High Water Continues, Alters Polling Places
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
From Saturday polling place relocations to voluntary evacuations, the water that is moving southward into areas of St. Landry continues to create concerns from parish officials.
Clerk of Court Charles Jagneaux said on Tuesday that high water on the northern side of the parish has caused state election officials to move several polling places normally located in the Morrow and Palmetto areas to nearby North Central High School.
Jagneaux said precincts usually located in the Morrow and Palmetto areas are affected by the change.
Persons who usually vote in precinct 1-A at the District 3 substation, 1-B at the Morrow Community Center and 1-C at the Morrow Fire District 7 station will vote at North Central.
All voters who usually cast ballots at the fire station in Palmetto will also be moved to North Central, said Jagneaux.
Flood Situation
On Wednesday the parish continued urging residents living in the Palmetto and LeBeau areas to evacuate.
Parish president Jessie Bellard said on his daily social media update that flooding remains a threat in areas near La. 107 and La. 10 near Palmetto.
Most of the areas north of Palmetto remain flooded, said Bellard.
Residents living along La. 316 and east of west of the diversion canal in northern St. Landry should remain aware of flood conditions and evacuate, said Bellard.
Bayou Road and Courtableau roads in the Port Barre area have not experienced the full effect of potential flooding, but Bellard said he expects that condition could change in the next four to five days.
The town of Washington could escape the total impact of floodwaters, Bellard said, as well as areas around Krotz Springs and Melville.
Inspection of properties below U.S. 190 shows that water has been moving over the gated structures there, while some sections of La. 71 between 190 and the northern parts of the parish are covered in water and residents there should consider evacuating, Bellard added.
