St. John Parish: Mandatory evacuation to be issued for areas north of Airline Highway

Published 5:25 pm Sunday, September 13, 2020

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Updated 7:15 p.m.

LAPLACE — St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard will issue a mandatory evacuation Monday at 6 a.m. for areas north of Airline Highway including but not limited to: Cambridge, River Forest, Foxwood, LaPlace Park, Belle Terre, New Era, Sugar Ridge) in advance of Tropical Storm Sally. 

At 9 p.m. Monday, St. John Parish will implement a curfew so that those residents who are heeding to the calls for the mandatory evacuation will know that their property will be protected by the Sheriff’s Office. 

Parish offices, the courthouse and traffic court will be closed Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15. All public and private schools in St. John Parish will also be closed Monday and Tuesday. 

The Ochsner ER facility will remain open for the duration of the weather event. 

“All of our public works employees are working and all of our 25 pumps and 13 pump stations have all been checked and are ready to go,” said Parish President Jaclyn Hotard. 

Sandbag sites will remain open as long as weather conditions allow, according to Hotard. 

“Although this track and forecast remain uncertain, it is imperative that residents take this storm seriously and finalize any preparations today before conditions start to deteriorate. This will be a slow-moving storm, which is the reason we are going to have a mandatory evacuation for all areas north of Airline beginning at 6 a.m. tomorrow and implement a curfew tomorrow beginning at 9 p.m.,” she said. 

“Please secure any outdoor furniture or other loose objects that are outside and please continue to monitor Parish outlets for updates. We also have a new text to alert system. You can text SJPWEATHER to 888-777.”

Self-serve sandbags are available at the following locations:

– St. John Community Center – 2900 Hwy 51 – LaPlace
– Railroad Avenue Fire Station (near Riverside Academy) – Reserve
– Ezekiel Jackson Park – Garyville
– Juan Anthony Joseph Memorial Park – Edgard
– Wallace Fire Station
– Lucy Fire Station
– Pleasure Bend Fire Station

Pre-filled sandbags for elderly and disabled are available at 425 Captain G. Bourgeois in LaPlace (Limit 10 pre-filled).