Flood in Louisiana
Swollen rivers in Louisiana are expected to keep rising Monday as deadly floodwaters have displaced tens of thousands of people and prompted a state of emergency.
The floodwaters have claimed at least five lives — one in Tangipahoa Parish, two in East Baton Rouge Parish and two in St. Helena Parish, CNN reports.
More than 24 inches of rain have fallen since Wednesday in Livingston, near Baton Rouge, making the disaster an extremely rare weather event, according to the National Weather Service. The statistical chance of such flooding occurring in any given year is 1%, the weather service said.
Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters Sunday that more than 20,000 people had to be rescued from their homes over the weekend.
On Sunday night, President Barack Obama granted Edwards’ request for an emergency declaration to assist in response and recovery efforts. So far, the governor has deployed the Louisiana National Guard, which mobilized 1,700 soldiers to assist in search and rescue efforts. Military police are assisting local law enforcement with security.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it had rescued more than 118 people and assisted more than 766 in Baton Rouge on Sunday. Private citizens also helped out.
The Louisiana Department of Health told CNN early Monday that there was a flood-related death in Tangipahoa Parish.
Police said Sunday that a woman’s body had been retrieved from inside a flooded vehicle at North Hampton. According to witnesses, the woman’s vehicle was swept away Saturday night as she attempted to turn around in high water, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said.
East Baton Rouge Parish suffered another fatality Friday when a 68-year-old man drowned after slipping and falling in floodwaters. In St. Helena Parish, the body of an unidentified 30-year-old woman was rescued Saturday afternoon after the vehicle she was traveling in with her …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
