As Hurricane Francine draws nearer, Keep Tiger Town Beautiful founder Jennifer Richardson is urging local businesses and homeowners to be proactive about clearing out the storm drains on their properties and in their neighborhoods. Richardson and her volunteers have made a habit of clearing out storm drains over their three-plus years of daily community cleanups. Even so, the sheer number of drains in Baton Rouge makes maintaining them a tall order even for the city and the state—let alone her group of self-proclaimed “litter warriors.” That’s why she’s asking the Baton Rouge public to step up and chip in. “This is an everybody thing,” Richardson tells Daily Report. “This is not just a city or a state thing.” According to Richardson, the only tool needed to clear out a storm drain is a shovel. Do not under any circumstances pick up sharp objects with your hands or reach inside of a drain to retrieve trash or debris. “Just grab a shovel and do it,” Richardson says. “It only takes a few minutes.” While the city and the state tend to intensify their storm drain clearing efforts ahead of a storm, Richardson says the entirety of Baton Rouge would benefit if businesses and homeowners took it upon themselves to make drain maintenance a year-round endeavor. “This is something businesses, homeowners and landlords need to be aware of,” she says. “This is something everybody needs to be a part of.” Take Our Poll