Jindal: Get ready to get out of flood's way

Credit: AP

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks at a news conference in Baton Rouge, La. about the potential for flooding from the swelling Mississippi River Monday, May 9, 2011. Behind him are state fire officials who recently responded to the tornado disasters in Mississippi and Alabama. The Mississippi River rose toward the highest level ever in Memphis, flooding pockets of low-lying neighborhoods and forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes. As residents waited for the river to reach its peak as early as Monday night those downstream in Mississippi and Louisiana evacuated prisoners and diverted water from the river in an attempt to stave off catastrophic flooding that has a long history of hitting the area. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Print

Email

Email this article

|

Tweet
MORE
- Digg
- Delicious
- Tumblr
- LinkedIn
- StumbleUpon
- Newsvine
- Reddit
- Pinterest

Associated Press

Posted on May 10, 2011 at 7:39 PM

Updated Tuesday, May 10 at 7:46 PM

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday that communities along the Morganza spillway should be alert and prepare for evacuations if a decision to open the Morganza spillway is made.

Jindal said he expects a decision from the Army Corps of Engineers soon on whether the spillway, a massive relief valve for the swollen Mississippi River, must be opened. The spillway runs from the Mississippi northwest of Baton Rouge to the Atchafalaya Basin and into the Gulf of Mexico near Morgan City.

Jindal said he's asked the corps for notice of at least 3 days so residents can be evacuated.

The governor said the latest projection was for an opening as early as Saturday.

Pam Vidros, a spokeswoman for the corps, said a decision is likely in the next couple of days.