Second Tele-Town Hall Meeting

Residents of Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes, along with other flood-impacted areas

7:45 P.M. CST, Baton Rouge

 

Participants

• Hon. Bill Cassidy, U.S. Representative
• Hon. William Clifford Smith, Member, Mississippi River Commission
• Hon. Karen St. Germain, State Representative*

 

* Called in as regular caller

 

 

BC:

 

I want to welcome everyone to this tele-town hall.  I am Congressman Bill Cassidy, and I represent the Sixth Congressional District of Louisiana.  Everyone on this call lives in my district, Congressman Jeff Landry’s district or Congressman Rodney Alexander’s district.  All three of us are deeply concerned about the flooding situation.

 

I am sponsoring this call to allow folks to give you some information on where you can find information you need and to hear your comments.  I will have a member of the Mississippi River Commission joining us.

 

This is the second call this evening that we’ve done concerning the flooding.  I anticipate that people have comments and questions they want answers on.  We are inviting you to ask questions.

 

Additionally, everyone on this call will be in the Sixth Congressional District based on redistricting in the State Legislature, presuming everything is cleared by the Justice Department.  I would like to begin representing this area now even though the district lines aren’t confirmed and an election hasn’t yet taken place.  It would be an honor to represent you in the next Congress if you choose me to do so.

 

We are getting information to people most impacted by these events, particularly issues related to flooding, the Morganza opening and the high water level.  If you want to track the flood levels in various basins and areas, you can visit http://www.rivergages.com.  You can also visit my Facebook page, where there are many helpful links, and you can contact me via Twitter.

 

The latest news is that they’ve opened two bays in the Morganza spillway.  The amount of water right now is 1.5 million cubic feet per second.  The levees from Baton Rouge on south were built to handle 1.5 million cubic feet per second.  When they opened up the Morganza, they opened it up slowly – two bays yesterday and two today.  They are allowing animals to move out.  The Corps is stating that water is not moving as quickly south as they anticipated.  This may be because there has been no rain in the spillway for two weeks, and the ground is absorbing some of the water.  There is an almost northerly wind flowing right now, which will help move water out of the Mississippi River and into the Gulf of Mexico.  We can be optimistic so far about the current situation.

The Corps will continue opening up bays in the Morganza at 1.5 million feet per second.  They will open up as many bays as necessary.

 

Our first caller is Christine from Napoleonville.  Please ask your question.

 

Christine:

 

I live on Highway 4 which is approximately 12 miles from Morgan City, near Lake Palourde and Lake Verret.  The water usually comes up in both bank places.  I’m wondering if it will come across to my house. 

 

BC:

 

Her concern is regarding backwater flooding.  The time frame is such that it will occur several days from now.  It won’t be too bad north of the Intercoastal Canal, and there will be a rise of 1 to 2 feet.  There will be some increased levels in backwater.

 

Christine:

 

If it comes directly across from Morgan City, I’ll get water, but with the last flood, it came in and flooded between her house and the lake.  This occurred in 1973.

 

BC:

 

Lake Palourde will take a lot of the volume.

 

Christine:

 

We haven’t had rain in two months.

 

BC:

 

That will help things.

 

I want to welcome everyone again to this tele-town hall about the impact of the impending flooding.  I want to begin representing people in your area now, and would like to relay information from the Corps of Engineers and the Mississippi River Commission on these issues.

 

Our second question comes from William from Gonzales.

 

William:

 

With the Bonnet Carre opening, will it affect Lake Pontchartrain and back up into Amite?

 

BC:

The Amite River is a different watershed and has been dry, so there should not be flooding on the east side of the Mississippi River.  There are some places in Ascension Parish that historically have seepage.  This is a different issue, and the Corps anticipates being able to address that issue.

 

In the Sunday Advocate, Joe Macaluso had a very good article, wondering if the Bonnet Carre being open for a long time, with silt going into Lake Pontchartrain from the Mississippi River, could cause problems along the northern shore of the lake.  We will have to wait and see if this occurs.  Currently, water levels and the drainage problem in the Amite are problematic enough that water in Lake Pontchartrain will pose a problem.  Macaluso alludes to the flood of 1973.  We will post this article on my website.

 

I want to welcome people again to this town hall.  We are talking about the Mississippi River, the Bonnet Carre and the Morganza spillway.  This is a good opportunity for people in Pointe Coupee, Iberville, Ascension, Terrebonne, Lafourche and Assumption Parishes to ask questions and bring information to people in these areas.

 

Our third question is from Doug in Montz.

 

Doug:

 

I predicted this flooding back in the winter when they had record snowfall in the north, and record rainfall that occurred in time to melt the snow.  Why didn’t the Corps see this coming and open both the Morganza and the Bonnet Carre as river levels started to rise and draw the river down as they drew down the canals in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish before the hurricanes?

 

BC:

 

The Corps says that the whole river is designed to operate as a system.  There are triggers that open levee systems and floodways.  They have mapped it out.  The water level south of the Bonnet Carre is now constant because they’ve opened it and are keeping it at 17 feet above flood stage.  The trigger for the Morganza is 1.5 million cubic feet.  They won’t set off the trigger unless it hits that level going past the spillway.  The people in the spillway who have farms, residences and cattle would be affected.  For instance, wheat farmers are trying to bring in their crops a week early.  If the Morganza was opened earlier, farm land would have been affected.  There are potential effects resulting from the opening of it.  For instance, Christine is concerned about backwater flooding.  When that area floods, it can produce backwater and impact low-lying areas.  There are effects of opening floodways and spillways that the Corps is nervous about and chooses not to do so unless they have to.

 

Doug:

 

I predicted these events.  If you have a finite volume of water up there that has to come down and has to run through the river and get into the Gulf of Mexico, it has to drain.  If you open it as the water level comes down and draw it down as it comes through, you lessen the overall impact by spreading the water volume out over a longer period of time.  There is no damage to the levees from water pressure and no flooding.  They know that it will flood.  The water comes down the Atchafalaya and raises the level in that area.  Backwater flooding through Gibson could have been lessened if the level was drawn down earlier.  I can’t figure out why they are waiting until the last minute.  It makes the overall situation worse than if they opened it earlier and let it run through.

 

BC:

 

The Corps seems to think differently.  They did reassure me that the pressure on the levees will be negated by the design of the system.  Again, the cut-off is 1.5 million cubic feet per second.  They anticipate that the levees will hold, and are designed with a certain level of redundancy.  Doug’s point is that the reason for flooding is the 1,000% increase in rain in the Ohio Valley.  That is what we’re facing, a record rain.  Powerpoint slides on this issue from the Corps will be on my Facebook page.  They will show where there’s been a drought and record rainfall.  You can log in and see the contribution from the Ohio Valley to the flooding down here.  There is also a graph where the Atchafalaya and Morganza will be taking off certain portions, as well as the Bonnet Carre, along with the width of those streams of water coming off.

 

These are valuable links, and a transcript of this town hall will also be posted, so you can see what was talked about.  Jeff is our next caller.

 

Jeff:

 

In my area, I’m potentially affected by backwater.  Everyone is comparing these floods to those in 1973.  Are they comparable?

 

BC:

 

There is a great article by Joe Macaluso in the Sunday Advocate.  He pointed out that a bunch of bays were opened all at once in 1973, which created a wall of water.  Livestock and animals moved to high ground, but this effectively cordoned them off on islands and then those were overrun.  There was a picture of officials from the State Wildlife and Fisheries Department trying to rescue swimming deer.  It will be different this time, as they’ve learned lessons.  They have opened two bays yesterday, two today and then two the next day to lessen the flow.  It will probably not be as bad as the floods in 1973 due to the drought in south Louisiana the last two weeks.  A certain amount of the water will be absorbed by dirt.  Wax Lake is also open and it goes through St. Mary Parish.  It will take 30% off of the Atchafalaya flow to decrease it.  The preparation in advance will likely lessen the backwater problem.

 

Jeff:

 

My street was flooded where I lived, and I had to take a boat.  How long will the spillway be open?

 

BC:

 

The wall of water is moving down the Mississippi River from the Ohio River area, and the crest will not hit for another couple of weeks.  The Corps will keep the bays open and continue to open more bays so that the crest is addressed.  There is a rain system predicted two weeks from now in the Ohio River that could add to the flooding there which could impact us.  Right now, they will keep it open as long as necessary to keep water at one point at a certain amount of cubic feet per second.  It will be at least two weeks from now, maybe three.

 

I want to welcome everyone again to this town hall on flooding issues.  I want to remind you that if you have flooding and need to fix something, make sure to keep your receipts so you can submit them to your claim adjuster.  If you anticipate filing flood insurance claims, have your policy and inventory of all your contents handy.  If you may have to evacuate, take pictures of everything in your house that you will have to leave behind and notate comments about them.  Look at today’s paper so you have the date for your comments.  If you have questions about the flood insurance program, call 1-866-751-3989.  The call center hours have been extended to 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. for seven days a week.  You can go to their website at http://www.floodsmart.gov.  It is too late to get flood insurance if you don’t have it, but you can logon to this website and find information if you do have it. 

 

Again, I am Congressman Bill Cassidy and I am hosting a town hall in your area to inform you about the flooding situation and the latest news on it.  Our next caller is Nadine from Des Allemands.

 

Nadine:

 

I have never been flooded.  There is backwater in the Lake Des Allemands district.  Should I worry about high water?

 

BC:

 

In 1973, did you have flooding due to the opening of the Morganza?

 

Nadine:

 

I didn’t.

 

BC:

 

That is a very good sign.  If you have questions about where you live and you believe you can have flooding, you should go to the Army Corps of Engineers website, and there is information on the Mississippi River and the Bonnet Carre areas.  You will be brought to those regions through the website.  There are inundation maps, which highlight the areas at risk for flooding.  Since you don’t have Internet, I will look up your address and have someone call you to inform you about your risk for flooding.  You should expect a call soon, and you will be informed of your risk.

 

Again, this is Congressman Bill Cassidy, and I want to welcome you to my town hall on flooding.  Our next caller is Barbara from Schriever.

 

Barbara:

 

I have a comment.  In 1973, I went through this.  I lived in another area and got backwater because we were on the northern side of the river track.  We got water underneath the carport and needed to use our pirogue.  I want to tell people that once the water goes down, you need to have bleach and disinfectant on hand.  You will have spiders, snakes, dead fish and various bacteria.  You need to protect your family from health problems.  Learn from me, as I didn’t think about that or had time to prepare last time.

 

BC:

 

Also, you should make sure you have extra food and a generator if you need it.  The fact that there has been no rain for two weeks is helping.  The spillway is a little dry, and the dirt can absorb water.

 

Barbara:

 

It depends on what level you’re at in terms of the water you’ll get.  You can’t hold someone else responsible for your own housing choices, you have to check your area and do the best you can.

 

BC:

 

I appreciate your comments.  I always say that if I can channel the wisdom of the people of my district into Capitol Hill, we will have a much healthier nation. 

 

I want to welcome everyone again to this town hall on the flooding.  I am pleased to have Karen St. Germain on the call.  Thank you for being on.  Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.

 

KSG:

 

I am a State Representative, and I appreciate you holding this town hall.  I liked you before, and like you more now.  I actually participated in a flyover from Morganza to Bayou Chene where they’re putting in barges and sheet piling.  It’s giving us a lot of cushion that will slow down backwater when it gets there.  When we think about this and contemplate what can happen, the last two days have been giving us hope for less water.  We sunk a barge in 1973 without an engineering study.  The Corps agreed to this immediately because the science wasn’t there but the example was.

 

The Bayou Chene is the only tributary that moves water when it backs up on the Atchafalaya River which dumps out past Morgan City, so its south of that in Amelia.  We will slow down the current of water coming into Lake Palourde, Lake Verret, Bayou Sorrel and Bayou Pigeon.

 

BC:

 

The hope is that it will limit backwater flooding going to Gibson through the Intercoastal Canal and Lake Palourde.

 

KSG:

 

I can confirm that.  St. Mary, Assumption, Terrebonne and other affected parishes have pulled together.  McDermott Shipyard is engineering it.  They are driving sheet pilings as we speak.

 

BC:

 

At the same location where the barge is sinking?

 

KSG:

 

Yes.  We hit a high spot of land where it can be shored up better as opposed to the one 38 years ago.  We are reaching for two little miracles: one, that it works, and two, that the Corps puts in something permanently to open and close for the future.

 

BC:

 

Can you provide us more information on your flyover?

 

KSG:

 

The water is moving in slower than were they thought it might be.  It is not near I-10 yet, which is good, as more people have time to prepare.  The Mississippi River banks were swollen, but the good news is that tomorrow may be the crest of the river.  It will stay up for a while, but not in the rest of the basin, but it will stay at the 1.5 million cubic feet per second mark.  We may not have to open as many bays in the Morganza spillway.

 

BC:

 

So it may not be as bad?

 

KSG:

 

Correct.

 

BC:

 

That is fantastic.

 

KSG:

 

Yes, I’m optimistic at this moment.

 

BC:

 

Today in church, my pastor opened his sermon with Psalm 29, which speaks of flooding, and we prayed for those who will be impacted.

 

KSG:

 

I would advise that everyone keep listening to the news, don’t panic, talk to people that know more about each individual area and find out what they suggest you do.

 

BC:

 

I agree, and everyone should remain calm.  I am impressed with the people in south Louisiana, who have the experience with disasters necessary to address them.

 

KSG:

 

I remember the floods of 1973 well.  I was 18 years old.  I’m still here.

 

BC:

 

I appreciate your call.  Again, this is Karen St. Germain, the State Representative for the Iberville-Assumption area.  She lives in Pierre Part.  She has a great history of serving the people she represents.  How can you be reached?

 

KSG:

 

I can be reached under Karen St. Germain via Facebook.  Thanks again.

 

BC:

 

The hope is to prevent backwater from flowing into the Intercoastal Canal and then going east toward Gibson or north toward Lake Palourde.  Also, regarding the flyover that was done in Morganza, it was viewed that the water is not moving as quickly as they thought, and the crest may have peaked or may peak in the next two days.  We won’t have to open as many Morganza bays and for not as long.  We may still have two to three more weeks of this situation.

 

Again, I want to welcome everyone to this town hall about the flooding.  Our next caller is Debbie from Norco.

 

Debbie:

 

I’m on one side of the Bonnet Carre and my daughter is on the other side in Montz.  On Friday, the water was coming up to the highway from the Bonnet Carre, and it was very nerve-wracking.  Once they opened the Morganza, the water started to come down a little.  I believe that the Corps got so ramped up with hurricane protection that they forgot about the river.  I believe they need to get to the Bonnet Carre spillway and make the levees higher.  I was very concerned.

 

BC:

 

According to the Corps, they treat the entire river as a system, and they opened up the spillway in Missouri.  They have a place in the Yazoo region north of Vicksburg where the levees are not as high as they usually are.  When it gets to a certain point, it spills into backwater.  When they open the Bonnet Carre, they know when it gets past 1.5 million cubic feet per second above Baton Rouge, they have to open the Morganza.  I believe that you saw the immediate impact of this, knowing that’s the trigger to save things downriver, including the Bonnet Carre.

 

Debbie:

 

I feel bad for people in Morganza.  I hope that God is with everyone and minimizes the damage.

 

BC:

 

The Corps has taken a hit but I believe they’re managing things well.

 

Debbie:

 

You learn by your mistakes in life, and I believe they’re trying to get things right.  Thank you.

 

BC:

 

I want to welcome everyone again to this town hall about flooding.  Most of the people on this call aren’t people I currently represent.  However, after re-districting is finalized, I will represent everyone on this call, and I want to begin representing you now.  I hope that it is my privilege to represent you in the future.  This includes people in Morganza and parishes that are immediately impacted by the flooding.

 

Clifford Smith lives in the Lafourche-Terrebonne area and he is now on the call.  He is a member of the Mississippi River Commission.  He knows a lot about river spillways and coastal conservation.  We may have a tele-town hall with him in the future on coastal conservation.  I want to pass it off to him so he can make comments and provide advice.

 

CS:

 

This is a historical food.  The system that has been developed over 75 years to control flooding of the Mississippi River and the lower Mississippi River valley is being put to the test.  I am confident that the system will operate as designed unless there’s a catastrophe or accident along the way.  The Corps is watching the levee systems to make sure they perform properly.

 

BC:

 

In regard to Debbie’s concern about the high waters in the Bonnet Carre, will they top over the levees there?  She thinks they’ve started to come down, although she’s not sure if the two are related.

 

CS:

 

They should go down.  The river from Baton Rouge to New Orleans should be pretty stable at their flood stage for some time.  The Bonnet Carre is not completely open yet, and it takes some time to get it 100% open.  This will be done very shortly.  The control levees in the Bonnet Carre are stable and should not be a problem.

 

BC:

 

There was another woman who asked about backwater in Assumption Parish.  As well, Karen St. Germain mentioned that a barge was sunk at Bayou Chene and sheet pilings were put in place.  Is there a risk of flooding in this area, along with Des Allemands and other areas north of the Intercoastal Canal.

 

CS:

 

I was at the barge and watched it as it was being constructed.  This is a temporary facility.  It will reduce backwater from the Atchafalaya and into Bayou Boeuf.  It will reduce flows.  In Morgan City, we’re predicting no more than 2 or 3 feet of backwater, and very minimal backwater further up into Iberville.  The advantage we have is that we have a northerly wind which is moving water out of the Atchafalaya basin and into the Gulf of Mexico.  We have had a drought and the land is very dry.  Any water from flood conditions or rainfall will be absorbed into the ground.

 

BC:

 

We have talked about the inundation maps.  How much are they changing?  Where I’m living, we shouldn’t have a problem, based on predicted flow.  Are the maps accurate?

 

CS:

 

They are not as accurate as I would prefer.  If you look at the inundation maps on the Morganza side, we’re talking about anywhere from 0 to 5 feet.  We could have 1-2 feet in Morganza, and down in Morgan City, as high as five.  I would like to have seen them be more accurate.  If you live above the 5 foot line, you’re basically protected from backwater.  Along the main river, levees and floodwalls should protect you.

 

BC:

 

Our next caller is Celeste from Thibodaux.

 

Celeste:

 

I hear that floodgates will be opened 100% in the Morganza spillway.

 

CS:

 

That is not true.

 

Celeste:

 

I am concerned that if we had to evacuate, there would be panic.  I have family in Morgan City.  What kind of flooding should they expect?

 

CS:

 

I want to first reiterate that the Morganza Spillway will not be fully opened.  We were talking originally about an opening to 50%, and now we’re talking about going down to 20-30% capacity.  The flows have come down slightly along the river, and we have reduced the proposed opening in Morganza.  It will be opened very slowly, only 4 gates as of this time, not 100,000 cubic feet per second.  It is being opened slowly and will probably not open to more than 30%.  The crest in the Morganza area is probably not going to happen until next weekend.  Water takes about 4 to 5 days to get from Morganza to Morgan City.  I predict that at the floodwall, it will be 11 feet and the floodwall is 25 feet.  There’s plenty of room at Morgan City.  People concerned about the backwater predicted 6 to 8 feet in the Lake Palourde area.  It will be a minimal height of 6 feet.  We are prepared at Morgan City and Amelia for that action.  It will probably not happen, but we’ll know in six to seven days.

 

Celeste:

 

I have family near Bayou Vista, how should they prepare for the flooding?

 

CS:

 

Bayou Vista is protected by a backwater levee along the Intercoastal Canal.  It should suffice for this event.

 

BC:

 

This marks the end of this town hall.  I am offering the opportunity for people to ask questions via my Facebook account or through my website, http://www.billcassidy.com.  Leave a question and we’ll reply.  Please include your name, e-mail address, and question.  There will also be helpful links on the website.  I want to thank Commissioner Smith for his time.  Have a great evening.