La. Wing Provides Flooding Assessment Photo Flights for State

Louisiana Wing aircrews have provided about 500 photos of the Morganza Floodway in the Atchafalaya River basin to damage assessment staff for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).

The flights are being carried out to obtain imagery of the floodway infrastructure before the Morganza flood control structure is opened. Primary photography targets include areas already affected by flooding as well as specific reference points that GOHSEP’s emergency managers can use to gauge actual water level rise in critical areas. Also included are pre-installation and in-progress photos of the Bayou Chene location – at the border of St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes, about 8 miles east of Morgan City – where a barge is being sunk to help control floodwaters.

The mission will continue through this month and may be extended if necessary.

GOHSEP’s assistant deputy director of emergency management, Christopher Guilbeaux, provided aerial photographers with specific mission requirements and targets throughout Assumption, Avoyelles, Iberia, Iberville, Point Coupee, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes.

The mission schedule will vary depending on the needs of GOHSEP and parish Office of Environmental Compliance directors. “In addition to our initial runs last Saturday, our current schedule calls for both mid-flood and end-flood resurveys of these same areas,” said the Louisiana Wing’s incident commander for the mission, Lt. Col. Paul Rappmundt.

Units from Alexandria, Baton Rouge and Patterson provided the initial surveys and photos.