LEONARD GRAY

PHOTO: Luling residents Henry Knoblock and Amy Henning load up sandbags Wednesday as Allison-related rains deluged the River Parishes. (Staff Photo by Leonard Gray) LAPLACE – Rain, rain and more rain continued to deluge the River Parishes, as Tropical Storm Allison, which formed Tuesday in the Gulf and rolled into southeast Texas, stalled north of Houston. The stall, linked with a high system over Florida, trapped southeast Louisiana in the middle, with band after band of thunderstorms, which are expected to continue into the middle of next week, according to the National Weather Service. A brief tornado watch in the Reserve-Garyville area Thursday morning likewise raised concern but no damage was reported. Out at St. John Airport, manager Rick Moran used a four-wheeler to move airplanes from flooded locations to inside the main hangar. Rainfall was estimated at a total of 15 inches in St. John the Baptist Parish since Tuesday. Paul Oncale of St. John the Baptist Parish Civil Defense, several roads in the parish were closed Wednesday and Thursday due to flooding. Madewood Drive in LaPlace was closed Thursday afternoon, but reopened later that evening after the rain ceased. Friday morning, Homewood Drive in Reserve was closed, and on Thursday afternoon, S. Apple Street had to be shut down in Garyville. Daffodil Street in Mt. Airy was also closed. No vehicle accidents were reported. Oncale said anyone needing sand bags or other assistance can tune into cable Channel 55, the St. John Parish government channel, to find out more information. The Region III Office of Public Health personnel issued an advisory stating flood waters are often contaminated with raw sewerage from sewer and septic system backup. They warn there is a risk of contracting bacterial gastrointestinal disease from exposure to flood waters. Washing hands after participating in flood cleanup, wearing protective clothing during cleanup and keeping children out of floodwaters are important safety precautions. For more information, contact the St. John Parish Health Unit at 536-2172. St. Charles Parish dealt with 11 inches in the same period, with the Des Allemands area reporting 12 inches on Wednesday alone, according to George Guedry of the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Department. Assistant Public Works Director Palmer “Poochie” Cheramie reported trees downed in Des allemands, Destrehan and St. Rose, with a tree in Des Allemands bringing down a power line and hitting three vehicles. Road closures on Wednesday included Ormond Boulevard in Destrehan, Williams Street and Evans Street in Boutte and Riverbend Drive in St. Rose. Sandbags and sand were made available Wednesday at both the East and West Bridge Parks for St. Charles Parish residents. St. Charles Parish President Albert Laque issued an emergency declaration Wednesday. Eric Deroche of the St. James Parish Emergency Operations Center said there were many flooded streets in St. James Parish. Four or five houses took on water in South Vacherie and as of Thursday, there were 3,500-4,000 sandbags given out parishwide. In Gramercy, 12 inches of rain fell as of Thursday, and in Convent, the total amount of rainfall for June 5-8 was 12.5 inches. (NOTE: Reporters Amy Szpara and Rebecca Carrasco contributed to this article.)