JOURNAL STAFF

With a flood watch in effect most of this week, area residents are encouraged to prepare for possible flooding.

Both the City of Shreveport and the City of Bossier City are providing sandbags to residents and businesses that anticipate flooding near their properties.

Residents of Bossier City can pick sandbags up from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. through Friday at the Public Works Complex located at 3223 Old Shed Road. In Shreveport, sandbags (20 per individual) can be picked up at the Streets and Drainage Facility at 1935 Claiborne Avenue each day throughout the week between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch in effect from 6 a.m. today through 4 p.m. Thursday for northwest Louisiana and much of east Texas and southwest Arkansas. NWS says excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

Additional rainfall amounts of one to three inches – with isolated higher amounts — are expected through Thursday afternoon. The additional rainfall will quickly run off and generate new rises on area waterways, and possibly result in additional flooding.