Sheriff Craig Webre reported the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is working with all other parish agencies to closely monitor Tropical Storm Barry as it approaches the coast. The National Weather Service indicated this system could produce 10-20 inches of rain in Lafourche Parish over the next few days. All important information relevant to Lafourche Parish is available on our website at www.LPSO.net/STORM.
A recommended evacuation has been issued for all areas south of the Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow including Port Fourchon. Barring significant changes, parish officials plan to issue a mandatory evacuation for that area at 6 a.m. on Friday, July 12. If that occurs, a shelter of last resort will be opened at the Raceland Recreation Center located at 241 Recreation Drive in Raceland. As of noon on Thursday, a mandatory evacuation had already been issued for Grand Isle (Jefferson Parish).
All residents and business owners are encouraged to make preparations today. While there is no planned closure of LA Highway 1 in this area, officials do expect the road to become impassable at some point.
“Now is the time to complete your storm preparations,” said Sheriff Webre. “We encourage all residents to pick up their emergency supplies and secure their property today. There is still uncertainty about the exact timing of inclement weather on Friday. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Section will be supplemented with additional deputies beginning Friday morning to attend to calls for service. Sheriff Webre has also assigned trustees to assist in filling sandbags. A full list of sandbag locations is available on our website. Per Lafourche Parish Government, residents seeking sandbags should bring a shovel and plan to fill them on their own in case none are readily available upon arrival.
The offices of the Lafourche Parish District Attorney and Clerk of Court will be closed on Friday, July 12, but the 17th Judicial District Court Divisions A and E will be open (Divisions B, C, and D will be closed). Anyone scheduled for court in Division A or E should attend. The Lafourche Parish Assessor’s Office has not yet made a determination about their office hours for Friday. Garbage pickup in the unincorporated areas of Lafourche Parish has been canceled for Friday and Saturday. Please secure all trash bins.
The Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter is currently at full capacity. Therefore, deputies will be unable to pick up stray animals except in the event of a bite, injured animal, or other extreme circumstances.
Contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office with any weather-related issues at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. “Our staff is dedicated to ensuring public safety,” said Sheriff Webre. “We will continue working with parish emergency officials to monitor this storm and take the necessary actions to keep the citizens of Lafourche protected.”
Please visit www.LPSO.net/STORM for all important information relevant to Lafourche Parish and check back often for updates. Information on our website is updated frequently and collected from all parish agencies to keep you posted with the most critical and up-to-date information. You can also monitor social media for updates by following @LafourcheSO on Facebook and Twitter.