Gayle's Blog

As we all prepare for Gustav, take a little time to do something extra that may help more than you can imagine.  Mr. Jackson's suggestions below are right on.
Gayle Causey
Keller Williams Realty
Monroe, LA USA
http://GayleCausey.com

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There will be more information coming out in the next few days but I'd like to take this opportunity to request help from each of you on behalf of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury.  By Tuesday and Wednesday, regardless of exactly where Gustav come ashore, Ouachita Parish will likely be on the northeast quadrant of the storm and experience heavy rains and extreme wind.  During the Month of August this area had rainfall in excess of 400% of normal.  The ground is saturated.  We are likely to see localized flooding and problems with trees.    Tomorrow and Monday I would ask that each of you take some time to check any areas around your yards and your immediate neighborhoods.  Please pick up debris in ditches and clear leaves and pine straw away from drains and culverts.  The parish Public Works Dept is trying to do some of this but will absolutely NOT be able to cover every place. While clear drains and ditches won't eliminate all flooding problems they will minimize the issues  And again, please take the opportunity to be civic minded...don't limit yourself to your immediate yard.  Help the entire parish by picking up a bit around a nearby roadside area.  We'll all be better for doing so.   I would also ask that you forward this to others on your email lists that are in Ouachita Parish and encourage them to clear their areas as well as pass it along to others.  We have problems with ditches, culverts and clogged roadside drains in Monroe and West Monroe as well as in the parish.  

Charles Jackson
Ouachita Parish Police Juror
District A
318-355-4260