Southeast Louisiana Floods Kill 3 – Experts Say More Rain to Come, Louisiana on State of Emergency
Severe rains led to terrible floods in southern Louisiana towns; roads closed cutting off towns while rescues are being done.
Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi suffered heavy rains on Friday leading to terrible floods that claimed the lives of 3 residents. An entire rural town was cut off because of the terrible floods, highways were closed and rescues were started.
Louisiana hit the hardest
All seven roads that led to Greensburg, near Baton Rouge, were under water. The small town was nearly cut off from access because of the severe rains and floods. Michael Martin, head of operations of the St. Helena Parish Sheriff's Office, said that rescue efforts were sent to help affected residents.
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Small vehicles were unable to pass flooded roads. Only National Guard vehicles were able to get in and out of town. There were two dozen rescues made Friday and these were mostly residents who were stranded on top of their homes, pulled out of cars and from trees. Rescuers were forced to wade into waist-deep waters just to get people and their pets to rescue vehicles.
Louisiana declared state of emergency
More rains are expected in the next days in Louisiana. This prompted Gov. John Bell Edwards to declare a state of emergency.
A man drowned about 15 miles north of Baton Rouge in a town of Zachary. The man was 68 years old according to JoAnne Moreau, emergency management director of East Baton Rouge Parish. The man's roommate recalled that they were just inside their trailer and were watching television when water started to come in. The two walked out of the trailer when the victim slipped and fell; he immediately went under the water.
Another victim was also an old man who was being rescued from the flood. He slipped into the ditch and died. His body has already been recovered.
Residents evacuated
More than 100 people living in the area northeast of Baton Rouge were told to evacuate to a center in a high school. Police Chief Darrell Martin said in a report that this was the worst flood he has ever seen.
He also mentioned that there was a father and his son who were swept by the rushing flood waters. The son was seen, but his father is still missing.
Record-breaking rainfall
It has been estimated that the rainfall is more than 12 inches in just one night. Rainfall near the Baton Rouge Airport was around 8.18 inches Friday. This was known as the wettest day in August ever recorded.
National Weather Service recorded up to 17.09 inches of rain in Livingston. Authorities said that the area has not experienced flooding this severe in more than 30 years.
