By Message Staff
LAKE ARTHUR – The sandbags are stacked high around First Baptist Church in Lake Arthur, most of the congregation has evacuated and now all they and the rest of the southwest Louisiana town can hope for is a miracle from God.
Threatening to flood the community is the Mermentau River, whose crest occurred earlier Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10.73 feet. The river previously was expected to crest at 11.5 feet on Friday.
So far, they are holding up as the community and local churches have banded together to help one another during this time.
“We are holding each other’s hand during this time,” said Pastor Jered. “The Lord has shown up and showed off his greatness during this time.”
The Lake Arthur Police Department has issued a dusk-til-dawn curfew until further notice for the town of 2,700 residents. Thomas said water was not in the town yet, though he expects to know if water will come into Lake Arthur between later tonight and sometime Friday.
Lake Arthur Mayor Robbie Bertrand said in a Facebook post Thursday morning that overnight all levees held, with some amount of leakage due to pressure from the buildup of water against them. Bertrand said the east part of town does not have a levee or pump and water backing up into the canal to impact some homes.
He said the greatest concern is the levee at the main pump station near the sewer plant. A minor amount of water is coming in but not at a rate of concern.
“Please know that it is not our intention to pump these canals down very low, or dry,” Bertrand said. “In normal conditions we might do that but we actually want to maintain water within them yet try to keep water off the roadways and obviously out of any homes that those levees protect.
“It is still my recommendation to all to evacuate while you are able,” Betrand continued. “I will share additional info later this morning. I know there has been much said about the fantastic volunteerism from people as we undertake this effort and I have seen it first-hand. This is the most extraordinary effort I have ever been associated with.”
