Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon appeared before a legislative committee today and provided some statistics on the deadly August flood event. Donelon says there have been 28-thousand claims filed with the National Flood Insurance Program and State Farm has already reported 18-thousand claims for flooded vehicles…
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The devastating flood led to record rainfall totals for the month of August for Baton Rouge and Lafayette. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the majority of the rainfall came during a three-to-four day period…
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Keim says the state averaged 12 and a half inches last month, which is also a record for August.

The FEMA assistance process has been extremely confusing for many, and there are those who lost a lot and don’t know why they received a denial letter. Well, there’s free legal advice available, if you call 1-800-310-7029. New Orleans attorney Graham Ryan says one common reason for a denial letter is that the name on the deed of the flooded home didn’t match the name on the application…:
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The free hotline number again is 1-800-310-7029.

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces the former utility clerk for the town of Jonesville in Catahoula Parish has been arrested on theft and malfeasance charges. 47-year-old Leigh Ann Ingram of Jena is accused of receiving cash from customers who paid their utility bills and using that money for her own personal use.

Tomorrow begins a three-day second amendment sales tax holiday. Customers who purchase firearms and clothing for the outdoors, only pay a three-percent state sales tax, instead of five-percent.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the August flood event is the fourth costliest for the National Flood Insurance Program, with 28-thousand claims already filed. Donelon says this devastating flood should be a lesson for all homeowners to find out what they’re covered for and what they’re not…
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August goes down as the wettest month in the history of Baton Rouge , with over 30 inches of rain. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there were also high rain totals in Acadiana and the Felicianas….
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Keim says a majority of the rain fell over a three to four day period.

A third person has reportedly died from the weekend crash on Interstate 10 near LaPlace that involved a bus, which hit a fire truck that was responding to a single vehicle wreck. The third victim is from Mississippi. Jessica Bedwell, with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, reminds motorists that state law mandates vehicles to safely change lanes when approaching emergency vehicles on the side of the road…
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And Shreveport Police are looking for a stolen service dog that can understand sign language. Corporal Marcus Hines says a rottweiler named “Major” was taken during a home invasion…
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Hines says the dog looks very much like a rottweiler, but it has distinctive long tail and bears a white patch on his chest.

Volunteer attorneys are offering legal advice to flood victims who are denied by FEMA. New Orleans attorney Graham Ryan says this program does not take on cases, they just help guide people through the confusing process. But he says there are plenty of organizations around the state that will take up a flood victim’s case…:
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That hotline number is 1-800-310-7029.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says he’s been told the August flood event will be the fourth most costly event for the National Flood Insurance Program…:
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Donelon says there have been 28-thousand claims filed with the N-F-I-P and expects the number to grow past 30-thousand.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is reminding motorists about their responsibilities on the road when approaching an upcoming accident. The plea comes in the wake of the tragic crash that killed two people, including a district fire chief in St. John Parish. LHSC spokeswoman Jessica Bedwell:
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Bedwell says the recent crash illustrates why drivers must exercise caution when encountering parked emergency vehicles on the roadway.

Shreveport Police are searching for burglary suspects who stole a service animal. Cpl. Marcus Hines says police were called to a home after the residence had been forcefully entered and items were taken, including “Major, a Rottweiler service dog, who is trained to understand sign language…:
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Anyone with information on Major’s whereabouts is urged to contact authorities.

August of 2016 was certainly a wet one for the entire state of Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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The Louisiana Workforce Commission is extending the disaster unemployment assistance application period to October 14, 2016 for individuals affected by the August 2016 flooding. The funding is available to workers and self-employed people who lost work or earnings as a result of the disaster. You can submit an application online at laworks.net.

The FEMA assistance process has been extremely confusing for many, and there are those who lost everything who don’t know what they received denial letters. Well there’s free legal advice available to people by calling 1-800-310-7029. New Orleans attorney Graham Ryan says one common reasons people get denial letters is that the name on the deed of the flooded home didn’t match the name on the application…:
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The free hotline number again is 1-800-310-7029.

More than 50 students from the University of Alabama will spend Labor Day weekend working with LSU students to help Baton Rouge flood victims, according to university officials. According to officials with the University of Alabama, students filled the open spots in about 15 minutes and there is a waiting list for other students who want to come to Louisiana to help with flood relief.

August of 2016 is certainly one for the record books, going down as the wettest August recorded in the state of Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says data shows the state averaged 12 and a half inches for the month, crushing the previous record of 9.71 inches back in August of 1940. However, he says this August was only the ninth wettest month ever when looking at all the months of the year…:
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Keim says August 2016 was the wettest month ever in Baton Rouge, recording a little over 30 inches in the Capital City.

100,000 insured vehicles were flooded in Louisiana following the August downpours and historic flooding, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. They add that the number of uninsured vehicles that were flood damaged could be even more, since many owners choose to drop their policy’s comprehensive coverage as the vehicle ages.

As flood victims are working to repair their homes and get as much federal assistance as possible, volunteer attorneys are offering legal advice to those who are denied by FEMA. New Orleans attorney Graham Ryan says you can call 1-800-310-7029, or…:
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Ryan says some of the denials can easily be reversed.

St. Amant High School lost everything during the floods, including their band equipment. The St. Amant Gators got a surprise this week when the Northwestern State band loaned them nine snare drums, four sets of tenor drums, and five bass drums. Northwestern Director of Bands Dr. Jeff Mathews says they wanted to help others during this difficult time…:
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Craig Millet is the St. Amant Director of Bands and says they can’t put into words how much this gesture means.

FEMA admits they are running into hurdles in trying to get manufactured homes set up on a person’s flooded property. FEMA coordinator officer Gerard Stolar says it’s not like the old FEMA trailers, when the housing unit would fit comfortably on a yard….
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Stolar says ideally it takes five to seven days to set up these homes, but so far only one has been put in place.

Today is the funeral for St. John District Fire Chief Spencer Chauvin. He was one of two people killed when a bus, driven by an illegal immigrant, slammed in Chauvin’s fire truck and other vehicles that were involved in an earlier accident on Interstate 10 near LaPlace.

Alligator season opens in the eastern part of the state, but those in the industry say prices are way down as hides and alligator meat is not in high demand.

The Northwestern State Band has loaned some of their drums to St. Amant High School, who lost their instruments in the flood. N-S-U Band Director Jeff Matthews says they wanted to do something for those impacted by these devastating floods…
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About 12-hundred Tiger Fans leave for Green Bay today for Saturday’s season opener against Wisconsin. Emelie Gunn has more…
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The Senate Homeland Security Committee is meeting at this hour with state and federal officials regarding FEMA’s response to flood victims. Chairman and Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says many residents have been getting conflicting information from agents so he has some advice in that regard…:
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White says he’s invited mayors from the flooded areas to see what their plans are for building permits.

Meanwhile the feds are encountering various road blocks when it comes to getting the FEMA manufactured housing units to residents. The post-Katrina FEMA trailers were heavily criticized, but Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover says these bigger units are not feasible either…:
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Only one FEMA mobile home has been installed on a flood victim’s property.

Today is the funeral for St. John District Chief Spencer Chauvin. Police say an illegal immigrant crashed a bus into Chauvin’s fire truck, several other vehicles and then into Chauvin and two other firefighters. It threw them off the I-10 Three Mile Bridge and into the water below. Chauvin died a short time later. Another person died in the incident.

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Acadiana today where he is slated to speak at an event, then tour a neighborhood in Lafayette that experienced significant damage from the historic flooding event.

The LSU Alumni Association’s “Traveling Tigers” say, in 33 years of hitting up away games, the trip they are making today to Green Bay is the largest they have ever done. Rhett Butler with the Alumni Association says most of the fans making the trip for the LSU/Wisconsin game have always wanted to see a game in Lambeau Field…:
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LSU officials are projecting around 30,000 Tiger fans will attend the game.

FEMA is encountering a lot of problems trying to get manufactured homes set up for flood victims. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Hermine is forecast to become a hurricane before hitting Florida tonight. The National Hurricane Center says it should happen shortly after midnight tonight, but the impacts will be felt much sooner. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Suwanne River to Mexico Beach Florida. Hurricane Watches are also posted in surrounding regions.

The Senate Homeland Security Committee will once again hear from disaster response agencies in the hopes of getting some answers for flood victims. Chairman and Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says the Commissioner of Insurance is also expected to attend to answer questions about flood insurance for these homes in the future…:
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He says they still don’t know whether or not houses that received damage worth more than half the value will have to be elevated before they are rebuilt.

The Northwestern State band donated equipment to the St. Amant High program — as the Ascension Parish school lost everything. Northwestern Director of Bands Dr. Jeff Mathews says they are pleased to have the opportunity to help another marching band…:
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Craig Millet is the St. Amant Director of Bands and says they can’t put into words how much this gesture means.