LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish is under a state of emergency due to a severe weather system that resulted in significant damage Parishwide.

The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in LaPlace during the weather event.

Emergency personnel, the Office of Fire Services, the Sheriff’s Office, State Police, DOTD and Entergy are working to assist residents and assess damage. Residents should dial 911 to report all emergencies and are advised to stay off of roadways as much as possible.

SCHOOLS:

• All Public, Private, Parochial Schools and the South Central Louisiana Technical College in Reserve will be closed today (Feb. 24).

OFFICE CLOSURES:

• All Parish Government offices will be closed today (Feb. 24) with the exemption of essential personnel

POWER OUTAGES:  

• Approximately 8500 customers without power
• Major outages currently affecting Airline Hwy from Laplace Park Subdivision to Belle Terre Blvd., Sugar Ridge Subdivision, New Era Subdivision, Carrollwood Subdivision, Foxwood Subdivision, Belle Terre Subdivision, Riverlands Subdivision and Cambridge Subdivision currently out of lights.  Additional crews assisting.
•  Estimated restoration is 5 p.m. Thursday.

CURFEW:

• The following areas will be under curfew from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. for the following areas that received damage:
  • Belle Terre to Hwy 51 in LaPlace
  • US 61 to I-10 LaPlace

TEMPORARY SHELTER:

• Emily C. Watkins Elementary located at 938 Hwy 628 in LaPlace is open for residents who sustained damage to their homes.
• If possible, please bring supplies, toiletries, homecare items, food and medicine to the shelter.

ROAD CLOSURES:

• US 61 between LaPlace Park and Belle Terre Blvd.
• US 61 at Tiffany Dr.
• Cambridge Dr., North of Fairway Dr. to Woodland Dr.
• Parts of Cambridge, Riverlands, Ellerslie, Greenwood, Madewood, Palmetto, Indigo Pkwy, Carrollwood, Ridgefield
• Beginning at 3 a.m. I-10 Exit ramps to Belle Terre Blvd. will be closed until US 61 is cleared.

CONSERVE WASTEWATER:

• As a result of the extensive power outages and power line damage, St. John residents specifically in the areas from Belle Terre to Hwy 51 in LaPlace and US 61 to I-10 in LaPlace are being asked to conserve wastwater until further notice by limiting the amount of discharge placed into the wastewater system.
• Activities such as washing clothes, running dishwashers, flushing toilets, and all other activities that discharge into the collection system should be limited until further notice. Taking showers and baths are not included in the conservation measures.
• The water system is not impacted and water is safe for consumption.