PRESS RELEASE

St. Charles Parish Waiting on Rising Water, Wastewater System Given All-Clear
St. Charles, La. (September 12, 2008) - Hurricane Ike Update #4 - 5:10 p.m. 9/12/08

Wind-driven water from Hurricane Ike today covered parts of Bayou Gauche Island as St. Charles Parish Public Works crews continue to shore up flood protection around Des Allemands and Paradis.

Flood control tubes and temporary earthen levees made of plastic-wrapped sand lined Bayou Des Allemands, while residents and officials continue to keep a close watch on rising water.

As southerly tropical storm force winds continue to hammer St. Charles Parish, the water is expected to rise, especially in the parish's southernmost areas. There remains the possibility of street flooding in Luling's Willowdale and Willowridge subdivisions, and levees elsewhere could be tested.

The St. Charles Parish Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness continues to ask that residents of Bayou Gauche and Des Allemands remain vigilant in paying attention to water levels. Due to the potential of rising water, isolated evacuations in areas south of Highway 90 may be necessary if conditions exist for an imminent flood.

Officials with the Pontchartrain Levee District, which oversees the hurricane protection levee on the East Bank along with the Corps of Engineers, expects storm surge from the lake to reach the levee itself. But water levels are expected to be relatively low and out of overtopping range.

Entergy reports 445 customers remain without power in St. Charles this evening. These outages will persist overnight. Power restoration crews are standing down because of high winds. The outages are concentrated in Destrehan, Luling, Norco and Paradis.

Department of Wastewater officials this afternoon gave an all-clear with regard to the sewer system. Residents may resume normal water usage.

Sandbags continue to be available at Badeaux Lane in Bayou Gauche and under the bridge in Des Allemands. Please bring your own shovel.

The parish remains under a tropical storm warning, tornado watch and coastal flood warning. Weather conditions related to Ike are expected to subside Saturday evening.

St. Charles Parish residents are urged to stay tuned to Cable Channel 6, www.stcharlesgov.net and 1370 AM for further updates.