Contact Information Media Relations
Phone: (318) 681-0666
Fax: (318) 681-0888
Go Back

Caddo officials prepare for rise of the Red

Caddo Parish residents should prepare for more rain, flooding, and possible tornadic activity this weekend, a spokesman for the National Weather Service said today in a meeting at the Caddo Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Homeland Security Director/Sheriff Steve Prator gathered city and parish officials to hear the report and discuss preparations going into the weekend.

Matthew Duplantis, of the NWS, said a severe weather threat is expected around noontime on Saturday and could be accompanied by high winds and downed trees. Approximately 4-6 inches of rainfall has been received in the area so far with another 1 to 1.5 inches forecasted through Monday.

"Flooding is coming," he said. We may not know exactly how much; it depends on where it lands in the Water Shed," he said. The Red River in Shreveport is at 23 feet now and is expected to crest on Monday at 31 feet.

"We are going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, as we always do," Sheriff Prator said. "We will be watching this through the weekend but we want our citizens to have all the information we have so they can prepare too.".

Citizens should be aware of the following:

  • Boat traffic on local waterways should be suspended.
  • Livestock in the area of C.Bickham Dickson Park and along 12-Mile Bayou should be moved to a safe location or to the dry side of the levee.
  • Back water flooding may occur along 12-Mile Bayou.
  • Access roads and camps on Caddo Lake could flood.
  • C.Bickham Dickson, Hamel's Memorial Park, and the city dog park are closed.
  • Sandbags for city residents are available from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. today and through the weekend at 3825 Mansfield Road. Residents must present an ID with a city address. The limit is 20 bags. Parish residents can receive sandbags from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. today and Saturday at Parish Public Works, 1701 Monty Street. There is a 25 bag limit. The parish and city will continue to monitor the weather to determine if any changes or extensions will be made to pickup times. 
  • All SPAR activities have been postponed for the weekend.

Residents are urged to register for CodeRed emergency notifications on the Caddo Sheriff's Office website at www.caddosheriff.org. Please like the following Facebook pages for updates to this information: Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, Caddo Parish Commission, City of Shreveport, and Shreveport Police Department.

Go Back