LAFAYETTE PARISH — Residents across Lafayette Parish are being urged to prepare now for hazardous weather expected to move into the area Tuesday afternoon and continue through Thursday morning.
A flash flood watch is in effect for the parish, with forecasts calling for 4 to 8 inches of rain, strong winds, large hail, and a high risk of localized flash flooding. Forecasters say some isolated areas could receive up to 10 inches of rain.
Officials with the Lafayette Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) said they are actively monitoring the situation in coordination with local agencies and emergency responders.
Christina Dayries, chief of staff with Lafayette Consolidated Government, stressed the importance of early preparation.
"Current national weather forecasts place Lafayette at the heart of the most severe weather," Dayries said. "They're looking at 6 to 8 inches of rain, and some isolated areas could see up to 12 inches. This is flash flooding — it’s going to be a slow-moving event, which is the worst."
Dayries said parish agencies are coordinating in advance of the storm, with flooding being the biggest concern for officials.
“What we're trying to get across to citizens and businesses is: start preparing now. Protect your home and business before the rain starts,” she said.Just over a week ago, Lafayette experienced flooding after only a few hours of rainfall, raising new concerns about the city's drainage system and overall flood preparedness.
Brian Smith, director of drainage for LCG, addressed those concerns.
“We have a robust system for clearing our ditches,” Smith said. “Before any storm, we go out and check our systems. We make sure everything is open and can convey water properly. If there's any debris accumulation, we get that removed.”
Business owners are also being asked to take precautions ahead of the storm. Sandbags are available at select locations.
Meanwhile, city officials are encouraging residents to secure important documents and make necessary flood preparations at home.
