This makes the seventh confirmed death due to flooding.
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In tis Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016 photo, flood victims are rescued by emergency responders from near Walker, La., after heavy rains inundated the region.
Residents on Sunday scrambled for safety and more than 10,000 people were in shelters, said Gov. John Bel Edwards.
The historic flooding that has killed at least seven people and forced thousands to flee and attempt harrowing rescues continued to sweep across southern Louisiana Monday night. In a 24-hour period, Baton Rouge had as much as 11 inches while one weather observer reported more than 17 inches in Livingston.
Meteorologist Donald Jones at the weather service office in Lake Charles says the river should start to recede late Monday night.
The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday closed a section of the Intracoastal Waterway near Port Allen, Louisiana, due to flooding, but the MS remained open to commercial navigation with no restrictions, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said. In Ascension Parish officials said some small towns have already been swamped by floods.
“People have lost their homes, cars, are out of work, and need food, clothing and shelter”, read the fundraising appeal posted Monday by the Baton Rouge Beit Chabad, which opened past year, on its website.
“It was an absolute act of God”.
The body of another woman was recovered from a flooded vehicle on Northridge at North Hampton in Baton Rouge. “We’ve got toilet paper, paper towels, anything that can help them rebuild their households”, said Hubert. All was going well until one month ago, she said, when her home went up in flames. Another, Livingston, got almost 22 inches over the same stretch.
As of this afternoon, the Louisiana National Guard has rescued over 7,600 citizens and 1,200 pets.
The service forecast the river would not fall below flood level until Wednesday morning.
As the scope of the disaster became clear, churches, schools and other places opened their doors to take evacuees. Shelters filled up so fast that some slept on the floor because not enough cots had arrived.
If a person’s condition is too critical, they will be referred to a hospital for sheltering or admission.
Of the other deaths, five were in East Baton Rouge Parish, three in Tangipahoa Parish and two were in St. Helena Parish. The governor says at least 40,000 homes have water damage. “But I’m there with her to let her know everything’s going to be OK”. We’re just making sure people can get to higher ground.
Flooding hit the Amite and Comite Rivers, while the Louisiana National Guard has also employed high-water vehicles to rescue flood victims, including stranded motorists.
Gov. John Bel Edwards defended the state’s response, saying the unprecedented flooding had “presented tremendous challenges for everyone”. “There’s several [people] we will be bringing to safe places, as well as giving them stuff to help them begin their recovery efforts”, said Simpson.
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Among them is Jared Serigne St. Bernard Parish, who told The Associated Press he helped organize volunteer efforts involving roughly 70 experienced boaters who rescued hundreds from flooded communities such as Monticello, St. Amant and Port Vincent.
