LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — As another round of storms threatens Acadiana this week, Lafayette Parish officials say they are ready and already hard at work.

From city streets to rural ditches, drainage crews began clearing storm drains and flood-prone areas over the weekend. Barricades are being staged, and search and rescue teams are on standby.

“Clearing out storm drains, getting all the debris areas cleaned out, getting barricades in place, we’ve brought in our first responders,” said Cristina Dayries, Chief of Staff at Lafayette Consolidated Government. “We started beefing up our plans in case we needed to do any search and rescue.”

Dayries says this is the fourth or fifth major weather event Lafayette has faced in 2024, giving the city multiple chances to refine its emergency playbook.

“It’s kind of like we have a playbook. We just tweak it every single time,” she said. “Every storm is different. The forecast has been changing every time it comes out.”

That experience has led to better coordination across parish lines. Dayries says local public works departments are working closely together and using updated modeling to predict where water is likely to accumulate.

“We’re looking at typical low-lying areas, our rivers, our large coulees, any of those areas that have a lot of water flow through them, making sure they’re clean and free from any type of debris or obstruction,” she said.

But city leaders say flood prevention isn’t just up to the government, it’s a team effort.

“Just keep your ditches clean. Clean them, cut them, keep them cut and clear from any types of obstruction. Keep those gutters clean,” Dayries said. “We get lots of tree foliage here. Just keeping your regular flow of water clean and free from any type of obstruction can really make a difference.”

Residents are also encouraged to report any blocked drainage or flooding concerns by calling 311. To stay informed about emergency weather alerts, road closures, or other updates from Lafayette Consolidated Government, residents can sign up for the Lafayette emergency alert system. Text “JOINLFTalert” to 31002 to register.

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