Shreveport residents can bring firsthand evidence of Youree Drive flooding to two Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development open houses on Nov. 17 and Nov. 19. Both meetings run from 5 to 7 p.m. at Valencia Park Community Center, 1800 Viking Drive, and DOTD says the same information will be presented at each.
The study focuses on repeated heavy-rain flooding near the intersection of Youree Drive, also designated LA 1, and Kings Highway, along with adjacent areas. DOTD is gathering contributing factors and possible recommendations; it has not announced a construction project or selected a remedy.
Youree Drive flooding meeting schedule
The DOTD public-meeting notice provides this side-by-side schedule:
| Meeting | Time | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Nov. 17 | 5-7 p.m. | Valencia Park Community Center, 1800 Viking Drive, Shreveport | Open house; attendees may come and go |
| Thursday, Nov. 19 | 5-7 p.m. | Valencia Park Community Center, 1800 Viking Drive, Shreveport | Open house; same information as Nov. 17 |
Because the content is the same, a resident does not need to attend both sessions to receive both sets of material. DOTD says attendees can speak with the project team and provide feedback for the final report.
What the study must examine
Louisiana House Concurrent Resolution 112 from the 2025 regular session requested the study after recurrent flooding during heavy rain. The resolution identifies the Youree Drive and Kings Highway area as the primary location and requires the public meetings as part of the process.
The study is expected to identify contributing factors and possible ways to reduce future problems. That can include questions about drainage paths, roadway elevations, connected systems and the timing or location of observed flooding, but the notice does not name a cause.
For the Youree Drive flooding study, a dated observation tied to a specific block can help distinguish one recurring problem from another.
Residents should avoid treating a suspected cause as settled fact. Photos, dates and specific locations are more useful than a broad claim that one drain, road or property is responsible.
Evidence residents can bring
A short, organized record can make public feedback easier to use:
| Useful detail | Example of a precise record |
|---|---|
| Date and approximate time | When water first covered a lane or entered a property |
| Exact location | Intersection, block, business entrance or nearby landmark |
| Direction and depth | Which lane or driveway was affected and an estimated depth based on a fixed object |
| Duration | How long water remained after rainfall eased |
| Consequence | Road closure, stranded vehicle, blocked access or property entry |
| Supporting material | Time-stamped photo or video taken from a safe location |
Do not enter floodwater or stop in traffic to create evidence. A description made after reaching a safe place is more valuable than a risky recording.
What happens after the meetings
DOTD says relevant public feedback will be included in the final report. The notice does not publish a report-completion date, project budget or construction schedule. Recommendations may require additional design, funding, environmental review or coordination before any physical work could begin.
People who cannot resolve an access or meeting question from the notice can use the DOTD Shreveport-Bossier District contact listed there. The statewide DOTD announcements page is the best place to check for a schedule change before traveling.
The open-house format also lets residents focus on a specific block, intersection or recurring access problem instead of waiting for a formal presentation. Bringing a short written summary can help the project team retain the date and location correctly. Anyone submitting a photo should preserve the original timestamp and avoid including private medical, financial or identifying information that is not relevant to the drainage study.
DOTD has not said that the Youree Drive flooding meetings will produce an immediate design choice. Their documented purpose is evidence gathering for the final report.
Readers can find more public-service reporting in Community Services and Louisiana coverage. The next concrete date is Nov. 17, when the first Youree Drive flooding open house begins at 5 p.m.
