UPDATE: Shreveport police say the portion of Clyde Fant Parkway between Crockett Street and Shreveport-Barksdale Highway will be shut down starting at 7:00 p.m.

ORIGINAL STORY: With the Red River now predicted to crest to 35.5 feet by Saturday, local officials are increasing their public safety efforts.

Craig Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport said the river will be at its highest level since April 7, 1945, when it crested at 38.3 feet. During the 1990 flood, the river crested at 34.5 feet on May 15.

Here's the latest on flood relief efforts from Bossier Parish:

· Residents of River Bluff subdivision need to evacuate, as water has topped roadways and could get into houses. Sand bags will be delivered to the area as long as possible.
· Residents of Cash Point RV Park continue to be under a recommended evacuation.
· Shortly after noon today, La. Department of Transportation and Development closed a short segment of La. 537 in the River Bottoms and are monitoring the north end of La. 537 near Arkansas Line Road.
· DOTD is also monitoring roadways in south Bossier Parish, especially those near Loggy Bayou to La. Highway 154.
· The American Red Cross and deputies continue to operate the shelter at Elm Grove Elementary School. The shelter took in one evacuee last night and anticipates others as residents evacuate.
· Sand bags are readily available at the Elm Grove location, as well as the Bossier Parish Highway Department Maintenance Barn and Bossier City Public Service Complex.
· Backwater flooding is anticipated to begin this weekend into the next week as waters move north from Loggy Bayou through tributaries to about La. Highway 154. Lake Bistineau could see some flooding, particularly on camps and boat houses.
· NWS says that Red Chute Bayou at Dogwood and Sligo Road are receding, so there are no issues with those waterways, and flooding is not expected.
· NWS says the 35.5 crest will last about 36 hours and slowly recede, but continue to stay above flood stage for some time.
· Bossier patrol deputies continue to monitor parish residents and roadways affected by the rising Red. If you have concerns, don’t hesitate call the Bossier Sheriff’s Office at 318-965-2203 anytime.

Here's an update from Caddo Parish:

In Caddo Parish, officials are continuing to keep a close eye along the river and on backwater flooding along Cross Bayou, Twelve Mile Bayou, McCain Creek and Middle Bayou. A few structures (homes and buildings) have already taken on water and occupants have voluntarily evacuated.

The NW Louisiana Red Cross opened a shelter at the Southern University- Shreveport gymnasium but so far no one has checked in.

A 24-hour Emergency Operations Center has been opened at the 911 Center in Caddo Parish for agencies to jointly monitor the river’s progression and assign resources.

Caddo public safety officials, including the Caddo Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Police, and Shreveport Fire, will continue to go door-to-door in impacted neighborhoods to identify affected structures and notify residents of changing conditions.

“So far we have only a couple dozen houses that have received water or that are in danger of receiving water,” said Sheriff Steve Prator, director of Caddo OHSEP. “The anticipated crest is changing daily. We aren’t planning our response based on the projected crest. We are planning beyond that.”

Caddo Parish Public Works and the City of Shreveport Streets and Drainage will man sandbag locations 24 hours a day through Sunday at 1701 Monty Street and 3825 Mansfield Road.

Other locations and contact information are:

Caddo Public Works (South)
11928 Greenwood-Springridge Road
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Phone: 925-9558

Caddo Public Works (North)
108 Finley Drive, Vivian,
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Phone: 375-2464

Caddo Public Works
1701 Monty Street
Phone: 226-6936, extension 1

City of Shreveport Streets and Drainage
3825 Mansfield Road
Phone: 673-6330

Take a look at photos of downtown Shreveport taken by the folks at Sci-Port:

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