Flash Flood — Caldwell, Louisiana

2016-03-08 to 2016-03-12 · near Holum, Caldwell, Louisiana

Event narrative

A 5-day heavy rainfall event resulted in massive flooding across all of Caldwell Parish in Northern Louisiana. Some of the more impressive 5 day totals across the parish were as follows: Columbia 4.1 NNW: 14.77, Columbia Lock and Dam: 9.60. The Louisiana National Guard was deployed by the Governor of Louisiana to assist local law enforcement in the massive response to the prolonged flooding event. These operations included evacuations, search and rescue, distribution and supply of water and meals, security and shelter support and distribution of sandbags and sandbag filling machines. In addition, 36 high water vehicles and 16 boats were called in to assist in the effort. Numerous roads were inundated and closed with flood waters during the height of the event across Caldwell Parish. Numerous high water rescues were conducted by first responders which included rescuing occupants trapped in their vehicles as well as the rescuing of residents from flooded homes across the parish. The Ouachita River saw a significant rise and crest to 68.4 feet at the Columbia Lock and Dam as a result of the excessive heavy rainfall. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security determined that upwards of 220 homes across Caldwell Parish were completely flooded with 731 homes having registered some sort of flood damage from the 5-day event. Public property damage estimates were upwards of 4 million dollars. Several Red Cross shelters were set up across the parish for flooded residents. As a result, the Governor of Louisiana declared a State of Emergency for Caldwell Parish and wrote a Federal Disaster Declaration for the parish as well.

Wider weather episode

A strong upper level low pressure system settled over northern Mexico on March 8th, and became stationary through March 12th as it was cut off from the upper level jet stream, with a blocking upper ridge having developed over Florida and the western Atlantic. Meanwhile, a weak frontal boundary entered the region from the west on the 8th, and became stationary over Deep East Texas, Northwest Louisiana, and Southwest Arkansas. Upper level disturbances ejected northeast ahead of the Northern Mexico low pressure system, resulting in periods of showers and thunderstorms containing heavy rainfall to move repeatedly over these areas. The air mass was most unstable on the 8th, where several severe thunderstorms developed and produced wind damage across portions of Northwest and North Central Louisiana, as well as East Texas. However, widespread heavy rainfall was relentless along and ahead of the surface front over Deep East Texas, all of North Louisiana, and Southwest Arkansas where widespread flash flooding occurred. Widespread rainfall amounts of 12-18 inches fell during the 4 day period across Deep East Texas and all of North Louisiana, with amounts in excess of 24 inches across Ouachita Parish. This flooding was of epic proportions across the entire northern half of the state, something the Emergency Management community said they have never experienced before. Thousands of structures suffered some sort of water damage along with thousands of road surfaces as well. Many road surfaces, bridges and low water crossings were completely washed out. This resulted in many high water rescues of stranded motorists, especially during the very beginnings of the prolonged flooding event. Many motorists drove around barricades and into the flooded roadways. The flash flooding event very quickly transitioned into a historic hydrologic event as several rivers, lakes and bayous suffered major flooding conditions with many reaching record crests. This of course resulted in a daily watch of numerous levees and dams for North Louisiana's waterways with numerous subdivisions built in the vicinity of these waterways. The Louisiana National Guard was dispatched by the Governor of Louisiana to help respond to the needs of citizens of North Louisiana which included evacuation assistance, rescues by vehicle, boat and helicopter, distribution and supply of water, security and shelter support and distribution of sandbags. Numerous shelters were opened by the Louisiana Red Cross and by local churches across the northern half of the state as well to shelter residents effected by the flood. A Federal Disaster Declaration was approved for Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, De Soto, Grant, Jackson, La Salle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, Sabine, Union, Webster and Winn Parishes. Some of the more impressive 5-Day rainfall totals were as follows: Monroe 3.2 SSE: 26.96, Taylortown: 20.39, Rocky Branch 1.3 W: 20.29, Barksdale AFB: 19.09, Minden: 18.73 Ruston 5.5 NW: 18.02, Hodges Gardens: 17.90, Natchitoches: 16.86, Jamestown: 16.85, Caney RAWS: 16.08, Gum Springs RAWS: 15.52, Quitman: 15.50, Stonewall: 15.42, South Southern Hills: 14.88, Columbia 4.1 NNW: 14.77, Coushatta 1.4 E: 14.21, Jena: 11.27, Catahoula RAWS: 8.69.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.9400, -91.9164)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 621163. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.