Cheniere Lake is Flooding

The Ouachita River is now above 47 feet and that means bad news for nearby bodies of water like Cheniere Lake.

Several roads and homes are already underwater.

We stopped by one home Wednesday night where one family was fighting the water and trying to get to high ground.

Water creeping up is a nightmare for folks on Cheniere Lake.

"That guy right here has moved out, and some are already gone, they've been moving out for the last two days," said Cheniere Lake resident Chuck Finklea.

Chuck Finklea's house is still above the water but that's not saying much for many of his neighbors.

Wednesday night people are scrambling to sandbags around their homes and hope for the best.

But the Traweek family is running out of options as their home is already flooding and the water is getting even higher.

"For three days now, my dad has been putting out sandbags and today and tonight is the last night before everything is completely underwater," said Cheniere Lake resident Michelle Traweek.

Michelle Traweek says she can't really get any answers right now on getting any help.

"I think it’s sad, it’s not as bad as Katrina, but we're standing in water just like they were," said Traweek.

Director of Homeland Security in Ouachita Parish Butch Beckham says no shelters are currently available.

"We can't just offer a shelter for one person but if they call us we can try to help," said Beckham.

Beckham says he expects the water to continue rising and he says to make any predictions right now is fighting a losing battle with nature.

"If we don't have any more rain that's our biggest threat right now, but a little water can push it really high," said Beckham.

Cheniere Lake residents who are leaving or are choosing to stick it out are just hoping for anything positive.

"You can help but worry, pray to the good Lord that we don't get any more rain," said Finklea.

"This is home to them and the holidays are right around the corner," said Traweek.

 If anyone still needs sandbags there is a sandbagging location on Trade Street inWest Monroe.

If you need help with shelter, you are urged to call homeland security in West Monroe or the American Red Cross in Monroe.