Some in Lafourche Parish seek higher ground ahead of Francine

LAFOURCHE PARISH, La. ( WGNO ) — In Lafourche Parish, ahead of Francine’s landfall , a mandatory evacuation went into effect, starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, for those living in a FEMA or state-owned trailer, as well as for those living south of the Leon Theriot Locks, which includes Leeville.

“Well, today we’re preparing, getting our stuff ready. And we already brought all stuff inside to the levee system, and I’m going to be heading off tomorrow morning, before the storm comes in, and my mom and my wife are going to be heading in this evening,” said Terry Serigny, the owner of Terry’s Live Bait in Leeville.

NewsNation affiliate WGNO’s Jordan Lippincott asked, “Where to?” Serigny replied, “Golden Meadow, inside the levee system.”

Some other residents may want to seek higher ground as well.

“We’re also calling a voluntary evacuation for everyone in lower Bayou Blue, as well as Eagle Island,” said Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson. “We don’t have a whole lot of flood protection in that area, and based on the tidal surge models, we just have a few concerns.”

A gas station in Larose was open on Tuesday afternoon, but the business’ glass door and windows were boarded up.

Meanwhile, some had already hit the road after preparing their property for the storm.

“Raising everything up is most important,” explained Berg. “You know, most of the camps in Grand Isle, the downstairs, you are kind of used to having water come into it, and so moving anything important to the upstairs, nailing stuff down, making sure there’s nothing loose in the yard to fly around.”

Terry’s Live Bait Shop sustained significant damage during Hurricane Ida a few years ago, but Serigny says he’s not nervous in anticipation of Francine.

“You get so used to being in an area, and you know what to expect, and what you got to do is just pick up the pieces and sort back,” said Serigny. “That’s all you could do.”

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