Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for 22 parishes and activated 750 National Guard members to help combat the widespread flooding in north Louisiana. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says the water continues to rise and the storm is shifting into southeast Louisiana. He says if you don’t need to be out on the road, don’t go out and sightsee.
Cut 12 (09) “do so”
In Bienville parish, Sheriff John Balance says the flood waters turned fatal in a small community just east of Lucky. He says they received a call this afternoon about a vehicle stuck in the water on a bridge over Saline Creek.
Cut 7 (10) “from drowning”
The man who died was identified as 63-year-old Jerry Garrett. His 70-year-old wife was rescued from the vehicle. A six-year-old girl also died when her mother lost control of the vehicle in the flooded road, and a 22-year-old man also died from drowning.
DeSoto Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says several emergency shelters have been set up throughout the parish as evacuations are ongoing. He says countless homes in the area have flooded.
Cut 5 (08) “on water”
Arbuckle says the Sabine River is expected to crest at 40 feet, which is the highest it’s been since the 1940s.
Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and one of his top lieutenants have been indicted on civil rights violations for their alleged involvement in the beatings of five jail inmates. The indictment claims Ackal directed officers to beat the inmates in the jail’s chapel in 2011. Eight former employees of the sheriff’s office have already pleaded guilty to related federal charges. Former US attorney Harry Rosenberg says the combined testimonies from the former jail employees and the inmates will make for a difficult case for the sheriff.
If convicted, Ackal could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine for each civil rights violation.