Even though Tropical Storm Alex has focused it's attention west of Louisiana, coastal areas of Acadiana aren't out of the woods just yet.

"The further [north] it comes before it'll make that westerly turn the more impact we'll feel from the tides and the waves," said Becky Broussard head of the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) for Vermilion Parish.

Vermilion Parish is also bracing for the possibility of oil exposure as a result of Alex. With several salt-water intrusion sites along the coast, vinyl sheet piles, or "seawalls" are being installed at those breaches to keep oil out of the marshes.

"Once the oil disaster is finished with and there's no more oil, those will be pulled out," Broussard said.

Alex is also being closely watched in St. Mary Parish, where at least 53-thousand feet of boom has been deployed to coastal areas. Despite Alex's threat of high tides and choppy waters, that boom will stay put along the coast.

"We do have some boom in backup so that we'll be able to replace the boom or repair the boom," said Duval Arthur, OEP director for St. Mary Parish.

Arthur says if it becomes necessary, BP has pledged to replace any boom damaged as a result of Tropical Storm Alex.

Jim Hummel

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