Hurricane Gustav, Disaster Strikes Grand Isle

Breaking News

September 13, 2008
"National Guard Patrols Grand Isle Waters" Read Full Article

September 11, 2008
"Port Fourchon Harbor Police Chief reports traffic has been stopped to Fourchon and Grand Isle from the Golden Meadow Flood Gate.
Water has overtopped LA-1 and the Harbor Police report a swift current flowing from Barataria Bay over to Timbalier Bay. Sections of the road surface have reportedly started to wash out.
Harbor Police are attempting to get the last occupants of Port Fourchon out now and some Entergy utility trucks to safety"

September 8, 2008
"Corps rushing to make four post-Gustav repairs" Read Full Article.

September 8, 2008
GRAND ISLE GUSTAV BULLETIN NO. 2

FROM: WAYNE ST. PIERRE FOGI PRESIDENT
SUBJECT: CAMP OWNER ACCESS TO ISLAND

ACCORDING TO THE TOWN OF GRAND ISLE, CAMP OWNERS MUST OBTAIN A PHOTO ID FROM THE LAFOURCHE SHERIFFS OFFICE LOCATED IN CUT OFF OFF HWY 1 IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ISLAND. KATRINA ID'S WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL, WAYNE

September 6
GRAND ISLE GUSTAV BULLETIN NO. 1

FROM: WAYNE ST. PIERRE, FOGI PRESIDENT

ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, I WAS ABLE TO ASSESS THE ISLAND FROM MY OWN VISUAL PERSPECTIVE. NO DOUBT, GUSTAV REEKED HAVOC ON GRAND ISLAND. ENTERING ON HWY. 1, THE ROAD IS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE. MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE POWER LINES ARE DOWN ON HWY 1 COMING INTO THE ISLAND AS WELL AS ON THE ISLAND ITSELF. THE GRAND ISLE HWY 1 PARTICULARLY FROM THE BRIDGE THREE MILES INTO THE ISLAND, THE ROAD WAS LITERALLY COVER WITH SAND FORM ONE, TWO, AND IN SOME CASES THREE FEET. THIS CAME FROM THE BEACH WHERE MASSIVE EROSION HAS TAKEN PLACE WITH BREACHES IN THE LEVEE AND BURM SYSTEM. NOTABLY, MOST OF THE CROSS OVER AREAS WHERE THE LOCATIONS OF THE BREACHES , SOME EXTENDING TO HWY 1. SEEMINGLY, THE EASTERN END OF THE ISLAND HAD LESS OF AN EROSION AND BREACH PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE ISLAND BEACH AREA MUCH CLOSER TO THE CAMPS THAN BEFORE. IN AREAS I INVESTIGATED, THE WATER LEVEL DID NOT EXCEED THREE FEET WITH LESS IN MOST AREAS. THE WATER SYSTEM WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL. MOST CAMPS PASSED THE TEST OF GUSTAV QUITE WELL WITH MOST HAVING MINIMAL DAMAGE, AND A SMALL PERCENTAGE HAVING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. PHYSICALLY, THE ISLAND WAS NOT A PRETTY SITE.

THE DIFFICULTY I AM EXPERIENCING IS OBTAINING INFORMATION WHICH WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR MEMBERSHIP IN REGARDS TO ACCESSING THE ISLAND PARTICULARLY FOR OUR CAMP OWNERS. BULLETINS FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN AS WELL AS CHANGING INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO ACCESS TO THE ISLAND. I WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION.

NO DOUBT, THE TOWN OFFICIALS HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL. THERE WAS A LOT OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT BEGINNING ITS WORK IN THE ROAD ARE SATURDAY MORNING CLEARING THE HWY 1 AND THE SIDE LANES. WE LEND ALL OF OUR SUPPORT TO THE TOWN OFFICIALS AND HOPE THEIR TASK OF BRINGING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.