BATON ROUGE, LA — February 28, 2018 — Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome’s Office, along with the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (MOHSEP), the Department of Public Works, Public Safety officials and key stakeholders, is closely monitoring the rising Mississippi River. Areas in and around East Baton Rouge Parish are being observed by The National Weather Service (NWS) Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Pontchartrain Levee District (PLD), United States Coast Guard (USCG) as well as local and state subject matter experts. According to the NWS Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge was at 40.68 feet at 11:00 a.m. today and is projected to crest at 43.3 feet on March 14, 2019.
Mayor Broome reminds citizens that crews are proactively working to implement preparedness measures. “As our Community remains in a recovery state, please be reminded that the health, safety, and welfare of residents is our top priority. If river conditions warrant operational changes or may potentially affect City-Parish services, I will communicate necessary guidance. Our East Baton Rouge Parish teams remain aware and dedicated to protecting our parish.”
“I encourage residents not to be complacent; adhere to authorized guidance as set forth by Mississippi River officials and local officials as we closely monitor rising levels. Together, let’s make preparations to prevent emergencies and keep East Baton Rouge Parish Red Stick Ready.”
Residents can stay informed of current Mississippi River projections by following The National Weather Service (NWS) on Facebook and @NWSNewOrleans or @NWSLMRFC on Twitter. Information regarding river forecasts can also be obtained by following local television and radio stations.
For more information, visit www.brla.gov/MOHSEP, www.redstickready.com, follow @redstickready on Twitter, like the Red Stick Ready page on Facebook, download the RedStick application for smartphones, or contact the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at (225) 389-2100.