Rivers flood parish

The rivers that flow through Washington Parish, the Bogue Chitto on the west and the Pearl on the east, were both above flood stage and in people’s homes early this week.

At press time late Tuesday, the Pearl was predicted to continue its rise for a few more hours into the night before beginning a gradual decline. And although the Bogue Chitto began falling Sunday, heavy rains Tuesday made forecasts for both rivers uncertain.

According to the National Weather Service, virtually all of Washington Parish received between 5 and 10 inches of rain in a seven-day period that ended Monday, and more storms were expected both Tuesday and Thursday.

The Bogue Chitto crested at 19.21 feet in Franklinton Sunday, according to the NWS. Flood stage is 12 feet, and the record high was 28.26 feet, set on April 15, 1900.

On Tuesday, the Pearl was lapping on the heels of a new record. It was expected to crest near Bogalusa last night at 22.2 feet, just one foot under the current high of 23.23 feet set on April 24, 1979. The flood stage is 18 feet.

When rivers rise, the water pushes back into the adjoining creeks. By Monday, dozens of families throughout the parish had already been pushed out of their homes due to the rising floodwaters.

Outside of Franklinton, campers clustered near the Chess Richardson Bridge at the base of flooded roads and subdivisions. In Enon, displaced families in boats sat nose to nose with pick-up trucks where streets were transformed into waterways. In Varnado, the Pushpatapa Creek receded from a woman’s home where it had reached chest high. In Bogalusa, men worked to build an earthen levee to keep the rising Pearl from seeping or racing over O. A. Green Road.

Roy Burkhalter, who lives on Louisiana Highway 16 between Franklinton and Enon, was spotted pumping Bogue Chitto River water out of his yard. The sprawling lawn had become a massive pond-bottom.

“My grandchildren have been out there riding in a boat,” he said.

Burkhalter said a lack of culverts through some driveways between his place and the river made it difficult to get the water back where it belongs. He also said he wished he’d been home on Saturday so he could have blocked his own culverts.

“I was not here to put the plates in the end of the culvert,” said Burkhalter. “If I can get the water down enough now, I can put them in and keep the river out.”

As he hurried to get the job done before Tuesday’s rain, he said his house had remained dry so far.

“It stopped about three inches before the back porch,” said Burkhalter. “There’s a levee all around the yard, so that’s holding it back.”

He said he’s owned the property since 1991 and the river “never got in here before.”

Meanwhile, a group of about a dozen men, women and children were gathered along Louisiana Highway 437 just west of the bridge across the Bogue Chitto in Enon.

They’d been forced out of their homes when the river started rising fast Friday.

Joel Poche said he quickly put his hog in his boat and his four dogs on the front porch, then got out while he could.

Derek O’Keefe’s trailer home could be seen from the highway. Only the very top of his pick-up truck was visible above the water. His speed boat was mostly submerged and barely visible. A camper had floated toward the trailer and was apparently wedged atop a four-wheeler.

About 10 families live in the area, far enough from the river that it’s not supposed to flood, said O’Keefe. Some of them were still in their homes, but they had boats in case they needed to get out, he said.

The Bogue Chitto receded about 6 inches Sunday night, but appeared to be on the rise again Monday, according to the Enon group. And they knew heavy rain was in the forecast.

By Tuesday morning, throughout Washington Parish, people were keeping a wary eye on both rivers and the threatening sky.