At 11:21 p.m. Tuesday, an emergency alert announced that “classes will be closed on March 9th and 10th, due to in climate weather, with 15 mile an hour winds and 90% chance of rain.”
That chance of rain was a deluge.
“This weather was such an inconvenience for me. I felt trapped,” said Imani Goff, 19, a sophomore therapeutic recreation major.
She wasn’t alone.
“This weather makes it hard to do anything,” said Yaiwan Gatewood II, stepping out of his car, crossing puddles to get to McCall Dining Hall. The cafeteria issued a statement, changing the hours from its regular schedule to a weekend schedule until the weather abated.
Jacob T. Stewart and other buildings along R.W.E. Jones Drive suffered major flooding Tuesday night, making it extremely difficult and dangerous for students to drive or walk on the main thoroughfare through campus.
The weather alerts kept coming. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for areas of Monroe, Ruston, Grambling, West Monroe, and Jonesboro until 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
Interstate 20 westbound was shut down due to an 18-wheeler flipping over. This severe thunderstorm issued rainfall amounts of 8-12 inches, and even higher in areas that experienced major flooding.
MINIYA SHABAZZ/The Gramblinite
A car is stuck in thigh-high water that flooded R.W.E. Jones Drive on Tuesday night. GSU was closed Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday due to flooding. The floodwaters shut down much of northern Louisiana, including sections of
Interstate 20.
In the next 24 hours there will be an added 4 to 8 more inches of rain in some areas until Friday morning.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced a state of emergency in several parishes in northern Louisiana. Ordering them to move to higher ground. As of Wednesday night, a flash flood warning was going to be in full effect until 11:45 a.m. Friday morning. In northwestern Louisiana, officials worried that floodwaters could rise above levy level. Floodwaters already damaged some roads and made others impassible, officials said.
The deluge could not have come at a worse time since this is midterm exam week. The Miss Calendar Girl Pageant, scheduled for Saturday night, will now be held Tuesday.
Some students say that this gave them extra time to study and hope to finish the midterm testing next week.
“I hope the teachers are somewhat understanding,” said elementary education major Franisha Duncan, 23.
The National Weather Service issued a Record Report at 2:53 a.m. CST. Ruston Lincoln Parish, flash flood was reported by 911 call center. Numerus roadways flooded in Ruston. Tonight, more widespread rainfall of 80% will be in effect. Temperatures drop to about 65 with light winds.
In order to keep this from happening to you here are some helpful tips on what to do before a flood: Keep away from flood waters, don’t drive or walk through moving water, be aware of drainage channels and other areas known to flood suddenly. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the vehicle and move to higher ground. Following theses safety percussions can prevent an injury or even death.