'Plan in place': St. Landry Parish gets ready for Tropical Storm Francine

ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- St. Landry Parish is laying out its game plan to ensure everyone is safe and prepared when Tropical Storm Francine arrives.

Parish President Jessie Bellard said his office has always prioritized emergency preparedness.

"We're always planning for disasters. I mean, we always have a plan in place and we always have a good idea of what to expect," Bellard said.

Bellard said the parish government will distribute sandbags to municipalities across the parish leading up to the storm to help homeowners as a first line of defense against storm waters.

Other crews will be on drainage duty.

"We have some crews picking up debris by the bridges. So, if you see some debris by bridges, let us know. We go to the hotspots, so that way water can drain as fast as it can," Bellard said.

The Yambilee building is also being considered to become a shelter if the weather projections get worse.

While everyone hopes for the best, Bellard said there are only benefits to being prepared for the worst.

"We are treating this as if it's going to be a Category 2 right up the gut. So, we will prepare for that. Then, if it's less than that, so much the better," he said.

Bellard said the parish receives two briefings a day from the National Weather Service to make sure they are updated and ready to make changes to that game plan if needed.

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