KTBS 3 News | Shreveport, LA: ArkLaTex News - Evacuation advisory lifted in Bossier City

Posted: Nov 3, 2009 11:33 AM
Updated: Nov 3, 2009 2:16 PM

The evacuation advisory for northeast Bossier City was lifted today as Red Chute Bayou has crested and begun to recede.

The advisory was also lifted for parts of south Bossier Parish, although it remains in effect for the southernmost area of the parish.

"We are reducing the advisory (in Bossier City) to a watch," Fire Chief Sammy Halphen said at a late-morning news conference. "Individuals will be encouraged to go back to their houses, but be prepared to leave" if things were to unexpectedly change.

The situation, however, was much improved today from the weekend, when there were serious concerns about a levee breach as the bayou overtopped its levee in some places and flooded parts of south Bossier Parish.

However, water in Red Chute could be high for a month. Red Chute gets water from Bodcau Bayou, which was still rising today and was causing flooding.

"We've got it under control," Halphen said of the Red Chute situation. "We know a breach could happen, but we've got enough emergency personnel that we can evacuate safely."

In south Bossier, the area from Sligo Road to Louisiana 154 was now under an evacuation "watch." The area south of Louisiana 154 was still under an evacuation advisory.

Halphen said crews were still sandbagging areas where problems were occurring but those were being scaled back.

U.S. 71 south of Elm Grove was sandbagged on both sides to hold back high water.

Scotty Henderson, who lives on Caplis-Sligo Road, said water from Red Chute Bayou was beginning to recede on his ranch.

Neutral + − !

Kim at Nov 3rd 2009 3:54 PM

Thank you ktbs for the continued weather/flood updates on-line. The instant information has been comforting as our family has never experienced anything like this. Sometimes the hardest part is not knowing what's happening when you've left your home in a potentially dangerous situation.

gayle dooley at Nov 3rd 2009 4:56 PM

A great big thanks to the National Guard, Bossier's Sheriff's Dept, Fire Dept, Police Dept, and the prisoners, & everyone who worked such long hard hours to save the homes of the people I love - my Mother, my son and his family, my daughter and her family, and many dear friends. I am forever grateful. I don't see how they could have done more - with God's help, they truly made the difference. Now it's up to the city to take care of this problem so it never happens again. Again, blessings and thanks to everyone involved.