Covington Sees Severe Flooding from Tropical Storm Cindy

Covington Sees Severe Flooding from Tropical Storm Cindy

By: Peter Egan

Numerous Covington residents had to move their cars to higher ground and either evacuate, or, as was the case for me, remain trapped inside their homes for three full days.

This became a bit of a crisis for at least one Covington man who lives on a bayou near the Tchefuncte River off of Three Rivers Road. He decided to wait it out and use the unexpected time off from work to get some fishing in. Unfortunately his beloved dog mistook a wad of catfish bait for food, and swallowed it, hook and all.

The man had to wade approximately a half-mile in water ranging from thigh to waist deep with a 70 pound dog on his shoulder to get her to a road that wasn't flooded, where he was met by a family member who didn't flood. The family member brought the dog to a vet. Surgery was performed, and the hook was removed before it entered the dog's intestines (which would have likely resulted in death from septic shock). The animal is expected to make a full recovery.

While all south Louisiana residents who've been here since 2005 have undoubtedly experienced far worse, there was still potential for a dangerous situation. Another resident in the flood zone who stayed for the flood and asked to remain anonymous, ran completely out of human and pet food the day the floodwaters finally receded.

"If it (the flood) has lasted one more day I'd have been in some trouble," the man remarked.

If nothing else the storm served as s good reminder to check a local weather forecast day, and to prepare to survive for at least a week with no access to outside sources of food (human and pet), water and anything else one might need in an emergency that they won't be able to buy after the emergency either traps a person in their home or completely cuts all power, making commerce difficult and if one has no cash currency, virtually impossible.

Cindy came at a good time for south Louisiana. The shock that came with Katrina and Rita was beginning to wear off, and Cindy was a nice reminder to residents that we must all prepare for the worst during hurricane season without doing much in terms of damage compared with storms past.