So far, the governor has deployed the Louisiana National Guard, which mobilized 1,700 soldiers to assist in search and rescue efforts.
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Floodwaters reach the front steps of a home near Holden, La., after heavy rains inundated the region, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016.
Trucks attempt to drive through a flooded intersection in Youngsville, La., Sunday, Aug 14, 2016. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Saturday, calling the floods “unprecedented” and “historic”.
Floods ravaged the U.S. state of Louisiana on Monday (Aug 15), leaving six people dead and thousands more forced to flee rising waters after days of catastrophic rainstorms.
People had become trapped overnight in their cars when the water rose on Saturday over parts of a major interstate around Baton Rouge. News reported that more than 20,000 people had been rescued and seven people have been killed.
A seventh body was pulled from floodwaters Monday, said Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The low pressure system that wreaked such havoc moved into Texas, but the National Weather Service warned that there’s still danger of fresh floods, as swollen rivers drain toward the Gulf of Mexico.
“She said they were going to evacuate them but no one could get to them”, Muse said.
“It’s already under water”, he said of his house.
Cobb said some of the people stranded were actually fleeing flooding in their homes when they got caught on the freeway.
“It was an absolute act of God”. “We have to address life and death situations first before quality of life”, Edmonson said Sunday.
A team led by Coast Guard helicopter pilot Lt. Mike Hennebery picked up two people from the second-story porch of a Baton Rouge house Sunday.
“Everybody got caught off guard”, he said. “It’s another thing to say where is this going to be”, he said.
More than 20 inches of rain have fallen in and around Baton Rouge over the weekend, and more is on the way, forecasters said. Another hard hit area – Livingston – received almost 22 inches of rain over the same stretch.
The storm also set the stage for a number of heroic rescue efforts.
According to the Weather Channel, at least six rivers in the area have hit record-high levels – one river broke its record by as much as 6 feet.
The Associated Press has more flooding updates. He urged people to stay vigilant.
If a person’s condition is too critical, they will be referred to a hospital for sheltering or admission.
Some motorists were stranded for more than 24 hours.
“Everybody is just exhausted and nervous and wanting to see what kind of damage they have to their home”, Rachel said. “It just seemed like a normal event for us, but it wasn’t”. More parishes could be added as assessments are done, and officials are advising residents to document all their damage.
He criticized the government’s response, saying officials were slow clear roadways and to provide access to potential boat launch points that could be used by volunteers.
A vehicle is submerged in floodwaters in Youngsville, La.
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Over 200 roads are closed in the state, and the state government offices in 27 south Louisiana parishes will be closed on August 15, according to state authorities. “Despite what’s being reported on the news, the National Guard hasn’t rescued anybody – it’s been other civilians”. “We’ve had a couple of examples of that”, Bush said.
