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Caddo Parish Department of Public Works/Fleet Services, 1701 Monty Street, and from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Public Works location at 11928 Greenwood-Springridge Road.