Although recent reports say Baton Rouge and the area surrounding the University are expected to be safe from a Mississippi River flood, the Department of Residential Life has planned for the worst. Steven Waller, Residential Life director, said his department would work with the University and local safety patrols in the event of a flood. He said the department has a manual to refer to during emergencies. “We have a procedure in our emergency manual for flooding,” Waller said. Although Residential Life has guidelines to follow regarding a campus flood, Waller said it is a simple one. Waller emphasized measures such as “warning students and moving property” to higher places in the event of a flood. Waller said the department would need to meet with University officials in order to develop a more specific, “robust” plan. Waller said the department has never been forced to deal with regular flooding of the Mississippi River. He also said he does not expect recent concerns of waters approaching the height of the levees to cause concern for residents. “I don’t anticipate any issues with flooding,” Waller said. Some on-campus residents say they do not feel they are in danger of a flood in their residence halls. Tiffany Hollenbeck, biology freshman and LeJeune Hall resident, said she feels safe because she lives on an upper floor but would not feel as safe on the ground level. “I don’t know what would happen to those poor people who live on the first floor,” Hollenbeck said. Other students said they do not expect a flood near campus and would feel safe in the event of a flood. Nakita Massana, undecided freshman, said she is from New Orleans and her house has been safe from flooding so far. She said it is not likely for it to flood near campus, and even if it were to flood, she would feel safe. “I think LSU would take care of their students,” Massana said. National Weather Service Officials expect the river raise to 39 feet by April 7. A flood stage of 40 feet would cause flooding on campus, according to an NWS bulletin. The current flood stage in East Baton Rouge Parish was at 32.9 feet Thursday morning, which is below the top of the levee. Waller said he does not expect the waters to reach dangerous heights, according to reports he saw.
—-Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]