With his family having been evacuated because of flooding, Gov. John Bel Edwards met with law enforcement and emergency officials Saturday before asking south Louisiana residents to stay off the roads until the severe weather situation has passed.
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Flooding in the “basement” area of the Governor’s Mansion has caused John Bel Edwards’ family to be temporarily relocated.
The state of emergency is expected to stay in effect through Saturday because heavy rains and the possibility of flash floods are predicted to continue, according to the National Weather Service.
State Sen. Bodi White, whose district includes much of the eastern parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and parts of heavily hit Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes, showed photos water rising by the minute in the backyard of his Central home about a mile from the Comite River. Meanwhile, flash flood warnings remain in effect for parts of Louisiana through the weekend.
Officials said the body of a 68-year-old man was recovered near Baker, Louisiana, near the state capital of Baton Rouge, after he drowned while attempting to escape floodwater. Numerous rivers in southeast Louisiana and southern MS were overflowing their banks and threatening widespread flooding after extreme rainfall that began late Thursday.
Rivers in southeast Louisiana and southern MS have been quickly rising above their banks, forcing more than 100 people to evacuate to safety.
USA media reported that heavy rain caused flooding and closed schools in some areas on Friday.
As of Friday, authorities in Tangipahoa Parish had rescued 72 people and several pets, according to The Associated Press.
The U.S. Coast Guard says it has rescued five people from flood waters in the Baton Rouge area.
“We’re going to come for you”. Some areas could see an additional 6 to 8 inches of rainfall.
One example of such activity is Livingston Parish, near Baton Rouge. Shelters have been opened in the town of Amite and the city of Hammond to house those who were evacuated.
“They will be allowed to return home once the water starts to recede”, he said.
MS officials say the heavy rain and flooding affected almost all of the 342 people who live in the small town of Crosby.
Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk Thomas Tolliver said an apartment complex and surrounding houses in the town were flooded after 10 inches of rain fell.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development said high water caused Interstate 55 to be closed near Amite.
In Mississippi, Harrison County Emergency Manager Rupert Lacy said steady rain continued on the Gulf Coast. In the 24 years he has worked in his building, Carroll said he has never seen the Vermilion River moving so fast in a northerly direction.
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The National Weather Service says the same system that is now affecting parts of Louisiana dumped heavy rainfall on coastal Alabama this week.
