St. Charles Parish outlines winter storm response as EOC activates, few residents use warming shelter

Parish President Jewell told the St. Charles Parish Council the parish activated its Emergency Operations Center on Jan. 20 as a multi-day winter storm produced widespread snow and freezing conditions.

Jewell said the EOC “officially activated on Jan. 20 at 6AM,” and that crews from public works, water works and wastewater teams worked through the event to keep facilities operating and to clear critical routes. He said the parish recorded up to 8 inches of snowfall in EOC reports and that some yards measured as much as 11.5 to 12 inches.

The activation was intended to coordinate briefings and field operations as the National Weather Service and local meteorologists updated forecasts beforehand. Jewell told the council that the parish worked with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to respond to closures of several elevated roadways and ramps, including the I-310 approaches and other overpasses.

Why it matters: the parish framed the response as an effort to maintain drainage, water and wastewater operations and to keep vital access open for hospitals, nursing homes and industry.

Jewell credited public works crews with clearing bridges and elevated roadways, citing operators he named during the presentation and describing heavy accumulations and drifts on the bridge deck. He said water teams monitored pumps and repaired failures such as an exposed backflow preventer, and that the system continued to supply water despite higher demand from household breaks and faucet drips.

On sheltering, Jewell said the parish opened a warming shelter but that take-up was extremely low: “We only had 3 people come to the warming shelter and then 2 people left,” he said, adding that the parish worked with United Way to place remaining residents in a better situation rather than keep a shelter open with no occupants. Council members pressed briefly on how the parish advertises or staffs East Bank warming locations; Jewell said the parish lacks an obvious parish-owned East Bank building and that operating shelters on both sides of the river strains sheriff’s office, recreation and animal-control resources.

Infrastructure updates and near-term work: Jewell said permits for the Muntz Pump Station are “imminent” and that the administration will advertise construction bids on Feb. 6 for pump station No. 1, with a later council approval step expected. He also reported that a contractor is pouring a three-foot-thick foundation for a bridge footer at a canal project and that work at Ormond Boulevard and Wildcat Lane will require periodic southbound detours through Feb. 14 while contractors make connections.

Economic note: Jewell reported sales tax receipts increased in November, rising 5.7 percent compared with November 2023 and putting year-to-date collections up 2.02 percent over 2023; he said December numbers were available informally but not yet official.

Council reaction and next steps: Councilman Peelay asked about sheltering options if major river crossings are closed; Jewell reiterated the parish recommends residents stay off roads during extreme conditions and to contact the EOC if they cannot reach a shelter so the parish can coordinate transport. Councilman Thierry and others thanked power and public-works staff for rapid recovery work.

The presentation included photos and progress notes on ongoing drainage and pump-station projects and concluded with timelines for upcoming bids and public notifications.