The Daily Advertiser

Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux declared a state of emergency for Lafayette Parish on Monday, as rain continued to fall, rivers and coulees rose and the National Guard positioned troops in high-water vehicles in parishes that included Lafayette, Vermilion, Orleans and Calcasieu.

President Trump signed an emergency declaration for Louisiana, which allowed federal emergency aid to be available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for areas affected by Tropical Storm – later, Hurricane – Harvey, starting Sunday. Parishes immediately affected included Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vermilion.

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“You name it, we got it,” National Weather Service forecaster Kent Kuyper said Monday of a host of Hurricane Harvey related watches and warnings: tornados, storm surges, flash flooding and more.

Kuyper, based in Lake Charles, said the storm is expected to circle back toward Louisiana on Wednesday, perhaps making an unwelcome entry at Sabine Pass on the Texas-Louisiana border before it heads north. The National Hurricane Center said Harvey was centered over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday; minimal strengthening was expected.

Rainfall around Lafayette was estimated at between 5 and 9 inches, depending on the location, but the south central coast was braced for much more: perhaps 5 more inches of rain Monday night, perhaps 2-6 inches Tuesday. Some 15-25 inches in total was expected to fall in southwestern Louisiana, as much as 15 inches in the Lafayette area.

That pales in comparison to Houston, where reports said 30 inches of rain has fallen. As much as 50 inches were expected in some places on the Texas Gulf Coast – historic levels for a metropolis that’s seen other record-setting floods in recent years.

In Houston and in surrounding areas, the volunteer “Cajun Navy” launched their own, private boats from Texas highway exit ramps and spread out on rescue missions, despite abundant rainfall and heavy winds.

“They helped us for the August 2016 floods,” Brett Lejeune of St. Martinville, Louisiana said of our Texas neighbors. Lejeune, John Billiot of Scott, and dozens of other combed ditches and flooded frontage roads to rescue marooned flood victims.

For the second, consecutive day, United canceled flights to and from Houston and Lafayette, although a Lafayette Regional Airport spokesman said United intended to resume the flights Monday night.

A tornado warning was issued in St. Martin Parish, following tornado sightings Sunday in Vermilion and Iberia parishes.

The Bayou Vermilion District warned boaters to stay off the Vermilion River, which surpassed flood stage of 10 feet Monday. The Vermilion was at 12 feet Monday afternoon, and may reach moderate flood stage of more than 14 feet Tuesday. Vermilionville’s park itself will be closed Tuesday.

Flash flood warnings were issued for Acadia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes. Minor and moderate flooding was reported in isolated areas of Acadiana and the Mermentau River may reach major flood stage Wednesday, according to the NWS.

Cydra Wingerter, spokesman for Lafayette Consolidated Government, said a windshield survey of flood sites from last August showed no immediate threats.

Reported by Diane Pantaleo, Ken Stickney and Megan Wyatt in Lafayette; Claire Taylor and Kris Wartelle in Houston.

