Residents tense at possible tropical storm threat
Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 17, 2013
LAPLACE – Although the tropical disturbance currently meandering in the Gulf
of Mexico is not
forecast to strengthen much before it makes landfall, the local
community is understandably on edge as hurricane season swings into its most active period.
The National Weather Service and St. John the Baptist Parish are currently monitoring the tropical disturbance in the Gulf.
Although the track forecast remains highly uncertain and models do not forecast the disturbance to strengthen past a tropical storm, the St. John the Baptist Parish Emergency Operations Center and all parish departments are monitoring the situation and preparing for problems with roads, drainage and infrastructure.
The main threat with this system, regardless of the track or development, is heavy rainfall. Totals of 2 to 4 inches of rainfall are expected through Monday over southeast Louisiana, with locally higher amounts. Rainfall amounts could be considerably higher depending on the development and track of the system.
Residents are encouraged to monitor all local weather stations and begin preparations at home should the system shift to southeast Louisiana.
The SJBP Emergency Operations Center will continue to monitor the track of the tropical disturbance and will remain in contact with the National Weather Center and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness. Additional information will be release to residents as it becomes available.
For more information, visit sjbparish.com, tune to St. John Parish Government Access Channel (RTC, Comcast channel 15 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99), facebook.com/sjbparish, follow the parish on Twitter @SJBPgov, or call St. John the Baptist Parish at 985-652-9569.