05/02/2016
Heavy local rainfall and the rising Red River is creating a combination which could result in another round of flooding in low-lying areas in north and south Bossier Parish.
During a meeting of Bossier Parish and city officials Monday, Bill Parker of the National Weather Service said his office is predicting the Red River at Shreveport will crest at 32 feet Thursday (and potential for 33-34 feet). Downstream at Coushatta, the NWS forecasts a crest of 37 feet on Friday.
Officials are closely monitoring the Red River and are informing residents along La. Hwy. 537 in the Plain Dealing area, River Bluff subdivision, Cash Point and the Red River Marina to be on the lookout for potential flooding.
Also, the NWS is projecting Lake Bistineau will crest at 144 feet Friday and camps in low areas along the lake potentially could be in danger of flooding. Officials also pointed out that at 144 feet, the lake becomes a no-wake zone.
Parish officials said residents in south Bossier Parish who live south of La. Hwy. 154 to be alert and expect backwater flooding in low-lying areas.
“This is due to the large amount of rainfall that has fallen in our area recently and the forecast rise in the Red River,” said Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington.
Also, livestock owners throughout Bossier Parish are urged to move their animals to higher ground until the potential for flooding has passed.
As a precaution, sandbags are being made available at four locations in the parish. Those include:
Bossier Parish Police Jury highway department maintenance complex, 410 Mayfield St., Benton, available from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Bossier City Public Service Complex, 3223 Old Shed Rd. from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Elm Grove Elementary School on U.S. Hwy. 71 south, self-service 24 hours per day.
Tooke Memorial Library, 451 Fairview Point Rd., Koran, self-service 24 hours per day.
Bill Parker with the NWS reminded Bossier officials that May historically is the wettest month of each year and that June wasn’t far behind in rainfall totals. Water levels will be closely monitored due to the possibility of flooding through mid-June.
Parker also pointed out that the Red River has crested above flood stage of 30 feet five times since June, 2015. That, he said, has never happened since the NWS began keeping records.
As a precaution, the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office is setting up a south Bossier Mobile Command at the Red River South Travel Plaza beginning Monday. The command will be in place to respond to residents in the area due to projected flooding.
