Recap of Severe Weather and Gulf Coast Flooding

On March 8, 2016 a tornado touched down in Texas demolishing a trailer park. On March 9, 2016, NWS completed their evaluation of the disaster area and released their findings and rated this tornado as a EF1 tornado. Also, NWS in Shreveport, Louisiana issued a state of emergency and as of Thursday, March 10,2016 there is a new emergency situation in Louisiana developing regarding the flooding issue. As of March 9, 2016 state of emergency has been declared with a mandatory evacuation. We are still monitoring the situation.

Storms in Louisiana and flooding has brought traffic to a standstill on many parts of Interstate 20 in North Louisiana near the Webster-Bienville Parish line.

Residents in portion of Bossier, LA are urged to leave with yet more rain on the way. According to residents they are being told to evacuate. Louis Lock neighborhood as well as Rowan Circle and Deborah Dr./ River Oaks neighborhoods are being evacuated. After 12 hours water has risen as the roof tops in some locations. A road connecting Minden with Interstate 20 is completely submerged. Evacuations are under way in Haughton, Louisiana, east of Shreveport.

A road in Bossier Parish, in the town of Princeton failed, much of the Whispering Pines neighborhood in Shreveport, LA is under water. Power is out. Residents are evacuating Whispering Pines.

A school campus in Richwood, south of Monroe, LA is under water ( Richwood Jr High School ). Webster officials say “Lake Bistineau Residents should be prepared for evacuations”. Overpasses under Interstate 49 are flooded. Multiple Parishes in Louisiana have declared a State of Emergency . Boats are needed to rescue residents in flooded sections of Bossier. Rescue operations are also in progress in Pecan Valley Estates. Quachita Parish sheriff’s department is assisting the National Guard with evacuations and rescues. Officials are preparing for the worst case scenario that the levy breaks like it did during Hurricane Katrina creating a more dangerous flooding situation.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those being affected by the flooding and storms. With spring just a little over a week away I urge everyone to have a disaster plan in place and ready.

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