Report: Mandatory evacuation called for 50K+ along Tangipahoa River: dam may break

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[Updated 11:26 a.m. ET] Officials are calling for a mandatory evacuation of at least 50,000 people along the Tangipahoa River - from Kentwood, Louisiana, to Robert, Louisiana - after a levee apparently failed near Lake Tangipahoa, according to CNN affiliate WWL.

Live stream coverage:

http://www.wwltv.com/live-stream/exempt

Two reports thus far: McComb MS mayor says dam still holding. Other reports say it has been breached and collapse is imminent. Mayor: 50-50 chance. "Lord only knows if this thing holds or not."

 

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MCCOMB, Miss. (AP) — Louisiana officials have ordered evacuation of low-lying, sparsely-populated areas along the Tangipahoa River because an Isaac-hammered dam at a state park lake in southwest Mississippi near the Louisiana border is in danger of failing.

Officials in Tangipahoa Parish, La., fear the water it would pour into the already swollen river would flood low-lying areas downstream from the park.

But Mississippi officials say they don't believe the volume of water in the 700-acre lake at Percy Quin State Park near McComb, Miss., would add enough flow to threaten communities downstream.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/la-o...cle/66-magnitude-quake-reported-arctic-island

 

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FLASH FLOOD WARNING

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1111 AM CDT THU AUG 30 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
NORTH CENTRAL TANGIPAHOA PARISH IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA...
SOUTHWESTERN PIKE COUNTY IN SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...

* UNTIL 200 PM CDT

* AT 1050 AM CDT...A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR ALL
LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG THE TANGIPAHOA RIVER IN NORTHERN
TANGIPAHOA PARISH DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE LAKE
TANGIPAHOA DAM...ALSO KNOWN AS THE PERCY QUIN DAM...IN
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. AGAIN...A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN
ORDERED FOR ALL LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG THE TANGIPAHOA RIVER IN
NORTHERN TANGIPAHOA PARISH DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE
LAKE TANGIPAHOA DAM...ALSO KNOWN AS THE PERCY QUIN DAM...IN
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

http://forecast.weather.gov/hazards...IXFFWLIX&iss=1346343060&etn=0072&maptype=text

 

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Mike Hoss ‏@MHossWWL
Governor Bobby Jindal says people need to evacuate the Tangipahoa River to one mile on either side of the river

KETK NEWS ‏@KETK
More than 50,000 people have less than 90 minutes to evacuated in the Tangipahoa River area.

 

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Picture from dam: http://wafb.images.worldnow.com/images/19417024_BG3.jpg

"Damaged but not broken." (So far.)

 

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Matthew Keys ‏@ProducerMatthew
Just in: WWL-TV - Governor Jindal says officials will breach the Tangipahoa Dam to relieve pressure

Breach would cause 4' rise in river in Pike County. Which would be fine if that works.

 

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Presser at 2 p.m. CDT with Gov. Jindal and Tangipahoa Parish President Gordon Burgess.

 

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If dam breaks, water will be 17' above flood stage, similar to '90, '83 floods.

 

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Spillway area at the Percy Quin Dam: http://tinyurl.com/9q4rl2w

 

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Extremely mixed messages in media coverage in part due to Gov. Jindal's initial briefing: is the dam about to break? not? Are they going to attempt a partial breach? If dam is not in imminent danger, why are 50k+ residents in MS and LA being asked to evacuate? Via MSM and social media: much confusion. Jindal spoke rapidly and only dealt with Tangipahoa Parish's Percy Quin Dam situation at the start, attempting to cover the situation in the state in its entirety during the rest of briefing. Confusion reigns.

Prayers for LA and MS.

 

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Ashley Rodrigue ‏@ashleyrWWL
Robert Supermarket is shutting down for the Tangipahoa River evacuation. Owner says he got 4 ft in 1983 so he's closing up shop.

 

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*Updated 12:45 p.m*
Tangipahoa Parish says MEMA told them that dam breach is imminent. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said an intentional breach will be made between 2-3 p.m. to alleviate pressure. The dam is in imminent danger of failing, which could send 17 feet of water to Kentwood within 90 minutes, Jindal said, in a press briefing. (ClarionLedger.com)

http://tinyurl.com/cvrfkwg

 

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Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LA)

Michelle Millhollon ‏@MMillhollon
GOHSEP: Breaching the Pike County dam would impact 20 homes in Mississippi, save Tangipahoa Parish homes from flooding. #Isaac

 

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WWL-TV ‏@WWLTV
Officials trying a controlled release to relieve pressure on the dam for Lake Tangipahoa