By Staff, Baptist Message
VIDALIA – The cities of Vidalia and Natchez know flooding is coming but they are asking God to spare them any widespread damage.
The two communities will gather Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. for community prayer at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center. Everyone is invited, including citizens, businesses and churches from Concordia, Catahoula and Tensas parishes as well as Natchez, Adams County and surrounding areas.
“Please join us as the Miss-Lou community comes together in unity to seek God’s protection from this flooding. We are one in this time of need,” said Todd Trahan, organizer of the event.
Vidalia Mayor Hiram Copeland says Concordia Parish is asking the Louisiana National Guard to help Louisiana’s 5th Levee District prepare for rising water on the Mississippi River.
He says emergency director Payne Scott asked for two, four-person units with equipment, and they should begin arriving Wednesday.
Copeland and other officials are asking people to stay off levees in Mississippi and Louisiana. Copeland quotes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as saying the levees are in excellent shape, but so saturated with rain that too many vehicles could damage them.
According to the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi River at Natchez/Vidalia was at 50.7 feet Jan. 5 and is still expected to crest at 59 feet on the morning of January 17. The Mississippi River’s flood stage is 48 feet.
The National Weather Service has predicted the water will rise another 11 feet, to 60 feet, by January 17.
“We are asking everyone to stay off the levees unless you need to be on them to access your home. It is important that people stay off the unpaved roads on levees whenever possible,” read a statement on the office’s website.
Copeland says the city — with the help of 2,000 Hesco baskets — is erecting barricades of 15-foot-long earth-filled baskets to protect riverfront businesses and water wells outside the main levee.
“Hesko Baskets are three and a half feet high. They are 15 feet long, and fill with sand. It’s like a mini levee. We changed a little bit this year from 2011. Instead of putting them around each individual building, we’re going to put the Hesko Baskets up and down riverfront. So we can make sure we won’t get water on any of the roads; or interior of river front.”, said Copeland.
The city has already started placing the Hesco baskets along the riverfront.
Vidalia maintenance Manager Mike Morace said rising waters will definitely cause drainage problems.
“We have three drains that drain from areas of the parking lot into the Mississippi river just for rain water. As the river comes up it covers these drains. If the drains aren’t plugged; the water will come up into the parking lot,” said Morace.
