Terri Ricks, deputy secretary for the Department of Children and Family Services, which helps organize local sheltering efforts, said the state is talking with parishes about possibly running a long-term shelter to give people a place to stay while they fix and rebuild. They pulled the last victim out at 6 a.m. Sunday, and by that time, the water had risen to three and a half feet on the inside.
Advertisement
Another team from Bossier is made up of two Bossier Sheriff’s Office deputies, four Benton firefighters, a specialized Zodiac boat and a flat bottom rescue boat.
With flood insurance, homeowners are prone to draining savings accounts and relying on federal disaster programs to rebuild and fix. “And now this morning, I’m standing in line down at Immaculate Conception to get us something to eat”. People check on their homes by canoe, horse and four-wheeler.
Some didn’t escape in time.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a news conference that as of Tuesday afternoon, more than 30,000 people had been plucked from the water across the state. “We never thought we needed it”, said Chris Bankston, owner of an auto parts place in the Livingston Parish town of Albany where workers were shoveling debris.
Twelve people have died as a result of historic flooding that severely impacted the majority of south Louisiana and a portion of central Louisiana. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through the week.
Beginning Friday, a torrent of about 2 feet of rain inundated the southern part of the state over a 48-hour period, and days later many homes and businesses were still underwater.
Civilians also doubled as rescuers.
May and her family were among those rescued. “It had never flooded before”, McGehee said. “Nobody is going to be forgotten, and we are going to be working around the clock and doing everything possible to render aid”, Edwards said. “My kids were able to walk through the water”. Lori Steele, spokeswoman for the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, told the Associated Press an estimated 75% of the homes were a “total loss”.
United Way’s Southeast Louisiana Flood Relief is accepting monetary donations, as well as donations of toiletries, cleaning kits, nonperishable food supplies, and items for pets.
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.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited Louisiana on Thursday to review the federal government’s response to the flooding.
So far, President Barack Obama has granted the governor’s request for an emergency declaration in 12 parishes, Edwards said Tuesday.
The Louisiana National Guard said in a statement that it has begun to divide its efforts equally between recovery and search and rescue operations as some areas begin to see floodwaters recede. And with the Zika threat, we need assistance to spray for mosquitoes and for mosquito control and abatement.
“None of these places are in a flood zone”, she said.
Forecasters said the worst of the rain is likely over – finally. Large rain events can actually reduce the number of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.
The extent of damage was coming into clearer view. All she wants is to preserve her family photographs against the rising floodwater.
Advertisement
“I can’t live without her pictures. I care about my animals more than anything in this world”. She’s just trying to help her kids cope. “From rock bottom”, she said.
