The Department of Children and Family Services reports there are about 4-thousand flood victims still living in shelters. Deputy Secretary Terri Ricks says they’re working to address housing for people who have nowhere to go. She says a meeting is being held today with the Governor and FEMA to determine how to move forward with housing for the near and distant future.
CUT 8 (10) “basis”

More than 85-thousand people have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance. FEMA Spokesperson Maria Padron says the average payment a flood victim will have is about 2-thousand dollars and the money could come quickly if you file your paperwork promptly.
Cut 14 (04) “…already”

She says to call 1 (800) 621-FEMA to register for disaster assistance.

 
Former Saints Safety Darren Sharper has been sentenced to 18 years in a federal prison for raping and drugging nine women. Sharper says, while in the courtroom that he made some ‘heinous decisions’. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says Sharper’s money was probably more help to him in this case than his Saints fame.
cut 10 (09) “legal team”

Meche says Sharper got the deal of the century.

The Salvation Army is taking donations for the thousands of people who lost everything during the floods. Baton Rouge Salvation Army Commander Capt. Brett Meredith says every donation helps flood victims that have nothing.
Cut 3 (08) “are needed”

The Salvation Army will distribute truckloads of goods and supplies at Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge today and tomorrow.

Four thousand flood victims are still in shelters, according to the Department of Children and Family Services. Deputy Secretary Terri Ricks says there has been some consolidation and expects Celtic Studios and the River Center will soon come together. She says no firm decisions have been made on temporary housing, but…

Cut 7 (10) “that out”

More than 85-thousand flood victims have registered for federal aid. FEMA spokesperson Maria Padron says in the next few days FEMA will open disaster recovery centers where flood victims can come ask questions. She says the amount of money a victim receives is determined on a case by case basis.

Cut 13 (08) “dollars”

She says the average payment is about 2-thousand dollars.

The Salvation Army is taking donations for victims of the flood in south Louisiana. Commander of the Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge, Capt. Brett Meredith says 100% of all donations go directly to the victims. He says they are continuing to distribute items, even though their facilities in Baton Rouge flooded.

Cut 5 (10) “facilities”

Monetary donations can be made by texting STORM to 51555.

Former Saints player Darren Sharper was sentenced today to 18 months behind bars for raping 9 women in four different states. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Sharper originally worked out a plea deal for 9 years, but US District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo rejected it because it was too lenient.

Cut 11 (07) “18 years”

Sharper’s sentence is 15 months shy of the maximum sentence.

Flood victims in the 20 parishes that have been declared federal disaster areas are still applying for federal aid. FEMA reports that 70-thousand people have registered for individual assistance, and registration is open at disasterasssistance.gov.

The Salvation Army is collecting donations to help the thousands of storm victims who lost everything in the flood. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Don Molino”

South Louisiana will soon be at an increased risk mosquitos after the flood. State Medical Director for the Center of Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch, says mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus are not as prevalent in the flooded areas of the state, but the threat should not be ignored.

Cut 6 (10) “New Orleans area”

Welch says floods leave standing water, which allows mosquitoes to breed and the population to grow quickly.

Conditions are improving in Lafayette parish following the devastating flood. Lafayette OEP Director Craig Stansbury says the parish is starting to enter the recovery phase. He says they will be assisting FEMA with setting up a location and whatever else the residents need going forward.

Cut 13 (06) “debris removal”

Stansbury says over 5-thousand homes were damaged in the flood.

Thousands of people across southern Louisiana displaced by catastrophic flooding are now struggling with where to live. 70,000 victims had registered for individual federal assistance as of Wednesday. In Livingston Parish, all schools are closed until further notice. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry believes every school in the city took on water.
CUT 9 (12) “it’s bad”
Officials say the death toll has climed to 13.

With all this water comes the increased risk of West Nile. State Medical Director for the Center of Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch:
CUT 5 (09) “after flooding”
He says the state is going to be very vigilant and focus on mosquito control over the next few weeks.

Many people lost important documents and photographs in the recent flood. Halen Doughty has more from the State Archives Office on how to salvage them…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

St. James, St. John, additional regions in Ascension and also Jefferson Davis Parish are still bracing for the possibility of backwater flooding this week. Chief Deputy Chris Ivey with the Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Office says they aren’t expecting many more areas to take on, but now they are gearing up for the aftermath…:
cut 11 (08) “still there”

Officials confirmed that there were two deaths in Livingston Parish, two in St. Helena, five in East Baton Rouge, three in Tangipahoa and one in Rapides Parish. Bringing the total to 13.

A state health official says there will be an increase threat of West Nile in the flooded areas of the state. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Entergy says restoration efforts continue after the Great Flood of 2016, as customers affected by outages grows to new areas with the rising water. Over 12,000 customers are in the dark. DEMCO is working to get over 4600 back up.

The water is leaving Livingston Parish for the most part, but what the flood left behind is catastrophic. Parish-wide, officials say at least 75% of homes were impacted with 2 to 8 feet of water, but that figure could easily grow as this is still very much an ongoing situation. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry says people are coming from all over the US to help:
CUT 7 (09) “and do so”
There were between 15,000-20,000 rescues made during this event.

If you’ve got lots of wet photos and documents from the flood, don’t toss them just yet. The State Archives Office says they could be salvaged. Archivist Doug Harrison specializes in preservation. He says if you cannot separate the paper items enough to air dry, you can wrap them in wax paper and put them in the freezer…:
Cut 15 (06) “calmer”
He says ideally pictures need to be air dried as soon as possible.

The massive flooding in south Louisiana now poses an increased risk for West Nile. That’s according to the State Medical Director for the Center of Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch, who says in the short-term, flooding washes away mosquitoes and their larvae, but floods leave standing water, which allows mosquitoes to breed and the population to grow quickly:
cut 4 (10) “those systems”
Welch says they are going to be very vigilant and focus on mosquito control over the next few weeks.

The State Archives Office is offering advice for salvaging documents or photographs that were damaged in the flood. Archivist Doug Harrison specializes in preservation. He says the best thing people can do is separate the documents into the smallest possible stacks so they can dry:
cut 14 (08) “a bit”
Harrison says pictures need to be air dried as soon as possible.

It’s reported the death toll from the recent storms and flooding in south Louisiana has risen to 13. The state registrar for vital records says an elderly woman in Livingston Parish was confirmed Wednesday as the latest death.

Residents in Jefferson Davis parish are simultaneously recovering from a historic flood and preparing for more water to come. Chief Deputy Chris Ivey with the Sheriff’s Office says the water is receding in many areas of the parish, and people are moving back into their neighborhoods as they can…:
Cut 10 (09) “over them”
Conditions are looking a little better farther east down the I-10 corridor. Lafayette OEP Director Craig Stansbury says over 5-thousand homes were damaged in the flood, and many people are still in shelters…:
cut 12 (06) “or not”
He says they will be assisting FEMA with setting up a location and whatever else the residents need going forward.

At least 12 people have died as a result of historic flooding that severely impacted the majority of south Louisiana and a portion of central Louisiana. The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that a team discovered the body of a man in his 50s in the South Point subdivision in Denham Springs. There were between 15,000-20,000 rescues made during this event. 90% of homes in the Denham Springs were flooded. City Mayor Gerard Landry says businesses also took on water at unimaginable levels…:
Cut 8 (13) “under water”
Parish-wide, officials say at least 75% of homes were impacted with 2 to 8 feet of water.

Over 10,500 customers with Entergy remain without power. Demco says nearly 4700 people remain in the dark. The hardest hit areas are the northern and eastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish, Livingston, Tangipahoa, and Ascension parishes.

Even though it’s a hectic week in south Louisiana, LSU is expected to start school on Monday as usual and accommodate local students affected by the flood. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Governor John Bel Edwards and various state and local officials will participate in a Unified Command Group  briefing on the flooding impacting Louisiana. They will then participate in a news conference to update the public on the state’s response and recovery efforts in areas affected.

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…

CUT 6 (11) “do this”

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.

cut 14 (08)  “for miles”

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.

Cut 13 (10)  “as possible”