The Great Flood of 1983

It was 30 years ago that the Baton Rouge area experienced what is likely the worst flood in its history!  On April 5-9, 1983 we were hit with 6 to 13 inches of rain from a slow-moving storm.  This rain quickly ran off into the Amite, Comite, Tickfaw and Tangipahoa River Basins.  Some of the highest rainfall totals were in the headwaters of the Amite River in the Felicianas and South Mississippi.  Also, there were some strong easterly winds which slowed down the water from draining into Lake Maurepas and Pontchartrain.  These were some of the reasons why the flooding occurred in Baton Rouge & Denham Springs.  The weather map to the right shows the weather for April 8, 1983. A stalled front over the Southeast U.S. lead to the heavy rain event and flooding.

The rivers quickly rose and spilled out of their banks.  The rain didn't stop, so the water continued to rise and rise.  Rivers rose to what are still the record levels.  The Amite in Denham Springs got to 41.5 feet, the Comite at Joor Road got up to 29.7 feet.

Advocate file photo by JOHN WILLIAMS -- As floodwaters rose in April 1983, these Comite Hills Estate residents took a tour in a boat. 

This lead to the tragic flooding from the Felicianas to East Baton Rouge Parish to Ascension Parish and across much of Livingston Parish.  Denham Springs was all under water with boats floating down Range Avenue.  Areas that never flooded before were experiencing flooding!  Water levels reached ceilings in homes, and the water sat there for days.  Those that used sandbags found that they were no match for the flood waters.

Advocate file photo -- Denham Springs' proximity to the Amite River was not beneficial during the 1983 flood.

Damage was assessed to be around $23.4 million in Ascension Parish, $65.3 million in East Baton Rouge, and $83.8 million in Livingston Parish.  Add in damage to St. James, St. John the Baptist and Iberville Parishes and the grand total was around $171.7 million!!  That is incredible!

Unfortunately, the weather conditions that caused this event could happen again!  According to the NWS and the Executive Director of the Amite River Basin Commission, Dietmar Rietschier, statistically this can be expected about once every 75 years.

There are many more homes and businesses in those areas that flooded in 1983.  Runoff would likely be greater today verses 1983 thanks to the added roads and buildings.  New plans are in place since 1983 to help push the water south and bridges over the rivers are much higher now.

We have seen some major flooding on the Amite and Comite in recent times thanks to Tropical Storm Allison, Hurricanes Gustav and Isaac plus the heavy rains we had earlier this year.  Fortunately, the water levels stayed well below those from 1983.

Advocate file photo by JOHN WILLIAMS -- Livestock search for higher ground off South Tiger Bend Road on April 8, 1983, after the area was flooded from heavy rains. Tiger Bend and Hoo Shoo Too roads became a series of canals from the floodwaters.

Please take it seriously anytime we talk about the threat for flooding.  Make sure you have flood insurance if you live in a flood zone.  It may be a good idea to even get flood insurance if you do not live in a flood zone here in South Louisiana.