The hurricane storm surge of Hurricane Ike and the accompanying strong south winds pushed salt water from the Gulf of Mexico and brackish waters from Vermilion and Weeks Bay into the fresh water bodies and covered the land surfaces in the lower two-thirds of Iberia and Vermilion parishes.

     Hurricane Ike began causing coastal flooding along the coastal areas of Iberia and Vermilion parishes early in the morning of September 11, 2008. By the afternoon of September 11, 2008, the port facilities in Iberia and Vermilion parishes were inundated as waters from the Gulf and Bay systems moved up the port channels. Homes and businesses in the low lying coastal areas began taking on water.

     As Hurricane Ike continued its northwestward track towards the Texas coast, the storm surge flooding in the coastal areas of Iberia and Vermilion parishes continued to increase and expand northward. After the eye of Hurricane Ike moved past Iberia and Vermilion parishes, the south winds of the hurricane forced even more water into Iberia and Vermilion parishes and expanded the areas flooded even further northward.

     Hurricane Ike made landfall in the Galveston Island area of Texas late on the night of September 12 and early on the morning of September 13, 2008. The waters continued to rise in Iberia and Vermilion parishes until the overnight hours of September 13/14, 2008. During the morning hours of September 14, 2008, the winds continued to blow out of the south and hold the flood waters in place. On the afternoon of September 14, 2008, the winds shifted and were coming out of the northwest. The northwest winds allowed the water levels to decrease slightly. On September 15, 2008, severe thunder storms dumped rain on the already flooded area and caused an increase in flooding in the area. Late in the day of September 15, 2008, a cold front moved through the area and the winds from the northerly direction allowed the flood waters to gradually begin to recede.

Highway 14 in Iberia Parish

     Beginning at the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 90 in New Iberia, the ditches and canals were full and overflowing with flood waters from Hurricane Ike. The road sides were lined with tree debris waiting for pickup and disposal. The tree debris was the results of the strong winds of Hurricane Gustav that impacted the area on September 1, 2008, 10 days before Hurricane Ike struck the area. Proceeding westward on Highway 14, approximately 1.5 miles west of Highway 90 residential dwellings, trailer parks, businesses, and agriculture fields and access roads were covered with flood waters on both the north and south sides of Highway 14.

     Beginning approximately 2.5 miles west of Highway 90, Highway 14 had flood water and debris covering the roadway as well as all the side roads off of Highway 14.

     The water depth increased along both sides of Highway 14 as the highway approached Delcambre. The high water marks, on homes not elevated after Hurricane Rita devastated and flooded this area in September 2005, indicated flood levels of up to four feet above ground level as a result of Hurricane Ike.

     Individuals present in the area described the water levels in their homes along the north side of Highway 14 as one inch inside the home from Hurricane Ike and 20 inches inside the home as a result of Hurricane Rita in 2005. Another individual indicated 18 inches of flood water was in his home from Hurricane Ike while 30 inches of water was in the same home after Hurricane Rita. A difference in home flooding of 12 to18 inches was identified along the Highway 14 area of Iberia Parish between hurricanes Rita and Ike.

     Rip Van Winkle Road leading from Highway 14 to Jefferson Island was covered in water that extended across the road and the sugar cane and Tabasco pepper fields on both sides of Rip Van Winkle Road. The long row of oak trees extending from Highway 14 for 1.5 miles to the surface expression salt dome of Jefferson Island were standing in water the entire length of the road until the road elevation increased at the gates of Rip Van Winkle Gardens. The Gardens are located on the salt dome and are elevated above the surrounding area.

     The Delcambre Canal served as a pathway for flood waters from Weeks Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to flood the surrounding areas in Vermillion and Iberia parishes and caused a six foot storm surge along the shores of Lake Peigneur at the northern end of the Delcambre Canal. The waters in Lake Peigneur are tidal but the predominant flow is into the Delcambre Canal. Hurricane Ike caused flooding all around Lake Peigneur by forcing large quantities of water up the Delcambare Canal into Lake Peigneur. Just before noon on September 14, 2008, the waters of the Delcambre Canal were flowing towards Weeks Bay and The Gulf of Mexico, allowing some of the flood waters to drain off. The wind, however, was still blowing from the south.

     The Delcambre Canal banks were lined with oil industry work boats and shrimp boats seeking a safe haven from Hurricane Ike.

    Businesses along the Delcambre Canal were submerged in water.

Delcambre

     The town of Delcambre experienced major flooding as a result of Hurricane Ike. Highway 14 through Delcambre was flooded. All of the side access streets, both north and south of Highway 14 were under water. The town of Delcamabre is partly in Iberia Parish and partly in Vermilion Parish.

     The railroad protruded above the flood waters but had been submerged by the flood waters and the flood waters had flowed over the railroad tracks. The damages to the rails and cross ties were minimal as opposed to the major damage inflicted by Hurricane Rita in 2005. The supporting infrastructure of the rail lines had been undermined and in most cases completely washed away by Rita.

     Businesses and homes in Delcambre along Highway 14 were in standing water.

     All of these businesses and homes had been flooded by Hurricane Rita in 2005 and were flooded again by Hurricane Ike. Some businesses that had not yet reopened, were once again flooded.

     Homes in Delcambre that had been elevated to approximately 13 feet above sea level as part of their rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Rita in 2005, stood above the flood waters.

     Brick homes that were gutted and the interiors rebuilt after Hurricane Rita, but not elevated, were flooded again. Many home owners felt it was too expensive to elevate brick homes damaged by Hurricane Rita. These homes were flooded again by Hurricane Ike, three years after Hurricane Rita.

     Businesses built on slabs and not elevated after Hurricane Rita were again flooded.

     New businesses constructed after Hurricane Rita were constructed on top of soil pads which elevated the building slabs 6 feet above ground level. These businesses were not impacted by the flood waters and were operational on September 14, 2008.

     An individual on East Main Street in Delcambre with a brick home that was not elevated after Rita, stated he had six to seven inches of water in his home from Hurricane Ike and had 18 inches of water from Hurricane Rita. This corresponds to the difference between Rita and Ike of 12 to 18 inches that was recorded along Highway 14 in Iberia Parish between Delcambre and New Iberia. The individual on East Main Street indicated he had two inches of mud in his home for Rita and much cleaner water from Ike. He attributed some of the mud reduction to his placing plastic sheeting and sand bags in front of his doors to intercept some of the mud. He also indicated that he had lived with his family in their home since 1991 and when Hurricane Andrew hit in August 1992, he did not have water in his home. The eye of Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Iberia Parish some 20 miles east of Delcambre.

     The grave yard in Delcambre was flooded by Hurricane Ike. The graves in the grave yard are primarily above ground due to the very shallow water table.

     The Delcambre American Legion Post was flooded but was still flying the American flag.

     The gas station on the west end of Delcambre was under water and was serving as a staging area for response vehicles.

     Just a mile out of Delcambre to the west, Highway 14 was flooded and completely impassable even for response vehicles. The access to Erath along Highway 14 was completely blocked and the wind was still blowing from the south.

Lake Peigneur

     From the western edge of Delcambre, Highway 89 was taken to the north to determine the impacts the hurricane had on the Lake Peigneur area. Highway 89 was flooded in a number of places but was still passable. Highway 89 goes along the western and northwestern shore of Lake Peigneur. The waters from Weeks Bay were blown in through the Delcambre Canal and caused a storm surge of six feet in depth along the shores of Lake Peigneur. Homes along the lake that were built on slabs flooded. Homes on piers flooded or had water up to the floor boards. Vehicles were stopped from passing on roads around the lake to prevent waves from doing additional damage to homes in the area. People in the area did not receive assistance from FEMA after Hurricane Rita because the damage from wind blown waters was not acceptable as a basis for claims.

Erath

     The town of Erath, west of the town of Delcambre received extensive flooding due to Hurricane Ike. Access to Erath from Delcambre was blocked approximately 1.5 miles out of Delcambre along Highway 14. North of Erath the flood waters made the roads impassable approximately two miles north of the city limits. The roads were impassable north of Erath near the intersections of Highway 339 and Drussard Road, and Ollie Road and Conrad Street. The flood waters inundated homes along the drainage canals a distance of an addition 1.5 miles north of the impassable roads. Thus the floodwaters extended approximately 3.5 miles north of the town of Erath.

     On the west side of Erath, flooding on Highway 14 closed the highway just east of the intersection of Highway 14 and North Road at the Veard Cemetery that had been founded in 1923.

     The flood waters over Highway 14 were at a location approximately 2.5 miles west of Erath. Thus all roads surrounding Erath to the east, west and north were impassable and the roads south of Earth were flooded all the way to the coast of Vermilion Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This made a damage assessment of Erath impossible to perform.

East Abbeville

     Just south of the Abbeville Airport, approximately 0.1 miles south of Highway 14, the road was closed due to flooding. The east end of Abbeville experienced extensive flooding in the Pine Street area. This area contains the major drainage system for the eastern portions of Abbeville. One individual compared the flooding from Hurricane Ike as comparable to Hurricane Rita in the Pine Street area.

Road to Henry

     On the road from Abbeville to the community to Henry, the storm water covered the road and made the road impassable approximately two miles south of the intersection with Highway 82. Reports from responders and individuals stated that the community of Henry had received storm surges of up to 10 feet. The Henry Hub, through which 30% of the natural gas used in the United States flows fr om offshore production, was flooded by the storm surge. The Catholic church in Henry was under water again. It had been severely damaged by the storm surge from Hurricane Rita.

Perry and Along Highway 82

     The community of Perry received some flooding along the banks of the Vermilion River. Shrimp boats had been docked on the Vermilion River on both sides of the Perry Bridge to protect the boats from the hurricane.

     The drainage ditches and canals south of Perry were swollen with storm surge waters. The GSI Rice Bends south of Perry on Highway 82 (Intracoastal City Highway) were not flooded. Hurricane Rita in 2005 had flooded these rice bends.

     Just below the rice bends, homes on both sides of Highway 82 were flooded.

     A gas line was leaking in the side yard of one of the flooded homes.

     Based on documentation on a privacy fence, the water in the area had decreased by 18 inches. An still the houses on this stretch of Highway 82 had water remaining in the homes. The homes and businesses further south in the communities of Mouton Cove, Big Woods, Ester and Intracoastal City were20all under substantial flood waters.

     At the intersection of Highway 82 and Marlin Raod, Highway 82 was no longer passable due to high flood waters covering the road. An air boat was being used to transport people into the impassable areas to check on their homes.

Highway 693 Between Highways 82 and 35

     Highway 693 between Highway 82, south of Perry and Abbeville and Highway 35 south of Kaplan had flood waters covering the landscape. Homes, barn and tractor sheds were flooded, pastures and agriculture fields were under water.

     Horses in a pasture on the south side of Highway 693 were in water approximately 6 inches in depth. The horses moved towards the perimeter fence along Highway 693 as the van approached their pasture.

     Further along Highway 693, near Sweet Bay Road, a herd of 30 cattle were in standing water approximately 12 inches deep. The white faced cattle with dark circles around their eyes began issuing crying sounds when the van approached them.

     The water in which the cattle and horses stood was brackish water form Vermilion Bay that was brought onshore by Hurricane Ike. The brackish water is not fit as a drinking water source for the cattle and horses. A phone call was immediately made to request assistance be provided to rescue the cattle and horses, move them to dry pastures and provide proper medical care for the live stock. A large number of cows and horses had been moved to higher ground locations prior to the hurricane impacting the area.

Highway 35 Between Kaplan and Cow Island

     Proceeding south on Highway 35, the road side ditches and canals were full and overflowing their banks. Cattle and horses grazed in pastures that were free of standing water. Homes were not flooded. In low lying areas, along the canals and coulees, water was standing on Highway 35. In the first curve of Highway 35, near the old Cow Island Gas Plant, the depth of the water increased.

     The Louisiana State Police had set up a road block just after the second curve on Highway 35, in the Cow Island area. A mile south of the second curve on Highway 35, the water covered the road and made the road impassable.

     Along this stretch of road is the Trunkline Gas Kaplan Station which processes natural gas from off shore gas production.

     The communities south of Cow Island, Forked Island and Pecan Island, were all flooded by the waters of Hurricane Ike. The waters from Hurricane Ike were reported to be six to eight inches lower in this area than the storm surge from Rita. The community of Cow Island and the Catholic church and school facility were not flooded. The road leading to the community was blocked due to a drainage coulee overflowing its banks and flooding the road.

     The Red Cross had been in the area of Forked Island with supplies for those in need. Based on the flooding situation, the Red Cross planned to open up a distribution location at the store in the curve at Cow Island. The Red Cross trucks were proceeding north on Highway 35 at approximately 5:30 PM as we proceeded south to Cow Island. The Red Cross trucks and personnel were to return the next day to set up the distribution location at Cow Island.

Inland Extent of Flooding in Vermilion Parish

     The flood waters brought onshore by Hurricane Ike have extended inland in Vermilion Parish from 15 to 25 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico and the bay systems of Vermilion Bay and Weeks Bay. In the Delcambre and Lake Peigneur area the flood waters extended 15 miles inland from Vermilion and Weeks bays. In the Erath area the flood waters extended inland 15 miles from the shore of Vermilion Bay. On the east side of the Vermilion River the flood waters extended inland 25 miles from the shore of Vermilion Bay. On the west side of the Vermilion River the flood waters extended inland 25 miles from the shore of Vermilion Bay. In the Forked Island area south of Kaplan the storm flood waters extended 25 miles inland from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.