8-22-16
GLENN STOKES OF MOSQUITO CONTROL CONTRACTORS IS EXPECTING AN EXPLOSIVE POPULATION OF MOSQUITOES COMING TO THE AREA SOON BECAUSE OF THE RECENT FLOODING. HE TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT THEY’VE ALREADY SEEN AN INCREASE IN MOSQUITOES, BUT IT WILL INTENSIFY NEXT WEEK WHEN EGGS IN STAGNANT WATERS BEGIN TO HATCH. HE SAYS HIS CREWS HAVE BEEN SPRAYING IN TRUCKS WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS AND WITH FOUR WHEELERS IN FLOODED AREAS. STOKES SAYS THEY HAVEN’T DETECTED ANY DISEASES IN THE MOSQUITO POPULATIONS THEY’VE TESTED.
A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER FOR LAKE ARTHUR IS EXPECTED TO BE LIFTED TODAY AS WATER IS BEGINNING TO RECEDE ALONG THE LEVEE. MAYOR ROBBIE BERTRAND SAYS CLEANUP IS THE NEXT PRIORITY AND IT’S EXPECTED TO BEGIN TODAY. JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF IVY WOODS SAYS A DUSK TO DAWN CURFEW WILL BE IN PLACE WHEN RESIDENTS RETURN. SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED IN LAKE CHARLES BUT OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE STUDENTS RETURN TODAY.
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT ACADIANA WERE CLOSED LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF FLOODING CONCERNS. JULIE DARCE HAS AN UPDATE.
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High water in Louisiana and Arkansas has put a damper on the nation’s rice harvest. While much of Louisiana’s crop was in before record floods this month, Arkansas farmers had just started harvesting before rainy weather began last weekend. So far, the biggest losers are farmers whose fields are inundated and may not be able to harvest. Those who do succeed will find slightly higher prices.
A CHURCH IN KAPLAN WAS FLOOD-DAMAGEED. NEW BEGINNINGS BAPTIST CHURCH HAS HAD THE FLOORING AND WALLBOARDS REMOVED. DESPITE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS, THE CHURCH BECAME THE CENTER OF A FLOOD RELIEF EFFORT, WITH MORE THAN TWELVE THOUSAND POUNDS OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO HAND OUT TO FLOOD VICTIMS. A DEACON AT THE CHURCH, DARVEN WILLIAMS, TELLS THE ADVOCATE THE CHURCH MAY HAVE FLOODED BUT PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO SEE JESUS IN THE FLOOD.
THE SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK HAS SO FAR COLLECTED MORE THAN 208 THOUSAND POUNDS OF SUPPLIES TO HELP AID IN RELIEF EFFORTS. THEY ARE COLLECTING ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES SUCH AS NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AND CLEANING SUPPLIES AT THEIR LAFAYETTE LOCATION, AT 215 EAST PINHOOK, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BETWEEN 7-30 AND FOUR. THE SUPPLIES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED IN DISASTER AREAS INCLUDING LAFAYETTE, ST. LANDRY AND VERMILLION PARISHES. MONETARY DONATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE SECOND HARVEST WEBSITE.
Louisiana officials say an estimated 60,000 homes have been damaged by massive flooding that swept through the southern part of the state. Mike Steele, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said Saturday that 102,000 people have also registered for federal assistance. He says authorities are still assessing damage to homes and that number could fluctuate.
Commissioner Jay Dardenne announced Saturday that state offices in all parishes are reopening on Monday.
HAIR STYLISTS IN LAKE CHARLES GAVE FREE HAIRCUTS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN AN EVENT CALLED HUGS FOR HAIRCUTS, SPONSORED BY WATER’S EDGE GATHERING CHURCH. IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO GET A NEW LOOK AND KNOW THEY ARE STILL LOVED. SALON OWNER NICKI BUNWORTH SAYS THEY COMPLETED CLOSE TO FIFTY HAIRCUTS IN AN HOUR. HE SAYS THEY HOPE IN THE FUTURE TO BE ABLE HELP THOSE IN NEED GET RESUMES AND FIND JOBS.
