Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes. While leaders there are taking precautions ahead of Bertha, they're not expecting much to come from this storm.
"The storm . . . it's not doing a great job for itself," Jefferson Parish emergency preparedness manager Raymond Guedry said.
Guedry noted that the storm's southerly jog will keep most of the rain away from the area. Still, he urges Jefferson Parish residents to keep an eye on Bertha.
"Please don't let your guard down yet, Guedry said. "We could still see some localized flooding, though as it goes and progresses, it looks less and less likely."
Plaquemines Parish President Keith Hinkley echoed that sentiment.
"We're taking this very seriously," Hinkley said. "Just take a look at Arthur. That popped up on us, and look at the damage it did. I don't think we're looking at that with Bertha."
That said, Hinkley warned that some residents could see flooding as a result of Bertha.
"Any areas outside of flood protection, they have to know that they are going to be getting a little bit of water," Hinkley said, adding that public works crews are doing what they can to mitigate any potential flooding. "The pump operators have been pumping down all the stations a foot below normal. The solid waste (department) has been out picking up the debris and the trash out on the highway and in the streets."
Guedry says Bertha will cause some headaches for people planning to attend the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo.
"The biggest concern that we would have would be cars getting inundated or roads (being) blocked, but it's nothing that that area hasn't sustained before," Guedry said, adding that Jefferson Parish official are expecting one foot to four feet of storm surge. "Everyone's leaning towards three-ish. You prepare for the worst, and when it doesn't happen, it's a success."
