Mayor Drennan advises citizens to stay off roadways
Mayor Drennan and City of Slidell officials are working closely with the National Weather Service in anticipation of the deluge of rain blanketing the city. With a heavy line of storms still to come, and more rain expected this weekend, officials are taking preventive measures to minimize the overall impact to the city.
With nearly four inches of rain falling in a one hour period yesterday, and a similar downpour anticipated today, street flooding is inevitable. Additionally, with the ground still saturated, the likelihood of toppling trees is also a concern.
“We are working closely with the National Weather Service and will be monitoring the weather this afternoon, through the night and all weekend long. I encourage all residents in flood risk areas to be prepared, have a plan and remain informed throughout the storm,” said Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan. “Essential personnel will remain on duty around the clock and we will continue to issue updates as needed.”
Sandbag locations opened today at noon and will remain open until 8 p.m. After monitoring the weather activity, Mayor Drennan may also make the call to open those locations again tomorrow. At present, those locations include the tennis courts located at Cleveland Avenue off Sgt. Alfred Drive and the parking area at the corner of Rue Rochelle and Independence Drive. There is a limit of 15 sandbags per household.
Drennan also issued a stern warning about driving through flooded areas.
“We’ve been advised that several homes flooded yesterday as a direct result of vehicles driving through flooded streets and pushing water into homes,” said Drennan. “This is a violation of City Ordinances 2844 and 3158, which were put in place to protect our residents and businesses. So not only is this type of action inconsiderate, it’s illegal, and it will not be tolerated.”
The Slidell Police Department will monitor flooded areas and will issue citations to drivers in violation of the ordinance, which provides for fines of up to $500 and imprisonment of up to 15 days, plus restitution to the persons whose property is damaged as a result of such actions.
The city has established a Twitter account specifically dedicated to Emergency Updates. Through this site, you can opt to receive information via your cell phone and/or email, or you can simply visit the Twitter page. Sign up at www.twitter.com/SlidellSOS. Additionally, updates are posted on the city’s website at www.slidell.la.us and on the official “City of Slidell” Facebook page as soon as they are available. Citizens are also encouraged to print a copy of the city’s Emergency Information form, which features a wallet-sized card listing emergency news sources. The form is available at the link below.
If you need to reach the City of Slidell during the storm, please call (985) 643-6140.
For more information, visit the city’s website at www.slidell.la.us. For the latest city news updates and information about upcoming events, follow the “City of Slidell” on Facebook and Twitter.
City of Slidell Emergency Preparation Information – click here
