Update 8pm Tuesday

A Hard Freeze Warning remains in effect tonight through 11 AM Wednesday for the entire Four State Region. Look for overnight lows to bottom out to near 7 degrees above to near 15 degrees above.

Updated Closures for Wednesday, Jan 17

Red River Council on Aging
Red River Parish Library
Town of Coushatta/Town Hall
Bank of Coushatta will open at 10am

Be sure to check for leaks as the temperatures rise about freezing and water lines begin thawing. If a leak is found, you should cut water off at the meter. Multiple leaks can compromise water systems.

Road Condition Update from RRPSO 7:55 p.m.
All roads and bridges remain open and road conditions across the parish have improved.
Some roads, however, that are shaded or not heavily traveled will remain icy and hazardous until temperatures stay above freezing for a sustained period of time. Hopefully this will occur tomorrow.
Please continue to drive safely and proceed with caution.

Update: 3pm Tuesday

Fairview-Union Water system has experienced a water main break on Hwy 480. A boil advisory ONLY for the affected area has been issued. Please visit http://www.fairviewwater.net for more information.

Red River Parish Courthouse closed Wednesday, Jan 17
Bank of Coushatta will open at 10am Wednesday

Update: 12pm Tuesday

Red River Parish Schools closed Wednesday, Jan 17

Update: 11:30am Tuesday

Riverdale Academy closed Wednesday, Jan 17
Fairview Union Water is requesting anyone with busted pipes or water leaks to turn water off at the meter. The system is losing water at a steady rate. Everyone on the system should conserve water.

Update: 8am Tuesday
Bitterly cold temperatures will continue today and tonight. With overnight lows once again falling into the single-digits to middle teens, a Hard Freeze Warning has been extended until 11am Wednesday. Today, temperatures will likely remain below freezing in most locations.

A Hard Freeze Warning continues until 11am Wednesday. Overnight low temperatures will range from the single digits in SE OK and SW AR to the lower to middle teens elsewhere. These temps will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. 

A Wind Chill Advisory continues through noon today. Bitterly cold wind chills ranging as low as -9 degrees north of I-30 will be possible. Below zero wind chills are still possible south of I-20. Hypothermia or frostbite is likely with prolonged exposure.

All roads in the area remain open at this time. Use extreme caution if you must travel.

Update: 7pm Monday
Chevron is closed for the night. Plans to reopen 7am Tuesday.
CBS Home Express hours Tuesday, Jan 16 9am-3pm
Coushatta Clinic plans to open at 9am Tuesday, Jan 16. Call your Dr office to confirm before driving.
All Red River Parish Public Offices closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Tyler Insurance closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Red River Parish Health Unit closed Tuesday, Jan 16

*7:10 p.m. Road/Bridge Update from RRPSO
The Red River Bridge in Coushatta and all roads in Red River Parish remain open at this time. Road conditions, however, are icy and will remain so for the foreseeable future while temperatures remain below freezing.
Please stay off the roadways until conditions improve unless it is an emergency or absolutely necessary to travel. If you must drive, please proceed slowly and with caution.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT BY  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT:
While the winter precipitation begins to wind down tonight across the Four State Region, bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chill temperatures will be felt areawide overnight. Look for low temperatures tonight in the single digits near and north of the I-30 Corridor of Northeast Texas, Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas, with low temperatures ranging from near 10 degrees to the middle teens across the remainder of Northeast Texas, Northern Louisiana and South Central Arkansas. Combine these temperatures with strong northerly winds near 10 to 15 mph with higher gusts and wind chill values will fall to near 5 degrees below zero across portions of Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas to near zero to the lower single digits further south near the I-20 Corridor of Northeast Texas and Northern Louisiana and points south of the corridor tonight. Temperatures across much of the Four State Region may not climb above freezing until midday Wednesday. This means that much of the ice and snow covered road surfaces will remain covered through at least the first half of Wednesday. Hazardous driving conditions will continue through at least Wednesday Morning across much of the region as a result. If melting is observed across portions of the region on Tuesday, then that melt on road surfaces will rapidly refreeze after sunset Tuesday evening, resulting in black ice conditions on area road surfaces that will impact travel Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. Road surfaces will not improve until temperatures can remain above freezing long enough to evaporate wet road surfaces, hopefully sometime later in the day Wednesday.

Update: 3:30pm Monday
All state offices across Louisiana closed Tuesday, Jan 16
American Bank closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Bank of Coushatta closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Red River Parish Courthouse closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Red River Parish Library closed Tuesday, Jan 16

Updated Closures  (As of 9am Monday)

Mabile’s Pharmacy will close around noon today (Monday)
CBS will close at 4:30 today (Monday)
Grand Bayou Resort closed today & Tuesday
Tyler Insurance closed today (Monday)
Magnolia Bend Academy Coushatta closed all week
Clutch Nutrition closed today (Monday)

All area roads are open at this time but take extreme caution if you must travel. 

Weather update:
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6pm this afternoon. A mix of wintry precipitation continues across the area but should start coming to an end from northwest to southeast around midday and finally ending completely late this afternoon.

A Hard Freeze Warning is in effect from 6pm tonight through noon Tuesday. Overnight low temperatures will range from the single-digits north of I-30 to the mid teens south of I-30. Make sure to protect sensitive vegetation and outdoor plumbing.

A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect from 6pm tonight through noon Tuesday. Bitterly cold wind chills ranging as low as -9 degrees north of I-30 will be possible. Below zero wind chills are still possible south of I-20. Hypothermia or frostbite is likely with prolonged exposure.

All CHRISTUS Health North Louisiana clinics will be closed Monday, Jan. 15. All hospitals remain open.
Country Day Montessori-Closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Riverdale Academy—Closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Red River Industries—Closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Red River Parish Extension/Ag center and Red River 4-H closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Sugar and Beans Coffee House—Closed through Wednesday
JKM Glass Shop—Closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Red River Parish Schools closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Red River Council of Aging closed Tuesday, Jan 16
Grambling State University – Closed through Wednesday
Northwestern Statue University – Closed through Wednesday
Louisiana Tech University – Closed through Wednesday
Bossier Parish Community College – Closed through Wednesday

The weather warnings for our parish have been updated to a Winter Storm Warning by the National Weather Service.  Every person in Red River Parish should be preparing for extended freezing temperatures and a mixture of wintry precipitation. 

Winter weather has begun its trek across much of the area. Expect conditions to get progressively worse throughout the night through Monday evening. A wintery mix of sleet/freezing rain/ice and possibly snow will begin later this afternoon until 6pm tomorrow. Accumulation of ice up to a quarter inch is expected on bridges and roadways. If at all possible, stay home.

Tuesday morning will bring the coldest temperatures and wind chill into the single digits. Extreme caution should be taken when out in these elements.

Wednesday morning will bring more cold temperatures but the area should warm above freezing by afternoon.

Prepare now for this weather event. Check your water pipes, wrap them now. Open cabinet doors under sinks. Drip your faucets slowly.  Know how to shut off the main water supply to your home if needed. Take care of outside pets/animals. If they cannot be brought inside, provide some type of shelter and heat source for them.

The National Weather Service will release Wind Chill Advisories and Hard Freeze Warnings once the criteria is met. Both are expected to be released later tonight for the area.

Closures as of 3:30pm Sunday:
Red River Parish Schools closed Tuesday, Jan 16 
Red River Council of Aging closed Tuesday, Jan 16 

Grambling State University – Closed through Wednesday
Northwestern Statue University – Closed through Wednesday
Louisiana Tech University – Closed through Wednesday
Bossier Parish Community College – Closed through Wednesday

The Red River Parish Homeland security officials, in conjunction with Parish and Town entities, are preparing for problems that arise from winter storm.  Officials from area water systems, GOHSEP, Christus, EMS, Sheriff’s Department,  the School Board, Council on Aging, Red Cross, United Way, and Speciality Rehab met to discuss what the response will be for possible problems in the area.  

• Hospital and EMS are preparing for assistance with emergency calls.  Oxygen dependent patients and residents may call the Sheriff’s office or the local hospital if emergencies occur.
• Water is available for area water systems if prolonged outages occur.  Water system personnel are responsible for requesting the water and for passing out water to residents.
• Warming shelter is available in the event that power outages are lengthy.  First Baptist Church of Coushatta will open as a warming center if necessary.  Call the church office to indicate if you need warming help.  Bring a picture ID to the shelter if you plan to stay.
• Red Cross will be available if extended housing is necessary. This will be on an individual basis and will be coordinated through homeland security.
• Emergency preparedness is already setting up stations on both sides of the river.
• The Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department remind everyone to be careful with heaters and fireplaces.  No open flames without proper ventilation in a fireplace.  Space heaters are to be monitored and no flammable materials near them. 

Check frequently with RRPJ for updates on road closures, business and school closures, and updated emergency numbers.  

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