River, flood prep updates

—The projected crest of the Atchafalaya River at Morgan City is near 8 feet Jan. 23. However, the crest will be “flat,” meaning that the river will be around 8 feet a couple days before the crest and a couple days after the crest, National Weather Service Meteorologist Roger Erickson.
—As of 10 a.m. today, the Atchafalaya River was at 7.04 feet in Morgan City, according to the National Weather Service. The river should reach 7.2 feet Thursday, 7.3 feet Friday and 7.4 feet Sunday.
—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doesn’t plan to open the Morganza Spillway, which would have raised the Atchafalaya River crest.
—St. Mary Levee District officials plan to have Bayou Chene blocked off with a barge and steel sheet pilings by Friday, Levee District Executive Director Tim Matte said. The structure will keep floodwaters from getting into Amelia and Lower St. Martin and Terrebonne parishes.
—The Louisiana National Guard will have almost three miles of HESCO baskets set up to form a levee on Avoca Island by Thursday or Friday, Matte said. The HESCO baskets protect the same areas as the Bayou Chene structure.
—Morgan City officials have closed floodgates at Freret Street, Railroad Avenue and Front Street, the S.P.T.C. Spur-S. Track), S.P.T.C. (Four Tracks), Shell Oil, New Park Environmental, Brashear Avenue West and Brashear Avenue East.