Bonnie provides a unique opportunity

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 23, 2010

Louisiana will get its first test of storm readiness a little earlier than usual this year as Tropical Storm Bonnie bears down on the coast of Southeast Louisiana.

The storm, expected to make landfall sometime early Sunday, has luckily faced adverse conditions as it moved across the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico, so more than likely it will be nothing more than a wind-and-rain event, especially here in the River Parishes.

According to St. John the Baptist Parish Chief Administrative Officer Marie Brown-Mercadel, parish officials are on alert, but since the River Parishes were not among those listed in the governor’s state-of-emergency declaration of Thursday evening, the region is expected to be spared the worst of the storm.

So although the optimal hurricane season is one devoid of storm threats, the region is being given the next best thing — a virtual test of regional emergency operations.

Mercadel said crews have been busy clearing drainage paths and making sure pumping stations are up to the task. She added that parish officials have been on conference calls, giving each other updates on the measures they have each taken in preparation for the storm.

It will be a good test for local residents, as well, as evacuations should not be necessary, but they will still have to be aware of the possible dangers of localized flooding, wind damage and power outages.

It is also a good time to make sure one has everything that they would need in the event of an evacuation.

So, while no news is good news during storm season, as you hunker down and wait for the storm to pass feel somewhat comforted by the fact that local parish governments have been given the chance to have this “practice” run.

And remember that education is the best preparation.