Waters Rising, Thousands at Risk of Flooding: Landry and Vitter Call for Corps to Immediately Open Bonnet Carré

Press Release

With water levels on the Mississippi River rising to record highs and water already overtopping the outer levee in some areas in Louisiana, U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry (R, LA-03) and U.S. Senator David Vitter (R, LA) sent a letter today to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking every possible measure to delay the opening of the Morganza Spillway be taken, including the immediate opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway.

"The residents of South Louisiana are in imminent danger of flooding," Landry warned. "It is necessary the Corps immediately open the Spillway so thousands do not face the real possibilities of life and property loss."

Landry -- whose district could face as much as 9.5 feet of floodwaters, according to predictions by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- explained "the immediate and full utilization of the Bonnet Carré will remove 250,000 cubic feet per second of water from the Mississippi River, increase the capacity of the river, and delay the need to open the Morganza Spillway."

"While we always should prepare for the worst case scenario, I join the thousands of Louisianians in lower lying areas in hoping for improved conditions," Vitter said.

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