Latest Flood Information From Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office

Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington and officials from Bossier City, Bossier Parish Police Jury, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and others met Saturday morning to assess the Red River flooding and implement planning to aid and assist those affected by the high waters.

The National Weather Service projects the Red River to crest at 36.5 feet on Sunday, where it will remain for a couple of days before beginning to slowly recede. As of Saturday afternoon, the river was at 35.86 feet.

Here is an update on flooding situation and road closures in Bossier Parish at this point:

Road Closures

- La. 537 in north Bossier Parish - closed by La. DOTD June 4 from Pittman Road to Log Ferry Road.

- La. 515 in south Bossier Parish - closed by La. DOTD June 6 from the Loggy Bayou Bridge in Red River Parish to U.S. 71 in Bossier Parish.

Shreveport Barksdale Bridge off ramps to Arthur Ray Teague Parkway – closed by Bossier City Police Department and La. DOTD June 6.  Bridge will remain open as usual but no traffic will be allowed to exit onto the Parkway in either direction. Both lanes of the ART Parkway will be closed from McDade Street to Shady Grove Blvd until the flood waters recede. Motorists are asked to use Barksdale Blvd (US Hwy 71) for North / South travel until the parkway is reopened.  Staff and guests of the War Veterans Home located in this area will need to contact the officer stationed at McDade Street and will be allowed to travel to the facility.

Arthur Ray Teague Parkway in Bossier City - closed by Bossier City Police and Fire Departments late June 4 from just south of Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge to Centurylink Center.  Closely temporarily due to pumping excess water from the east side of the parkway back to the Red River to protect the South Bossier Water Treatment Facility.

Bossier deputies, officials with La. DOTD, Bossier Parish Police Jury and Bossier City Police Department continue to monitor all roadways, especially Highways 154, 157, 71, I-220, Poole Road, Smith Road, Atkins Clark Road and other low lying roadways.

Sheriff Whittington is viewing areas in south Bossier Parish Saturday afternoon that could be affected by the anticipated backwater flooding from the Red River up to Loggy Bayou, Red Chute Bayou, Flat River and other tributaries that feed the Red.  Primary areas to monitor in south Bossier Parish, aside from locations along the Red River, include residences and low lying land along those tributaries south of La. Highway 154, in addition to Lake Bistineau, which could see some flooding, particularly on camps and boat houses.

River Bluff subdivision has two dozen homes that either have water or mostly will have water.  Most residents have evacuated.

Cash Point RV Park with about 50 RVs and mobiles homes has water throughout. Most RVs and all residents have evacuated.

Cash Point, the Party Place business at Cash Point RV Park will likely soon have water in it.

30,000 additional sand bags have been requested by Bossier Unified Command to Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.  Department of Corrections inmates will fill sandbags at the Bossier Parish Highway Department Maintenance Barn in Benton, and National Guard Soldiers will fill sandbags at nearby Camp Minden and distribute to distribution sites in Bossier Parish and Caddo Parish. Sand bags are available at these three locations in Bossier Parish:

Elm Grove Elementary School in south Bossier Parish – open 24/7

Bossier Parish Highway Department Maintenance Barn – open 24/7

Bossier City Public Service Complex on Old Shed Road – open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The evacuation shelter operated by the American Red Cross at Elm Grove Elementary School continues to remain operational.

Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness encourages residents to document any damage due to flooding by writing it down, taking photographs or video of your damage and retain any receipts pertained to cleanup and restoration.  If you’ve experienced any damage to your home, business or property, call BOHSEP at 318-425-5351.

Officials encourage all residents who might be in jeopardy of flooding to ensure they have an emergency plan in place and take appropriate actions now.  Officials are urging residents to understand the scope of the flooding, in which high waters will be in our area for the upcoming weeks.

Officials will also be closely monitoring the forecast by the National Weather Forecast and their prediction of rain next week and any impact that may have on our area.

As always, Sheriff Whittington encourages residents who have any concerns, need special assistance or have medical needs that are or could be impacted by the flooding to contact the Bossier Sheriff’s Office at 318-965-2203 anytime.