Ouachita River Rising Fast
The
The
predicted crest of the
Since
this past weekend, the river rose over three feet.
By: Nathan Ledford
Updated: November 2, 2009
The
The
predicted crest of the
Since
this past weekend, the river rose over three feet.
With the water getting higher by the day things could get ugly before they get better.
The
Jill
Gabb stands on what's left of dry ground at Gabbeaux’s Bayles Landing.
She
says in the 18 years she's been in West Monroe the
"March,
April, May yes. And then it goes down June, July, this is incredible,"
said Gabbeaux’s owner Jill Gabb.
Monday
night the river is just over 46 feet.
That's
six feet above flood stage and counting.
According
to the Tensas Levee District the water is rising about nine inches a day.
The
rising river has already taken over the lower balcony of Gabbeaux's Restaurant.
Gabb
says she's taken what things she could to higher ground.
"This
time it came up so quickly a lot of its floated away," said Gabb.
Monday
night state police blocked off the boardwalk for construction of temporary
flood walls Tuesday.
The Tensas
District says that will provide protection up to 56 and a half feet.
If
the Ouachita River reaches 48 feet and continues to rise, the Tensas Levee District
says they may close the Endom and
Monday
the National Weather Service predicts the river will crest at 48.5 feet by November
12th.
That’s
an alarming number for Gabb, but she says even when the river reached 50 feet
in 1991, business went on as usual.
"We
built steps over the sea wall that they had built up; we built the stairs up
that way," said Gabb.
Now Gabb
hopes things don't get any worse.
“Each
day we come in and its a little closer you begin to make preparations how will
we move this out, how will we move this out," said Gabb
The
rising river has officials on high alert Monday night
