A brief but unsettling clip out of Luling shows an alligator gliding down a flooded neighborhood street as heavy rain from post-tropical Storm Arthur soaked parts of the Gulf Coast. The reptile cruises past yards and parked cars in footage residents say was recorded in a neighborhood west of New Orleans, a not-so-subtle reminder that rising water can push wildlife into places people usually consider safe.
Neighbor’s cell phone catches the gator
The clip was shared with local station WDSU by viewer Chris Judge, who filmed the animal in his Luling neighborhood, according to the station. WDSU published the footage on Thursday while crews and residents were still dealing with street flooding in parts of the region.
Arthur dumps heavy rain across the Gulf Coast
Post-tropical Storm Arthur dumped heavy rain across parts of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast this week, producing flash flooding and prompting officials to get boats and sandbag stations ready, according to The Associated Press. Forecasts warned of multi-day heavy rainfall that could lead to dangerous flash flooding across the region.
Why the streets turn into gator country
Floodwaters routinely displace wildlife, pushing animals that normally stay in marshes and bayous into streets and yards. As one relocation specialist told The Washington Post, “They had to evacuate, too,” explaining that gators will head for higher, drier ground when their usual habitat floods.
Officials say: avoid floodwater, avoid the gator
Relief groups and emergency officials are urging residents to stay out of both moving and standing floodwater and to follow any evacuation orders. The American Red Cross has been preparing response resources across the Gulf Coast, according to the Red Cross. If you run into an alligator in floodwater, local guidance is straightforward: leave it alone and call authorities instead of trying to move it or snap close-up photos, according to ABC13.
Residents are being urged to keep an eye on local alerts, steer clear of flooded streets as waters recede, and follow updates from parish emergency channels and local broadcasters.
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