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Widespread power outages in St. Mary

Sat, 07/13/2019 - 12:00pm

Hurricane Barry had knocked out power to two-thirds of Cleco's St. Mary customers at 11:30 a.m., according a website that tracks outages.

PowerOutages.us said nearly 13,000 customers were without power. The utility has about 19,000 St. Mary customers, a figure that includes both residential and commercial users.

The parish has about 20,000 households, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

About 2,200 customers, or 9 percent, of St. Martin customers for three utilities were blacked out.

About 6,800 of 13,000 Entergy customers in Assumption were without electricity.

The city of Patterson's Facebook page said Cleco has been notified and will be out to make repairs as soon as weather permits.

Officials warn people to avoid downed power lines and to use caution when using candles or electrical generators during blackouts. Don't try to use generators indoors or in enclosed spaces that might expose people to dangerous carbon monoxide.

Downed lines, bridge closure in Morgan City

Sat, 07/13/2019 - 8:20am

Morgan City police were responding to reports of several downed power lines and utility polices about 7 a.m.

The La. 182 bridge was also closed "due to damage sustained by a vehicle," and La. 70 was closed near Ninth Street and Victor II Boulevard because of downed utility poles.

Early damage reported in Patterson

Sat, 07/13/2019 - 5:50am

Patterson's city government has posted photos of some downed limbs on Facebook.

It also reports a power outage in the Red Cypress and Shady Grove areas linked to a blown transformer about 5 a.m.

1 p.m. update: Barry inches its way to shore near Intracoastal City

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 4:06pm

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Barry Intermediate Advisory Number 13A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL022019
100 PM CDT Sat Jul 13 2019

...BARRY MAKES LANDFALL NEAR INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA AND WEAKENS
TO A TROPICAL STORM...
...DANGEROUS STORM SURGE, HEAVY RAINS, AND WIND CONDITIONS
CONTINUING ACROSS THE NORTH-CENTRAL GULF COAST...

SUMMARY OF 100 PM CDT...1800 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...29.8N 92.1W
ABOUT 5 MI...10 KM NE OF INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA
ABOUT 30 MI...50 KM SSW OF LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH...115 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 315 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...996 MB...29.41 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

The Hurricane Watch has been discontinued for the Louisiana coast
west of Intracoastal City.

The Hurricane Warning for the Louisiana coast will likely be
discontinued later this afternoon as Barry moves farther inland.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Intracoastal City to Grand Isle

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mouth of the Pearl River to Grand Isle
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New
Orleans
* Intracoastal City to Sabine Pass

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Intracoastal City to Biloxi
* Lake Pontchartrain

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Biloxi to the Mississippi/Alabama border

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline
during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a
depiction of areas at risk please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic available at
hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons
located within these areas should take all necessary actions to
protect life and property from rising water and the potential for
other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other
instructions from local officials.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the
coastline in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 100 PM CDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Barry was
located near latitude 29.8 North, longitude 92.1 West. Barry is
moving toward the northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h), and a turn toward
the north-northwest is expected tonight, followed by a turn toward
the north on Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Barry
will move through southern Louisiana this afternoon, into central
Louisiana tonight, and into northern Louisiana on Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds are now near 70 mph (115 km/h) with higher
gusts, and these winds are located over water to the southeast of
the center. Weakening is expected as Barry moves farther inland,
and it is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression on Sunday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km)
from the center. The National Ocean Service station at Eugene
Island, Louisiana recently reported sustained winds of 61 mph and a
wind gust of 72 mph.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 996 mb (29.41 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key Messages for Barry can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT2 and WMO header WTNT42 KNHC.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

Intracoastal City to Shell Beach...3 to 6 ft
Shell Beach to Biloxi MS...3 to 5 ft
Lake Pontchartrain...3 to 5 ft
Biloxi MS to the Mississippi/Alabama border...2 to 4 ft
Lake Maurepas...1 to 3 ft

Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge
and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For
information specific to your area, please see products issued by
your local National Weather Service forecast office.

RAINFALL: Barry is expected to produce total rain accumulations of
10 to 20 inches over south-central and southeast Louisiana and
southwest Mississippi, with isolated maximum amounts of 25 inches.
Across the remainder of the Lower Mississippi Valley and western
portions of the Tennessee Valley, total rain accumulations of 4 to 8
inches are expected, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches.
This rainfall is expected to lead to dangerous, life threatening
flooding.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are occurring across the Hurricane
and Tropical Storm Warning areas to the east of the center. Wind
gusts to tropical-storm force in squalls are possible along portions
of the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and the western Florida
Panhandle through tonight.

TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are possible through tonight across
the southeast Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama.

St. Mary shelter locations announced

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 3:30pm

The following shelters will be open at 7 p.m. Friday: Berwick Civic Complex, Baldwin Civic Center and Franklin Recreation Center, according to the St. Mary Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

All shelters will have cots, blankets and limited food, mainly MREs. If you have special food and medicinal requirements, you must bring your own. These shelters are for people in low lying areas, or those who just don't feel safe staying where they are.

Guard standing by to help through storm

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 3:28pm

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard, as directed by Governor John Bel Edwards, has been authorized to activate up to 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen, not to include full-time Guardsmen, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry, on Thursday.

“The Louisiana National Guard is taking a proactive and aggressive approach in dealing with the preparations ahead of Tropical Storm Barry,” said Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, adjutant general. “This will allow our Guardsmen to be more successful in their priority missions immediately following the storm – search and rescue operations and commodities distribution.”

In addition to high-water vehicles and boats staged in over 20 communities across the state in possible affected areas, the LANG has helicopters ready to support search and rescue, evacuation and recon missions as needed.

The LANG is also moving and staging additional assets to the New Orleans area in order to provide a quick response as needed.

Large quantities of drinking water, blankets and sandbags have been moved, delivered or positioned by the LANG to areas for distribution following the storm.

To help better assist coordination efforts at the local level, the LANG has liaison officer teams in Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne and Vermillion parishes.

Patterson Healthcare residents are being relocated

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 3:20pm

Patterson Healthcare is one of two St. Mary nursing homes that are moving residents north to keep them safe from Tropical Storm Barry.

Patterson Healthcare confirmed the move Friday. Parish President David Hanagriff told KQKI that Franklin's nursing home is also being assisted by the state with a move out of the storm's path.

Patterson Healthcare is on Lia Street. Nearby areas south of the railroad tracks experienced flooding during heavy rain earlier this year.

There was no immediate word about Maison Jardin in Morgan City.

Curfew issued for St. Mary Parish from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 2:52pm

A curfew will be in effect for St. Mary Parish from 10 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday, according to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office.

Teche Regional Medical Center initiates emergency response plan

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 2:31pm

Effective immediately, Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City has initiated its emergency response plan and is proactively taking steps to prepare for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Barry. The facility’s top priority is to continue providing the highest quality care possible while ensuring the safety of patients and their families, employees and providers – especially in a potentially emergent situation, a hospital news release said.

As part of its emergency response plan, Teche Regional Medical Center is diligently preparing employees and providers to ensure they are well-equipped to serve the community during this critical time of need. Extra staff will be available to accommodate higher patient volumes and to support the transfer of patients to neighboring facilities, as needed. Hospital leaders are working around the clock to ensure that the facility will have the appropriate capacity and supplies to continue caring for patients and supporting staff in the days ahead, the release said.

Teche Regional Medical Center is closely collaborating with the Emergency Management office in St. Mary Parish to stay abreast of the latest storm developments, collaborate on appropriate response protocols and provide updates to the community. The facility intends to share regular updates via media alerts, its website and social media platforms regarding potential facility challenges that may impact certain patient care services in the immediate days ahead. The community should be advised that in the event of a widespread power outage, the hospital has the ability to generate its own power, as needed.

At this time, the hospital and its emergency department remain open and are fully operational. If you have an appointment scheduled with a provider in one of the hospital’s clinics, call that office directly to confirm if they will be open.

Check the hospital’s website at Techeregional.com and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TecheRegionalMedicalCenter frequently for updates throughout the duration of the storm.

Morgan City adds more pumps ahead of storm

Fri, 07/12/2019 - 1:53pm

By Diane Miller Fears, dfears@daily-review.com

“We’re doing all we can to be prepared,” said Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi Friday afternoon as he watched pumps being added at Pump Station 4 near Veterans Boulevard. The preparations are being made as Tropical Storm Barry approaches the Louisiana shore and St. Mary Parish with threats of heavy rain.
The mayor was able to secure two 12-inch pumps following a request made to Gov. John Bel Edwards during Edwards’ Thursday visit to Morgan City the mayor said. Those are being added to three 6-inch pumps secured from Drainage District 2.
Pump Station 4 will now have the capacity to pump 42 more inches said Grizzaffi. The station pumps water from Second Street to Elliot Subdivision.
Grizzaffi also noted that Pump Station 7 has an additional 12-inch pump to help with drainage in Wyandotte Subdivision.
The canal at Pump Station 3 along La. 70 has been pumped down 12 feet to allow room for possible heavy rain. That station handles water from La. 70/Marguerite Street to Brashear Avenue.
The Lakeside canal has also been pumped down to help with gravity drainage the mayor said.
According to the National Weather Service, rainbands spreading into area Friday will be capable of producing locally heavy rains of 1 to 3 inches in a short time period. Rainfall amounts through the weekend have the potential to be much higher and could reach 15 to 20 inches in some spots.
Grizzaffi stated that even with the added pumping capability, a heavy amount of rain in a short time may still cause temporary flooding.