Ouachita Parish Declares State of Emergency
By: Meagan Fitzgerald
Updated: October 29, 2009
Parish and Monroe city officials met early Thursday morning to plan for the worst. Part of the planning was declaring the State of Emergency for the parish which was signed Thursday morning.
Shane Smiley is the President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury and he said, "The emergency declaration will allow us to declare an emergency so we can be reimbursed through FEMA."
City and parish agencies also discussed how they would rescue people who may be trapped by high water.
Smiley said, "Some other things decided in the meeting is potential of shelters if we need them, transportation for people who can't get out of low areas."
And of course sandbags.
Smiley said, "We'll have sandbag locations on both sides of the river."
The parish has set up four different locations to get sandbags. Crews started setting up since around 12 o'clock Thursday morning. People have been coming all day to get their sandbags, they're hoping they won't flood, but they're taking the necessary precautions in case they do.
Carole Dicky is a Monroe resident and she said, "I'm just getting me some sandbags just to prepare for the flood, I'm just trying to be safe then sorry."
But, for other people who came out, sandbags were more of a necessity.
Estella Smith lives in West Monroe and she said, "There's already a lot of water under my house and I figure the rain that's coming this afternoon is going to go into the house."
So, whatever the reason people all around the parish are loading up to get ready for what's to come.
Shane Smiley is the President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury and he said, "The emergency declaration will allow us to declare an emergency so we can be reimbursed through FEMA."
City and parish agencies also discussed how they would rescue people who may be trapped by high water.
Smiley said, "Some other things decided in the meeting is potential of shelters if we need them, transportation for people who can't get out of low areas."
And of course sandbags.
Smiley said, "We'll have sandbag locations on both sides of the river."
The parish has set up four different locations to get sandbags. Crews started setting up since around 12 o'clock Thursday morning. People have been coming all day to get their sandbags, they're hoping they won't flood, but they're taking the necessary precautions in case they do.
Carole Dicky is a Monroe resident and she said, "I'm just getting me some sandbags just to prepare for the flood, I'm just trying to be safe then sorry."
But, for other people who came out, sandbags were more of a necessity.
Estella Smith lives in West Monroe and she said, "There's already a lot of water under my house and I figure the rain that's coming this afternoon is going to go into the house."
So, whatever the reason people all around the parish are loading up to get ready for what's to come.
