News Column: COASTAL CURRENTS
Submitted: May 11, 2011
Alan Matherne, Area Agent (Fisheries & Coastal Issues)
Terrebonne, Lafourche, and Assumption Parishes; LSU AgCenter
With the Spring 2011 Mississippi River flood waters fast approaching our area, now is a good time to begin planning on what courses of action we may need to take. Certain areas of the state, especially in and about the Morganza floodway will most certainly flood. Other areas may or may not flood, depending upon the amount of water released, elevations, drainage, levees, etc.
First and foremost, listen and pay attention to your local government and emergency management agencies and be sure to follow their recommendations concerning flood preparations and evacuations.
There is a lot that you can do to help make decisions concerning the upcoming flood conditions. In today’s computer and Internet age, there is a wealth of information available concerning all aspects of this situation. Unfortunately . . . that can also be a problem — information overload!
There is so much information available out there, that sometimes just trying to sort it out and find what you need can be very frustrating and sometimes even downright overwhelming. To help you narrow your search and zoom into the information that you need, the LSU AgCenter has put together a portal or gateway if you will of online information concerning the Spring 2011 flood.
The LSU AgCenter 2011 Spring Flood Alert! website is located at LSUAgCenter.com/floods. From here you can find links to the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, US Army Corps of Engineers estimated inundation maps, and the LSU AgCenter ground elevation mapping tool.
Other links on LSUAgCenter.com/floods provide information on Preventing Flood Damage (protecting you building from shallow flooding, three feet or less), Are You Ready? (grabbing essential documents, stocking up on supplies, making a disaster plan, etc.), and Preparedness for Livestock (fact sheets for beef, dairy, goat, sheep, and horse producers).
Emergency and other contact information for our area:
LOUISIANA
Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness
1-800-256-7036 or 225-925-7500
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov
LSU AgCenter . . . lsuagcenter.com
ASSUMPTION
Emergency Management . . . 985-369-7386
Office of Emergency Preparedness . . . http://www.assumptionoep.com
Sheriff . . . 985-369-2912
LSU AgCenter . . . 985-369-6386
LAFOURCHE
Emergency Management . . . 985-537-7603
Office of Emergency Preparedness . . . http://www.lafourchegov.org/Departments_OEP.aspx
Sheriff . . . 985-532-2808
LSU AgCenter . . . 985-446-1316
TERREBONNE
Emergency Management . . . 985-873-6357
Office of Emergency Preparedness . . . http://www.tpcg.org/view.php?f=ohsep
Sheriff . . . 985-876-2500
LSU AgCenter . . . 985-873-6495
Finally, be sure to check my blog (BayouLog.com) regularly for updates and links to the LSU AgCenter and other resources.
