Cypress Cove just waiting for water, customer access to reopen

Venice marina already selling fuel on backup generator.

At least on the west bank, Plaquemines Parish was truly a place of stark contrasts a week after Hurricane Isaac meandered off the mouth of the river. Belle Chasse was bustling; the lower end was cleaning up mainly wind damage.

The middle section, though, took it on the chin again.

About 10 miles of the ride through the parish — roughly from just south of the Alliance Refinery to just south of West Pointe a la Hache — is a gut-punching reminder of just how vulnerable and ultimately susceptible this area of the state is to tropical systems.

Looking at the miles of mounds of damp marsh refuse on the side of Highway 23 and you wonder how there's a blade of marsh grass remaining.  

Dead and rotting snakes, nutria and cattle fester in the mid-morning sun.National Guard and sheriff’s deputies wave through hundreds of weary residents and workers off the Mississippi River levee and onto newly opened stretches of the main circuit cable of one of the state's most important oil and gas hubs.

Access to the lower parish still was limited to residents, business owners and workers as of yesterday because Highway 23 remained flooded. Click here to keep up with the status of work to remove the water and open access.

A small victory — at least in terms of immediate damage — in the two-day fight against the ravages of Isaac are the two marinas at the very end of the road in Venice. Reports were that perhaps 2 feet of water covered the parking lots. Marsh grass settled on some bottom steps of camps not yet cleaned confirmed those reports.

Cypress Cove Marina and hotel received minimal damage, according to owner Rene Cross. The biggest problem, he said, was getting power, water and supplies to his business.

“Water supply is the biggest issue we have right now,” Cross said. “You can power up (the facilities) with a generator — we’re selling gas and diesel right now, and have been for a few days — but you need water to operate to the degree we want.

“(Parish officials are) working on a few problems in their lines, but we’ve been told it shouldn’t be more than a few days. Until then, and (until) we get stocked and cleaned up in the hotel, people will be limited to day trips.”

Cross said — and Louisiana Sportsman confirmed — that a sportfishing vessel docked at Cypress Cove sank during the storm. There also was some dock damage, and some side panels were lost on the dry stack facility — but no damage to vessels stored in that building was reported.

“The forklifts are still there and running,” Cross said. “We’re in good shape for people who want to come down, in that regard. Right now we’re taking cash and credit cards from people that we know until the satellite system is repaired.

“We’ve got some IT people coming to work on the system in the next few days.”

Click here for a report about Venice Marina.

Read all Hurricane Isaac reports by clicking here.

Read other updates and post your own observations, photos and vids on the Official Hurricane Isaac forum thread.

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