Hurricane Isaac caused more damage than expected including loss of electricity for thousands of homes but St. Bernard had no flooding despite heavy rain

A camper trailer parked inside the hurricane protection levee system at Verret is blown over during the hurricane.

A ldowned light pole on West St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette.

Sheriff James Pohlmann meets with Parish President David Peralta to discuss the events of Hurricane Isaac.

Lt. Shannon Desroche dries off Lucky, a dog brought in with her owner, Ramona Billot, who was one of the Plaquemines residents rescued and brought to the St. Bernard Prison which was used as a shelter.	Sheriff James Pohlmann met with people rescued from Plaquemines Parish, shown here talking to Charles Dodds, who brought his dog, Boo Boo.
One of the problems from the storm were downed trees across roads, including this one on East St. Bernard High in the oak grove at Violet.	When the sun came out Thursday, Sonia Gavarrete of Chalmette, in the background, came out to take a walk along Jean Lafitte Parkway with Erica Alfaro, who is pushing the stroller carrying baby Christina Fernandez. With them is their dog, Trixie. “We’ve been in the house two days. It’s great to see the sun come out,’’ said Gavarrete.
Military trucks prepare to take out Plaquemines Parish residents who were rescued from their homes by St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies and others after a breach in the Caernarvon Canal levee.	Sheriff’s deputies Tommy Lala and Johnny Casetra, about to go on patrol Wednesday in their rain gear.
A tree blows down onto power lines at Center Street and West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, causing a small fire in the attic of a house.	A tree uprooted in Arabi.

Hurricane Isaac, a Category 1 hurricane but one packed with rains of more than a foot, left a definite impression on St. Bernard Parish and other parishes in the New Orleans area. It left thousands of homes without electricity – some with structural damage – and numerous downed trees, power lines and fences.

But fortunately for St. Bernard, Sheriff Jsmes Pohlmann said, there was no flooding inside the hurricane levee protection system despite the heavy rains,

“We didn’t expect this much trouble from a Category 1 hurricane,” Pohlmann said. “But we came away with fewer problems that many other parishes and fortunately there weren’t any reports of injuries from the storm.’’

There were numerous downed trees, tree limbs, power lines and debris strewn about roads by the winds. Parish government crews were already working to remove downed trees and eliminate debris.

Sheriff’s deputies, along with the parish Fire Department and National Guard personnel, also helped Plaquemines Parish authorities rescue more than 100 people from severely flooded homes in the Braithwaite area on the East Bank of Plaquemines early Wednesday after a breach in the Caernarvon Canal.

Many of the residents, some carrying pets, were brought to the St. Bernard Parish Prison and given shelter until they could make plans to go to the homes of friends or family.

Also, temporary quarters being used for St. Bernard’s 34th Judicial District Court on West Judge Perez Drive while repairs are made to the old Courthouse sustained major damage to a roof overnight Tuesday. That caused rainwater damage to several courtrooms and the district attorney’s office.

Court isn’t expected to be held through the Labor Day holiday on Monday, officials said.

There were also several fires during Isaac, which was downgraded to a Tropical Storm on Wednesday afternoon. At least one was related to the storm when winds blew down a tree on a power line, starting an attic fire to a house at Center Street and West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi. Firefighters responded quickly and no one was injured.

Pohlmann said he was pleased that there was much cooperation between parish government, including President David Peralta and the Parish Council, and the Sheriff’s Offiice, in the period leading up to the hurricane and during the actual experience.

Peralta said that despite the electricity loss and other problems, St. Bernard’s reaction to the storm “was extremely successful.’’

He said, “Obviously the federal risk reduction levee system around St. Bernard worked very well. There was no flooding’’ inside the levee system and water went out quickly outside the levee system.’’

Peralta also emphasized the good cooperation between parish entities, especially government and the Sheriff’s Office, which worked together on deciding curfews and shared resources. “I think cooperation helps put the people of the parish at ease.’’