Flood damage extensive in West Carroll Parish

Heavy rains relentlessly pounding West Carroll brough massive flooding and water damage to residents’ homes and property. Many roads were impassable because of the depth of water. Some were washed out.
Some people were helped from their homes by the National Guard in their trucks that ride high from the road. The Guard made their way to one house and rescued a woman who had suffered a heart attack. The ambulance could not reach her home.
Residents report that a number of people were out in their boats checking on and helping neighbors.
The rains which were estimated by one meteroligist as being anywhere between 10 to 10 inches across the area in 48 hours have left their mark. Parish employees estimate that between 9,500 to 11,000 sandbags were filled and made available to those in need.
All parish maintenance personnel from different departments and inmates filled sand bags and helped residents load them.
Parish Manager Donnie Linson spoke highly of the people he saw helping others at the barn where sand bags and polypipe were loaded so people could place them around their homes as a shield against the water. He said he saw younger people who were there to get sand bags stop and help an older person load up and then would follow him home and help put out the bags or polypipe before returning to get their own.
He said many residents were generous with those inmates and other voluneers working to fill sand bags. He noted that one day Cindy Kay’s Kitchen donated 36 plates for the workers’ lunch. Forest Grocery provided sandwiches and many people brought by pies and cakes for those working to help others.
Linson said neighbors made available pastures for farm animals to those whose property was flooded.
Linson said East Carroll Parish was very helpful by giving them access to sand that was stockpiled to protect the levee.
He said trucks with capacity from 12-15 yards traveled to East Carroll for sand, 10 on Thursday and nine on Friday.
Commenting about West Carroll residents, Linson said, “People are good. I am really proud to live here and call it home.”
He quoted one young man who said, “It’s bad but we’ve been through the water before.”
Schools were still dismissed as of Monday because buses could not travel the flooded roads.
For more West Carroll Parish news, go to www.westcarrollgazette.com