As most of our parish recovers from the incredible amount of rain we have seen recently, the Ridge Road area has been dealing with standing flood waters. This water has nowhere to escape until the floodgates at Bayou Manchac are opened, and residents are getting antsy.
Many in the neighborhood were out this morning, filling up sandbags to protect their property from rising waters. Ed Cook, who was dressed in goulashes and waders just to navigate his front yard, hopes that the wait will end soon.
“I have lived on Ridge Road since 1990, and have seen it where the tree in the front yard was the only thing on dry land. I am hoping they open the lock tomorrow so it goes down faster than it is now. I heard that it could be as early as tomorrow.”
Christy Prudhomme agreed, and was out front bagging sand to protect her yard. Her backyard and shed were covered in thigh-high water.
“It is still rising about an inch a day. If it comes over my foundation it will damage the house – and it is close. We have already lost things in our shed. We have to completely rip out a wooden wall. The last time I saw it this bad was in 2003. It wouldn’t be so bad if they would open the locks one day and alternate it every other day. I heard from the drainage guys on my road that it could be up to a month. This is a health hazard for my children. We just can’t wait that long.”
While the timeline on opening the flood gates remains uncertain, many residents have voiced concerns of future floods. The area, they say, needs to be re-assessed, and this cannot continue.
Teri Casso, Parish Council District 8 Representative, agrees that the area is of special concern right now. She is currently working with the parish to alleviate the flooding.
“I am terribly concerned about that area, as is Bill Roux, General Manager of Ascension Parish Drainage. We are doing everything that can be done considering the magnitude of this rain event. It’s only a matter now to wait for Bayou Manchac to fall. It is very unfortunate. We have had record-setting rains – I think it’s one of the worst cases of flooding this area has ever seen.”
Parish government, Casso explained, has also been responding to calls for help.
“We are working as hard as we can. We are not aware of water in any homes. We do appreciate the patience and understanding of the citizens in this area”
Casso and Roux will be holding a meeting next Monday to get resident’s input on a new plan Roux is proposing for the area.
“We are going to focus not only on this rain event, but we want to plan for future floods in the area.”
The meeting will be held at the home of a Ridge Road resident at 36086 Ridge Road in Prairieville at 7 p.m. next Monday, January 28th.
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It is a sad situation, Bayou Manchac having a higher level, than on the Lake side, if the locks were to be opened it would only raise the levels on the Ridge road. Hopefully it crests and starts falling in Manchac before it gets into homes.
yes, hopefully so