According to the state fire marshal’s office, emergency workers discovered a man’s body in a flooded Denham Springs subdivision this afternoon, which brings the flooding death toll to 12. The identity of the victim has not yet been confirmed, but investigators say the man appears to be in his 50s.
As the flood water rose, many people were fleeing to shelter. Celtic Media Studios in Baton Rouge opened their doors to thousands of people who were forced out of their homes after the devastating storm. Director of Studio Operations Patrick Mulhearn says the lull in the film industry actually turned out to be a blessing…
Mulhearn says Saturday night the population of Celtic was zero and Sunday afternoon the population was about 4-thousand people. He says there has been talk about Baton Rouge being divided but he’s never seen a more united community than over the weekend.
While flood waters are receding in some parishes, the Lake Arthur area in Jefferson Davis parish is still expecting more flooding this weekend and into next week. Johnathan Brazzell with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the Mermentau River is expected to crest at 11.5 feet by Friday, which would be the third highest crest the river has ever seen.
Brazzell says this will lead to more homes flooding and road closures in that area.
There are numerous sandbagging locations in St. James Parish as officials prepare for backwater flooding. Parish President Timothy Roussel says the community has really teamed up and when one home is completely sandbagged, they all move on to the next.