US President Barack Obama has issued a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, where at least five people have died and emergency crews have rescued more than 20 000 people stranded by unprecedented flooding.
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ABC News reports that since flooding began last week-over 30 inches of rain fell, and waters continue to rise-20,000 people have been rescued from their homes and at least 6 have died; 40,000 businesses and homes are without power, and 12,000 people are now living in shelters (some of which then also had to be evacuated due to rising waters).
More than 1,700 rescue personnel had been mobilized and almost 170 high-water vehicles had been tasked or staged, according to the Louisiana National Guard.
Up to 1,700 members of the state National Guard have been deployed and some 2,000 others will be mobilized in the coming days, said Edwards.
After several seconds, Phung takes a deep breath, goes underwater and resurfaces with the dog. “The people who haven’t been affected are the minority”, she said.
During an aerial tour, an Associated Press reporter saw homes in parts of rural Tangipahoa Parish that looked like little islands among flooded fields. Some areas got even more rain. But then the skies ripped open, the lights in her house started to flicker and with three feet of water outside threatening to come in and two young kids to care for, she knew it was time to get out.
Torrential downpour in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has resulted in historic and devastating flooding. Rain also could menace parts of Arkansas in the next two days, McNatt said.
Pierre and Barbara Pitard, both 76, said they had just minutes to leave their home in Denham Springs as the water rose rapidly.
In Crosby, Miss., more than 50 people flooded out of a neighborhood will be housed at a shelter in Natchez until at least Monday.
The Louisiana Department of Health told CNN early Monday that there was a flood-related death in Tangipahoa Parish. Forecaster Mike Efferson at the weather service office in Slidell, says the rivers and streams north of I-12 have crested and have started to drop, while those south of the interstate continue to rise.
Edwards declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on Friday.
Heavy rain started to fall across the state on 12 August, on average between six and 10 in (15 to 25 cm), but with some reports claiming 17 in (40 cm) in some areas, and continued to heavily fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 20 feet.
She couldn’t say how many homes and businesses in Ascension were affected by the flooding, but said a lot of them were in some way.
Thousands of people spent Saturday night in shelters, Some sleeping on the floor because of a shortage of beds, according to officials.
Livingston Parish was among the hardest hit, with some towns completely cut off. Hundreds of motorists were stranded along the interstate, officials said.
Retired LSU football and basketball announcer Jim Hawthorne has been rescued from his Baton Rouge home amid catastrophic flooding in southern Louisiana.
Edwards, who was forced to flee the governor’s mansion with his family due to flooding, said he sought a federal disaster declaration to expedite assistance to families and businesses.
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Though the storms that caused the flooding had largely moved on by Sunday afternoon, flood warnings remained in effect around Livingston Parish.
