Louisiana, 2009

Flooding in Louisiana, November 1 to 17, 2009

November 1 to 17, 2009 · NWS LCH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Extensive heavy rainfall across much of eastern Texas and Louisiana during the month of October 2009 led to considerable runoff flowing into the Sabine River basin well into November 2009. Due to this heavy rainfall, the Sabine River Authority was forced to release water from a swollen Toledo Bend Reservoir at the end of October 2009, and the Sabine River began the month of November 2009 already…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$2.3 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LCH wrote it up.

Extensive heavy rainfall across much of eastern Texas and Louisiana during the month of October 2009 led to considerable runoff flowing into the Sabine River basin well into November 2009. Due to this heavy rainfall, the Sabine River Authority was forced to release water from a swollen Toledo Bend Reservoir at the end of October 2009, and the Sabine River began the month of November 2009 already above flood stage along its entire length south of Toledo bend Dam. These extra water flows from Toledo Bend Reservoir combined with runoff flowing into the Sabine River south of the dam to create the worst flooding along the Sabine River since March 2001. Vernon, Beauregard, and Calcasieu Parishes all declared states of emergency due to the extensive river flooding, which lead to major damage of roadways in the western portions of all three parishes. Although several homes and subdivisions were cut off from surrounding areas due to the floodwaters, no homes were reportedly flooded.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 31, 8:04 PM CST, 3 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 31, 8:04 PM CST, 3 hours 56 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Beauregard

When
November 1, 12:00 AM CST to November 10, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Beauregard County, 12.01 mi SSW of Bancroft to 10.7 mi S of Bancroft
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
30.405, -93.734

River flooding along the Sabine River during the first two weeks of November 2009 caused an estimated $500,000 damage to roads in western Beauregard Parish. Although no homes were reportedly flooded, several residences were completely cut off from outside areas by flood waters and required boats to access the properties. A Presidential Disaster Declaration was declared for Beauregard Parish due to the severity of the flood damage.

Flood, Vernon

When
November 1, 12:00 AM CST to November 4, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Vernon County, 6.36 mi NNW of Burr Ferry to 2.75 mi N of Burr Ferry
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$750,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
31.154, -93.545

River flooding along the Sabine River during the first week of November 2009 caused an estimated $500,000 damage to roads in western Vernon Parish.

Flood, Calcasieu

When
November 3, 12:00 AM CST to November 17, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Calcasieu County, 6.91 mi NW of Starks to 5.75 mi WNW of Starks
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
30.400, -93.740

River flooding along the Sabine River affected western Calcasieu Parish for the first three weeks of November 2009. Although no homes were reportedly flooded, several residences were completely cut off from outside areas by flood waters and required boats to access the properties. Large portions of the Alligator Park and Niblett's Bluff communities were flooded. Damage to roads in the area was estimated at $250,000.

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Louisiana in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, November 2009

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 203169, 203176, 203182.