St. Tammany Parish sandbag sites to remain open through weekend

SLIDELL, La. ( WGNO ) — More rain is on the way, and officials in St. Tammany Parish are making sure people who live there are prepared.

The parish’s five sandbag sites are in Covington, Mandeville, Lacombe, Pearl River and Slidell.

On Friday, Doris Dardar and her husband made sandbags for their daughter at the Airport Road Public Works Barn in Slidell ahead of what was expected to be a rainy Saturday.

“The game plan was to come out here, help her out. And she actually has her daughter’s golden birthday tomorrow,” said Dardar. “So, we’re praying it gets over before lunchtime. But she can’t get away, you know, in the daytime. By the time she’s able to get away, it’s dark.”

So, with the help of St. Tammany Parish providing the sand, it’s mom and dad to the rescue.

Those seeking sandbags are asked to bring their own shovels. The opening of the parish’s sandbag sites follows bouts of heavy rain.

“[My daughter] lives in, like, the old section, so yeah, the road leading into her area, the bayous always overflow, and if you don’t have a high-water vehicle to get through that way, you really shouldn’t take a small car through it once it floods,” Dardar explained.

The Dardars serve as a reminder to always check in on family members and neighbors during torrential weather.

“You have to be there to lend a helping hand,” Dardar said. “When we take sick, she helps us, so when we’re able to help her, we help her, you know. One hand washes the other.”

According to a parish spokesman, the sandbag sites will be open through the weekend and will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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