“I am grateful that the federal government has added additional parishes to this disaster declaration”.
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Hannah McLain, 22, a volunteer organised by a local Baton Rouge church, helps throw out waterlogged items from the home of Rhonda Brewer in Baton Rouge.
Those rainfalls sent river levels in the region to historic highs – in some cases shattering the old records mostly set during the 1983 floods.
“We’re exhausted but today’s a good day”, she said.
Rivers and creeks were still dangerously bloated south of Baton Rouge as water drained toward the Gulf of Mexico.
The seventh victim was found Monday, August 15 in East Baton Rouge floodwaters Monday afternoon.
The state’s death toll from the latest inundation rose to nine on Tuesday with the discovery of 58-year-old Bill Borne, who officials say drowned near his home in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Ten people have died as a result of the recent historic flooding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which continued on Tuesday.
“We’ll be bringing them soap and shampoo, and toothbrushes, and toothpaste, Deodorant”, said Joodi Archer, Development & Media Director for Matthew 25 Ministries.
Officials issued a voluntary evacuation advisory for parts of the parish, where the water is expected to continue rising after already having flooded a third of the parish’s 45,000 homes.
As many as 20,000 people have been rescued following unprecedented floods in the southern USA state of Louisiana, including a 78-year-old woman who spent a night stranded in a tree, police said late Monday.
“I’m trying to get back to my home and rescue my cat”, Miller said.
Louisiana was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and authorities learned from that disaster that many people are reluctant to leave their homes without their pets, even when conditions are life-threatening.
Volunteers have been dropping off supplies and food like jambalaya or red beans and rice at shelters. Although the water was receding quickly, people remained stranded.
“But I’m very proud of the effort that we’re making”.
The governor said more than 8,000 people were in shelters, but the number was constantly fluctuating as people arrive and leave. Deputies on boats in the area responded.
“You’ve got people that are coming home after being evacuated, and they’re coming home to absolute disaster”, he said.
Lt. Davis Madere of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, who spent days rescuing people and their animals, said the floodwaters are a potential minefield of submerged vehicles, fences and mailboxes that can trip up boats.
Members of the Coast Guard and National Guard, along with emergency responders and regular civilians, helped take more than 20,000 residents to safety, officials said.
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Despite the dangers, people ventured out.
