Storms associated with the system struck the area early Sunday morning and dumped as much as six inches of rain in some areas and washed out several roads and bridges, according to parish officials.
Leo Lucchesi, director of public works for Washington Parish, said more than 20 roads and bridges were affected, although most repairs were completed by Monday.
 Rainwater forced a creek to overflow and top the bridge on T.C. Brumfield Road. Work is continuing this week to repair some of the damage. COURTESY PHOTO/Leo Lucchesi Advertisement |
Tommy Thiebaud, director of the Washington Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, said the center of Bonnie’s remnants passed directly over the north central region of the parish, dumping most of the rain in the storm’s northeast quadrant, mainly the Pine and Varnado areas.
“It was a pretty Saturday night,” said Thiebaud, before adding that the worst of the weather blew in around 3 a.m. Sunday, causing some severe damage and blowing down six trees.
He said flooded roadways posed the biggest threat, adding that some individuals had trouble even getting out of their driveways in the storm’s aftermath.
“I thought we missed a bullet when the storm did not amount to a whole lot,” Parish President Richard Thomas said. “I thought we were through about 1 a.m. All of it hopped up in one small area.”
Thiebaud said severe lightning was widespread and caused damage to some homes.
Overall, the region suffered minimal impact, although residents in one Baton Rouge neighborhood reported water in their homes.
Lucchesi said his staff was prepared and by Sunday morning workers were already making repairs. He was unable to give a dollar estimate as to the extent of the damage, but said he expects to have one by the end of the week when all of the work is completed.
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