Caddo-Bossier officials warn of severe weather Saturday: ‘Please stay at home’

The Shreveport-Bossier City area received a brief respite from rainfall on Friday, but officials warned that severe weather is expected again on Saturday and may result in tornadoes, high winds and flooding.

“Just know we’re going to ask our citizens, if you don’t have to travel tomorrow, please stay at home,” Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler said during a news conference on Friday afternoon.

Caddo Parish Sheriff and Homeland Security Director Steve Prator held a meeting of local officials Friday to discuss the impact of recent weather.

Approximately 4 to 6 inches of rain has fallen in the area so far, with another 1 to 1.5 inches forecast through Monday.

Severe weather is projected for Saturday, particularly between noon and 3 p.m., Prator said.

More:Weather need-to-know: More rain on the way

“It could have some tornadoes, it could have a lot of wind and a lot of rain,” he said.

Another issue is how much rain has recently fallen and is forecast to fall in the Red River Basin, Prator said.

“The levels right now are about 23 feet, and they feel like it’s going to crest at about 31 on Monday, which is above minor flood stage,” Prator said. “So we are expecting problems — not as many as we had in 2015 and 2016, but we’re expecting some problems, and we’re all well prepared.”

Prator also warned that flooding problems are expected along Twelve Mile Bayou and Caddo Lake.

“If you live along those, you know what kind of problems as well as we do,” he said. “Twelve Mile Bayou is going to be backed up because every time the Red does, it backs up, and then Caddo Lake backs up. Cross Lake seems to be manageable at this point.”

The City of Shreveport is closing parks including C. Bickham Dickson off Bert Kouns and East 70th St., the Shreveport Dog Park near the Stoner Boat Launch and Hamel Memorial Park on Clyde Fant Parkway in anticipation of possible river flooding. In addition, SPAR activities planned for this weekend have been postponed. 

Sandbags will be distributed by the City of Shreveport throughout the weekend from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at 3825 Mansfield Road, and Caddo Parish will distribute sandbags each day until 5 p.m. at the Caddo Parish Solid Waste Office, 1701 Monty St.

The City of Bossier City will continue to make sandbags available to Bossier City residents Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.at the city’s Public Service Complex, 3223 Old Shed Road.

“I think in 2015 when Sheriff Prator and I stood here and we asked people not to come out and endanger themselves and others, so we could help people that are really, seriously needing the help — please don’t do that,” Tyler said. “We expect, according to the forecast, tornadoes, as Sheriff Prator has said, and a lot of bad weather. So stay at home, don’t drive if you don’t have to.”