Hurricane prep: Officials from all levels meet to plan for storm season

By BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com
Tropical weather can shock, even when it doesn’t surprise.
That was the case last year, when what was expected to be an active hurricane season gave Morgan City its closest brush with a direct hit since 1992 and caused massive flood damage in mountainous regions of the Southeast.
Officials from every level of government met Tuesday at Morgan City’s Emergency Operations Center to make plans for the 2025 tropical season. The first big forecast of the season, from Colorado State University, is calling for another busy summer and fall with 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes in the Atlantic-Gulf Basin.
Since 1991, the average number of named storms has been 14 per year.
Last year, what was predicted to be an active season seemed slow until just after the Sept. 10 statistical peak of the season.
The next day, Category 2 Hurricane Francine hit near Morgan City with 100 mph winds and an official total of 8-10 inches of rain, although anecdotal accounts put the rainfall total much higher.
The deluge exposed deficiencies in the series of pump stations designed to move water outside the levee system in the low-lying city. Hundreds of homes sustained water damage.
Gravity Drainage District 2A is receiving $14 million from the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for upgrades to the pump stations in the hardest hit areas.
Florida was raked by two major storms. Helene headed north to dump up to 30 inches of rain in the Appalachians, killing 106 people and damaging 125,000 homes. Then came Milton, killing 35 people and causing $34 billion in damage.
This year, according to local, parish and federal officials:
—They urged all agencies to communicate with one another and to keep careful records of damage. Like homeowners, local governments often turn to federal agencies for disaster assistance.
And “you all are our lifeline to our people,” said Meteorologist Marti Calhoun of the National Weather Service.
Calhoun also noted that nine of 10 tropical weather-related deaths are the result of water. Since 2012, the proportion of deaths blamed on freshwater flooding has been growing and is now at 57%.
—As with last year, road repairs may complicate evacuation plans.
The timing of the reopening of the La. 182 bridge in Morgan City is uncertain. State crews are again working on U.S. 90 through New Iberia, although only the eastbound traffic is restricted to a single lane this year. Both westbound lanes are open for now.
But extensive work continues on a six-mile stretch of U.S. 90 between Baldwin and Sorrel. There, traffic is restricted to one lane in either direction, and the lanes are separated by heavy concrete barriers that can’t easily be removed.
—Tim Osborn of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pointed to more potential bottlenecks should evacuations be necessary. He pointed to major LNG projects underway in Plaquemines and Cameron that will draw workers, many living in trailers or RVs in flood-prone areas.
—Operations Manager Michael Brocato of the St. Mary Levee District said 90% of the levee system is designed to block river flooding rather than storm surge flooding.
But the Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure near Baldwin was built to protect central St. Mary from storm surge flooding that makes its way into the Charenton Canal.
And the larger Bayou Chene structure, built to stop backwater flooding when the Atchafalaya is high, may also be used in some tropical situations.
—Coast Guard Lt. Jenelle Piché went through the warning levels for port conditions. Condition Whiskey means gale-force winds — at least 39 mph — are expected within 72 hours; X-ray, 48 hours; Yankee, 24 hours, and Zulu, 12 hours.
The meeting was also a chance to hear from Marine Safety Unit Morgan City’s commander, Cmdr. Mary Gilday, who will be moving on from the post soon.
“We’re ready for whatever comes our way,” Gilday said, “and we’ll be here.”