Despite the high water level on the Red River, local casinos seem to be faring pretty well.

That's the word from Louisiana State Police Troop G, which is in charge of monitoring our riverboat casinos. Trooper Matt Harris told KEEL News that officials have been making the needed adjustments as the river rises.

"They've adjusted the entrance and exit ramps accordingly," Harris said. "The fire marshal has been doing inspections periodically to make sure the correct pitch is maintained on the entrance and exit ramps so the safety of the patrons and the employees doesn't become compromised."

Harris said the decision to close the casinos is nowhere close to being made, and he doesn't anticipate them to have to close. He said LSP is working in conjunction with the Gaming Control Board and Fire Marshal's Office to monitor water levels. As the river begins to recede, ramps will be adjusted.

"Once it becomes a safety hazard for people to enter or exit, especially in an emergency scenario, that's when the decision will be made to close the casinos," he said. "And that decision would be made long before anybody's safety would be compromised."

Harris said one casino parking garage has experienced some trouble. One of the levees breached and flooded the bottom floor of Boomtown's parking garage, which is employee parking. Officials had already cleared out that part of the garage as a precautionary measure, so no vehicles were damaged or employees harmed.

With flooding on Clyde Fant Parkway, there was worry about casinos along that roadway. Harris says so far, those are doing fine.

"There's no water keeping people from being able to get to their lobbies," Harris said. "Now, there's water north and south of them, but there's no water in any imminent danger as far as coming into the casinos or anything like that."

There are troopers stationed at all casino properties in Caddo and Bossier Parishes.

What's the situation on I-220?

Harris also talked a little about how I-220 is looking. A sandbag wall has been built on the eastbound lanes, and Harris said they seem to be holding up well and keeping water off of the roadway. As long as Louisiana DOTD doesn't feel like that wall is in jeopardy, the eastbound lanes will remain open.

He reminds motorists not to drive around baricades, stay away from impassable roadways, don't even try to take a look at the flooding from a 4-wheeler.

"If you get swept away, we're not gonna be able to get you until the river goes down," Harris said. "If you can't see it from dry land, you're just gonna have to look at the pictures."

 

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