First Person: LSU Campus Prepares for Possible Mississippi River Levee Break

Being an employee of LSU and working on the western side of campus, my building is one that may possibly be affected by flooding from the Mississippi River or a break in the levee system.

Louisiana State University (LSU) is preparing in advance for a possible levee break and flooding just in case it occurs. LSU is located south of downtown Baton Rouge, and parts of campus are right across the street from the Mississippi River levee. It is one of the most vulnerable spots in the city for flooding other than the downtown area.

Dr. Michael Martin, the chancellor at LSU, sent out a message via email to students and employees last week advising them to sign up for "emergency text message alerts" if they haven't already to stay informed on the rising of the Mississippi . Martin also advised deans, department heads and vice chancellors to evaluate the needs in their departments in order to save any research, samples and library collections if their building was located on the west side of campus.

The LSU Vet School is the major concern on campus, as it is located closest to the Mississippi River on the other side of River Road from the Mississippi levee. The Vet School has already started packing up libraries and moving livestock to safe areas. Southern University Agriculture Center offered to house animals at its facility if needed.

Other areas that could possibly be affected by flooding on campus are Alex Box Stadium and parking lots along Nicholson Drive and Tiger Stadium, where a huge festival, Bayou Country Superfest, is scheduled to take place on Memorial Day weekend.

So far, all events on campus are scheduled to go on but Herb Vincent, associate vice chancellor for communications at LSU, has advised that the Emergency Operations Center at the university has been activated and will be monitoring the situation as the Mississippi River continues to rise.

In the meantime, residents in Baton Rouge and area businessmen in the downtown area of the city hold their breath as they await the cresting of the Mighty Mississippi.