JUDY WOODRUFF: Rescue operations are still under way, and crews worked all weekend to pull stranded victims from their homes.
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Louisiana state police Col Michael Edmonson said helicopters were transporting food and water to those still trapped by floods.
At least six people are reported dead, while over 20,000 have been rescued and many of those are living in temporary shelters.
Rivers and creeks are still dangerously bloated south of Baton Rouge.
“Swarms of mosquitoes may be seen in the affected regions several weeks after the storm”, the Louisiana Health Department said online, noting that mosquito eggs “can lie dormant for years without water and these eggs will now hatch”.
Officials reported that hundreds of roads, mostly in the southern parts of the state, were closed.
Taken together, these factors mean the National Weather Service is concerned about flooding continuing “during at least the first half of the workweek”.
“It’s not over”, Gov. Edwards said at a press conference.
Near the Amite River on Saturday.
– 8 inches: The amount of rain initially forecast on Thursday, with some higher totals possible in some areas.
Destri said the massive storm system stalled over the area, which is what created the momentous rainfall.
Even after floodwaters begin to recede, they could rise again because of backwater flooding, which occurs upstream when something blocks the flow of water downstream. For now, residents of Louisiana are urged to stay safe.
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. “The simple fact of the matter here is we’re breaking records”, the governor told reporters on Sunday.
On Monday 20,000 people had been evacuated, and President Barack Obama had declared a major disaster in four parishes – including East Baton Rouge, the district where Alton Sterling was shot by a white officer on July 5, and three policemen murdered in retaliation a fortnight later.
“I fully expect that more parishes will be added to the declaration on a rolling basis”, Edwards said in a statement in which he called the flooding “unprecedented” for his state.
“It’s coming up fast, man”, said Best, who was wearing little more than shorts and a pair of boat shoes. “We have some great people here”.
“That’s what we are focused on, saving lives”, Maj. Her mother and husband were rescued.
“FATHER I ask you for a special blessing for SHERIFF SID GAUTREAUX and his AWESOME RESCUE TEAM for all that they did today for my family and other family’s that they help this day and everyday”. When she tries to dive under for her dog, the rescuer goes underwater and reappears holding the animal.
“That’s going to be the case over the next couple of days”, Edwards said. “It wasn’t as bad a birthday as you might think”.
“These people need our help”, he said.
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At 3 p.m. Sunday, I-12 Northbound was finally opened after 28 hours.
