Parish President orders voluntary evacuation for all of Iberia Parish

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, August 29, 2017

As the Teche Area continues to feel the effects of Tropical Storm Harvey, parish and school officials are urging residents to buckle down or evacuate.

At the last available update, the National Weather Service in Lake Charles said Harvey is a weak tropical storm near the central Texas coast. The forecast has Harvey slowly heading toward the upper Texas coast before making landfall Wednesday morning as a tropical storm.

Heavy rain and dangerous flood threats have been the main problem with this storm, especially in southwest Louisiana Storm total values could approach the 30 to 40 inch range in parts of southeast Texas. From midnight to 5 p.m. Monday, Iberia Parish received 3.85 inches of rain.

However, the system is not expected to strengthen significantly wind-wise. Due to the track forecast, a tropical storm warning is in effect for Jefferson County, Cameron and Vermilion Parishes.

Locally, Iberia and St. Mary Parish residents can expect storm surges one to three feet above ground level today. Iberia, St. Mary, Jefferson County, Cameron and Vermilion parishes are all expected to see more coastal flooding today.

Iberia Parish President Larry Richard issued a voluntary evacuation order that extended to all of Iberia Parish Monday afternoon. Richard said elderly residents and residents with special medical or mobility requirements should especially consider evacuating until the risk to Iberia Parish has passed. 

If the threat of dangerous weather worsens, Iberia Parish Government will declare a mandatory evacuation, provide evacuation assistance and open a shelter for residents in need of a place to stay. 

 St. Martin and Iberia parishes received the brunt of high water Monday. Jefferson Terrace, Center Street, St. Peter and Main streets were some of the areas that received a high concentration of floodwater.

According to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, several reports were received about jacked-up trucks speeding through flooded areas. The issue prompted public information officer Maj. Wendell Raborn to issue a notice saying that any drivers caught in the act would be arrested.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development closed several Teche Area roads during the rainiest parts of the day. DOTD issued high water notices at Grand Point and Anse Broussard highways in St. Martin Parish, as well as closures at Louisiana 347 between Louisiana 678 and Louisiana 686 at Louisiana 328.

In Iberia Parish, DOTD said that Louisiana 14 at the Delcambre bridge was closed only to marine traffic only due to flooding.

The NWS is forecasting another 6 to 10 inches of rain in southwest Louisiana, along with 8 to 15 inches in southeast Texas, 5 to 8 inches in south central Louisiana and 4 to 8 inches in central Louisiana. Depending on rain band development, Teche Area residents may see rain totals higher than that, however.

To accommodate the forecasted rainfall, all public schools in the Teche Area have been closed today.  The only public schools open Monday were in St. Mary Parish. However, St. Mary Parish President  David Hanagriff said schools will be closed Tuesday after advisement from Homeland Security. Although high water isn’t as much of an issue in St. Mary, Hanagriff said the threat of tornado watches were the main factor in school closure.

Superintendents in Iberia and St. Martin Parishes said schools would continue to be closed today. The two school systems will continue to monitor weather conditions and make another announcement in regards to their status for Wednesday. The Diocese of Lafayette has also said all Catholic schools in the Acadiana area would continue to be closed today as well.

In addition, Catholic High School, Assembly Christian School and Highland Baptist Christian School have all made announcements of their closure today as well.