The Amite River has receded in some parts of Livingston Parish, giving storm victims a chance to survey the devastation of their homes. Michelle Southern reports from her Denham Springs subdivision.
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The water keeps rising in certain areas of south Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…
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St. John’s United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge is just one of many impromptu shelters that have been set up across south Louisiana in the wake of historic floods. Rev. Dr. Jay Hogwood says nearly 100 people are being housed on the church campus, and that number is expected to grow.
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Hogwood says their facility does not have a shower, so they are only able to house people for short term stays. He says they have partnered with sister churches in their sheltering efforts, including South Baton Rouge Presbyterian Church.
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Hogwood says St. John’s takes up donations for their Shepherd’s Market, which is usually used to feed the needy in the community. He says as of late, it’s been a vital resource to provide meals for people who, for now, are calling St. John’s home.
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Hogwood says they are still taking donations of non-perishable food items, baby supplies, and paper products at St. John’s UMC on Highland Road.
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Acadiana is also experiencing flooding problems. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service says Lafayette, New Iberia and the Lake Arthur areas are trouble spots. He says the Vermillion and the Mermentau Rivers are at peak crest right now and homes continue to flood.
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Jones says more rain is expected this week, which could worsen the situation in some areas.
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Frank Revitte with the National Weather Service in Slidell says the southeast section of the state are still seeing flood waters rising. He says a lot of water still has to move from the Amite River Basin towards Lake Maurepas.
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Revitte says Ascension, Iberville, St. James and Livingston are still expected to get additional flooding and more homes could become flooded. He says even though the water crested in Denham Springs and Livingston Parish, the water isn’t expected to clear out for days…
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Four parishes have been declared a federal disaster area as a result of the historic flooding. The four parishes are Tangipahoa, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge and Livingston. The declaration allows for storm victims to receive federal assistance. Gerard Stoler with FEMA says they plan to set up recovery centers in these parishes to help individuals get federal aid.
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Individuals can also register damage online or over the phone at disasterassistance-dot-gov (disasterassistance.gov) or at 1 (800) 621-3362. Stoler says all damage claims in parishes not declared a federal disaster zone will be processed when those parishes are added to the list.
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As of this morning, Richard Carbo with the Governor’s Office says 11,000 have registered damage, 8,000 of those are from impacted parishes. Governor John Bel Edwards says they’re hoping to add more parishes to the list.
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Flood waters are not showing signs of receding anytime soon in some southern Louisiana parishes. Meredith Conger with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in Ascension Parish says they are still trying to combat the flooding throughout the parish. She says they are still in the response phase.
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Conger says anyone who wants to volunteer can call 225-621-8360 to find out how they can help. She says they have seen an outpouring of support from the community.
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State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says I-10 is closed from Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge to LA 30 near Gonzales. He says they do not have a timeline for when the interstate could be opened up to traffic.
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Lee says the water is receding on I-12 and the eastbound lanes are now open from Juban Road all the way to the Mississippi State line . He says everyone who was stranded on I-12 when the flood waters unexpectedly hit, have been rescued.
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