Although southwest Louisiana was spared much of Harvey’s destruction, Congressman Clay Higgins says his district is still feeling the impact of the storm. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is sheltering hundreds of evacuees from Texas, and preparing for thousands more. Emelie Gunn reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is pushing the importance of flood insurance, especially after the severe flood damage left by Harvey. Donelon says the sad thing is, it usually takes a horrific storm like the one that caused the August floods last year, for homeowners to take action and protect their homes.

Cut 3 (11) “doubled”

The number of properties now insured for floods in Baton Rouge and Lafayette is now at 23-percent, up from 12. Donelon says these super storms will certainly send a strong message to homeowners.

Cut 4  (09) “our state”

Donelon says a significant amount of claims made in Louisiana with the National Flood Insurance Program have been filed in areas that do not see flooding on a regular basis. He when Congress reconvenes next month, he will fight for significant changes to the National Flood Insurance Program.

Cut 5  (11)  “replacement cost”

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Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3^rd District says his constituents continue to feel the impacts of Harvey, as residents are taking part in rescue and shelter operations. Although much of Acadiana was spared the destruction seen in Texas, Higgins says it’s all hands on deck in south Louisiana.

Cut 6 (11) “rolling hard”

Higgins says many of those rescued are being sheltered in the third district. He says thousands of Louisianans have volunteered their time and donated supplies to help Texas disaster victims.

Cut 7 (12)  “been incredible”

Higgins says the people of south Louisiana are quite adept at dealing with disasters. He says those skills are being put to good use in shelters across the state and as rescue efforts continue in Texas, where flood waters will remain for some time.

Cut 8 (11) “what we do”

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The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry has deployed their mobile pet shelter in Lake Charles to assist with Harvey evacuations. Commissioner Mike Strain says they will do whatever they can to ensure pets are safe, while their owners are coping with the disaster. He says currently they have 86 pets in their care.

Cut 9 (06)  “Alexandria”

The department has 100 kennels in Lake Charles and is providing an additional 200 soft sided carriers for pets traveling by bus. Strain says they are preparing for an additional 500 pets in Alexandria as thousands of evacuees are headed to the mega shelter. He says they welcome donations of dog food and cat food.

Cut 10 (09) “boulevard”

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Governor John Bel Edwards said today that 1,120 people sheltered in Louisiana last night due to displacement from Harvey, and 876 were Texans. He says currently there are a thousand Louisiana national guardsmen who are assisting in search and rescue operations…:

Cut 11 (09) “yesterday”

Edwards says the state is planning to take in at least an additional 3,000 people from Texas today, to bring to shelters in Lake Charles, Alexandria and Shreveport. He says the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has rescued about 1,300 people in Texas, and 150 pets. As far as impacts to Louisiana, there are roads that are impacted along the Sabine…:

Cut 12 (09) “the rivers are”

Edwards says he is asking the people of Louisiana to continue to prepare and remember that we are still in hurricane season. He says right now they are watching Category 2 Hurricane Irma in the Atlantic…:

Cut 13 (10) “10 to 12 days”

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Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso has called for a voluntary evacuation of the western part of the parish. This includes the areas from Highway 109 west to the Sabine River and north from I-10 to the Calcasieu Parish Line. Tom Hoefer with the Parish Police Jury says the Sabine River has flooded before and they’re fearful it could happen again as the river is extremely swollen.

Cut 14 (10) “2016”

Hoefer says fewer than one thousand homes and camps are included in the voluntary evacuation. He says residents in the area have plenty of time to get out of their homes.

Cut 15 (06) “like that”

Just as Harvey is leaving the Gulf, a disturbance along the Mexican coast is developing. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisianans are doing everything they can to help our neighbors in Texas with the ongoing Harvey relief efforts. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program will be a top priority for federal lawmakers when congress reconvenes in September. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Harvey is finally moving out of Gulf Coast, but forecasters are now keeping an eye on a tropical disturbance near southern Mexico. Andy Tingler with the National Weather Service says there is a low chance this system could develop into a tropical depression or storm over the next five days.

Cut 4  (10) “as well”

There is also Tropical Storm Irma, which is currently gaining strength in the Atlantic and is located off the western coast of Africa. Tingler says there’s a good chance Irma could develop into a hurricane over the next few days.

Cut 5  (10)  “away”

Tropical Depression Harvey is currently located in northeast Louisiana. Tingler says rainfall totals in Louisiana along the Texas border reached over 30 inches from the storm.

Cut 6 (10) “five days”

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Louisianans who want to help with the Harvey relief efforts both in Texas and Louisiana can find ways to give at VolunteerLouisiana.gov. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says thousands have already signed up to give their time and resources to those in need.

Cut 7 (09)  “those Americans rebuild”

Although Harvey has moved out of the area, the needs will be ongoing for some time. Nungesser says seeing neighbors helping neighbors shows the good we have in the community. He says it helps reassure the disaster victims they aren’t alone during this difficult time.

Cut 8 (09) “back to normal”

Nungesser says volunteers’ time, money, and effort is going to a good cause. He says many Texans came to the aid of the Bayou State during last year’s historic floods, and this is our chance to give back.

Cut 9 (09)  “with big hearts”

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Members of the Louisiana National Guard continue to help with search and rescue efforts in Texas, as flood waters will not recede for some time. Col. Ed Bush says it’s a great feeling to be able to help our neighbors in need.

Cut 10 (09) “the favor”

Bush says hundreds of rescues have already been conducted, and many Texans are now in shelters in Lake Charles. He says it’s been a combined effort of both Texas and Louisiana authorities to get help to the people that need it.

Cut 11 (09) “some guardsmen”

Bush says they are all about the spirit of helping, which is why soldiers join the guard. He says the number of Louisiana guardsmen in Texas will continue to grow, and they will be there as long as it takes.

Cut 12 (09) “keep them safe”

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Congress will be tasked with reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program once lawmakers reconvene in September. This has become an even bigger priority as hundreds of thousands of homeowners cope with the flood waters left by Harvey. US Senator John Kennedy says homeowner’s insurance only covers things like wind damage and fires, not flooding.

Cut 13 (11) “homeowner’s insurance”

Kennedy says the NFIP is the only option for homeowners to cover homes for flooding. He says the amount of flooding from substantial rainfall has doubled in the past decade. He says virtually no one in the country today is immune from flooding, no matter where you live.

Cut 14 (06) “Pike’s Peak”

The NFIP must be reauthorized before it expires on September 30. Kennedy has introduced legislation that would reauthorize the program for 6 years. He says it would also cap premium increases at a lower level than the law currently allows.

Cut 15 (10) “the flooding”

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ULM kicks-off a new season tonight with a matchup against Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Sophomore Caleb Evans will start at QB after starting four games as a freshman. Viator says junior Garrett Smith will also take some snaps….

Cut 16  (15)  “shakes out”

Memphis was 8-5 last season. They return quarterback Riley Ferguson, who threw for 37-hundred yards and 32 touchdowns last season. Viator says the six-foot-four senior is a tremendous football player….

Cut 17 (20)  “they’re built”

McNeese and Nicholls begin the 2017 football season by playing each other in Thibodaux tonight in a contest that can be seen on ESPN 3. McNeese has dominated this series by winning 30 of the 41 games played between the two schools. The Cowboys have also won the last eight matchups. Colonels Head Coach Tim Rebowe on what they need to do tonight…

Cut 18 (15) “this week” 

McNeese is led by quarterback James Tabary, who is coming off one of the most productive seasons in school history. But Rebowe says he brings back a solid defense from last year…

Cut 19 (19) “in James”

Calcasieu Parish was spared of any further damage when Tropical Storm Harvey trekked across the parish early this morning. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is looking to help Texas as the Lone Star state struggles with catastrophic flooding from Harvey. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Calcasieu Parish officials say they dodged a bullet when Tropical Storm Harvey made another landfall on the western Louisiana coast. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says while the western side of the parish did get a lot of rain overnight, it wasn’t enough to cause major widespread flooding.

Cut 3 (11) “and Port Arthur”

Mancuso says roughly 200 residents had to be rescued after taking on water, but the parish is in pretty good shape considering what they could have faced. He says they are fortunate because after a month of heavy rain, the parish could not have handled more water.

Cut 4  (12) “taken much”

Mancuso says the western side of the parish took the brunt of the rainfall. He says the more rural areas were impacted, as major cities like Sulphur and Lake Charles on the eastern side were spared. But Texas was not as fortunate.

Cut 5  (12)  “the coming days”

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Louisiana has been spared from major damage from Tropical Storm Harvey. That’s according to Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. But Steele says  we’re not in the clear yet as the central part of the state is expected to see heavy rainfall today…

Cut 6 (09) “Louisiana”

Steele says to keep update to date on road conditions, use 511-la-dot-org. He says Louisiana residents cannot enter Texas through I-10….

Cut 7 (11)  “I-20”

At 12:30 briefing, Governor John Bel Edwards says there are hundreds of roads in Louisiana with standing water…

Cut 8 (12) “of harm”

Thousands of homes are damaged in Texas are damaged or destroyed by Harvey. Edwards says based on the reports he’s getting, Louisiana has avoided significant damage…

Cut 9 (09)  “on the chin”

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The storm is not over for Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Harvey made landfall in Cameron Parish around 4 a.m and is slowly moving towards Alexandria.

Cut 10 (07) “into tennessee”

Parishes in both southeast and northeast Louisiana are under a tornado watch until 6 p.m., and Keim says more rain is also on the way.

Cut 11 (08) “flooding problems”

Keim says the greatest rainfall total from Houston is nearly 52 inches, while Louisiana has topped out at about 22 inches so far. Fortunately Louisiana has been spared from much of the flooding seen in Texas. He says that’s because the system ingested dry air.

Cut 12 (08) “Gulf of Mexico”

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Ticket sales for the LSU-BYU season opener, now at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, are underway. Fans who purchased tickets for the game in Houston, season ticket holders and students have first priority. LSU Ticket Manager Brian Broussard says the general public can begin buying tickets at 4 p.m. and all sales are done online.

Cut 13 (09) “their side”

Broussard says based on early indications, demand for Saturday night’s game is high. He says about 10-thousand tickets sold for the game in Houston were bought by fans in Texas. He’s not sure how many original ticket holders from Texas will come to New Orleans

Cut 14 (09) “this game”

Ticket prices range from 40-dollars to 250-dollars. Broussard says LSU’s ticket office was allotted 25-thousand tickets, but that number might increase. He reminds original ticket holders, their tickets to the game in Houston will not work in New Orleans.

Cut 15 (09) “going to work”

Tropical Storm Harvey makes a second landfall, this time in Louisiana as the system moves north through the state. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Cajun Navy 2016 is upping their coordination efforts during rescues after Hurricane Harvey. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The entire state will feel the effects of Tropical Storm Harvey through the end of the week. Halen Doughty has more on what to expect…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Cameron Parish is bracing for impact as Tropical Storm Harvey makes a second landfall and treks north through the state. Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Danny Lavergne says the biggest threat from the storm will be the water, as the parish received about 30 inches of rain in just the last two days.

Cut 4  (11) “pass on through”

Lavergne says this is the longest time frame the parish has ever had to prepare for a storm. He says the parish filed an emergency declaration on August 23. He says officials are as prepared as they can be.

Cut 5  (11)  “into the Gulf”

About 6,000 residents had to evacuate Cameron Parish. Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is not out of the woods yet as the storm is expected to drop another 10 to 20 inches of rain across the Bayou State.

Cut 6 (11) “flooding problems”

Edwards says more than 670 guardsmen are working on Harvey operations in the state. He says about 500 rescues have already been made in southwest Louisiana. He says flooded roadways are a concern.

Cut 7 (09)  “of the current”

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A Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputy is recovering and a suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting on Highway 80 on Tuesday at noon. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says the fatal incident occurred after the unnamed deputy conducted a traffic stop.

Cut 8 (09) “shots were fired”

Reichardt says the deputy was shot, but his bulletproof vest deflected the round. He says the deputy then returned fire on the suspect.

Cut 9 (11)  “injuries”

Simsboro High School was placed on lock down following the incident. Reichardt says state police will lead the investigation into the shooting, as there are still many unanswered questions.

Cut 10 (11) “seen everything”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the Cajun Navy’s work in Texas is receiving praise from local authorities. So how do they do it? Penny Shar with Project We Care Louisiana works in conjunction with the Cajun Navy 2016 and she says they use the Zello Smartphone App to communicate with nearby boats to help find stranded residents

Cut 11 (10) “little section”

Shar says they also have someone who has medical experience, like a doctor or nurse on a boat, in each area. She says it’s a very organized effort…

Cut 12 (11) “medical field”

Shar says the Cajun Navy 2016 began rescue efforts in Humble, Texas and will continue to work until everyone who needs help is rescued. She says they also work closely with elected officials in Louisiana to organize efforts.

Cut 13 (11) “Texas”

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Southwest Louisiana will likely see the biggest impact from Tropical Storm Harvey, but the entire state will be affected. In northwest Louisiana, a flash flood watch is in effect through Thursday evening. Lisa May with the National Weather Service in Shreveport expects periods of heavy rainfall through the end of the week.

Cut 14 (10) “Friday morning”

May says the area could also see gusty winds and isolated tornadoes as Harvey treks through the area.

Alek Krautman with the National Weather Service in Slidell says as long as Harvey is in the region, southeast Louisiana has the potential for locally heavy rain.

Cut 15 (08) “of the event”

Krautman says strong winds are not a big concern in the region. He says Harvey is expected to continue northward through the state Wednesday night and into Thursday.

Cut 16  (10)  “long duration event”

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LSU running back Derius Guice says he’s fired up to play in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Saturday night against BYU. Guice says this will be the second time he’s played in the iconic stadium. The first time was when he was 12-years-old, when he played a quick game during halftime of a Saints game. Guice says it’s great to start the season in Louisiana….

Cut 17 (20)  “worked itself out”

Last year LSU opened its season with a loss to Wisconsin in Green Bay. Tigers quarterback Danny Etling says BYU looks a lot like that Badger defense they faced last year in Lambeau Field…

Cut 18 (24) “ready for the challenge” 

LSU will have a true freshman start at right guard on Saturday. It will be either Ed Ingram or Saahdiq Charles. It’s apparently the first time ever that LSU has had a true freshman start in a season opener. Etling has confidence they can get the job done….

Cut 19 (17) “be fine”

Rains continue as the center of Tropical Storm Harvey takes aim at Louisiana’s southwestern coast. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is trying to help Cajun Navy rescue as many people as possible in Texas. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (33) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The Louisiana National Guard have been conducting rescues during the night in southwestern parishes and more Guardsman have been activated. Col. Ed Bush says the guard continues to preposition assets based on the storm track and are prepared to send out more Guardsmen to assist.

Cut 3 (10) “on that”

The National Guard is issuing MREs, bottles of water and sandbags. Bush says they are equipped with high water vehicles and boats for rescue operations.

Cut 4  (08) “as well”

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Flood waters in Lake Charles are rising and rescues have already been conducted. Dick Gremillion with the Calcasieu Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says a rain band that came in at around 5 p.m. yesterday caused immediate flooding. He says a drainage canal overflowed…

Cut 5  (09)  “this morning”

Gremillion says they are concerned about additional flooding as all drains are full. He says his staff is ready for anything but Harvey continues to be a very complicated storm to plan for.

Cut 6 (08) “right here”

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Tropical Storm Harvey continues to pour water down on Texas and Louisiana. State climatologist Barry Keim says the worst part is it’s not over yet, as much more rain is yet to come. He says 5 to 10 more inches of rain is still possible in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (12)  “of Monroe”

Keim says Louisiana can expect two more days of rainfall, especially in the southwestern corner of the state. He says today will likely see the heaviest rains, and there’s still more to come tomorrow. He says Harvey is dumping a lot of water because the system is moving so slowly.

Cut 8 (12) “45 inches”

Keim says unfortunately, hurricane season is still far from over. The midpoint of the season isn’t until September 10, so there could be more storms to come. But he says Harvey is starting to ingest some dry air, which is weakening the system a bit.

Cut 9 (10)  “so continuous”

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Hundreds of Louisiana volunteers, who make up the Cajun Navy, are assisting first responders conduct search and rescue efforts in Texas. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is working with the Cajun Navy to coordinate efforts. He says they are not regulating the volunteer citizens, but want to ensure rescuers are organized with Texas authorities.

Cut 10 (08) “not Texas”

Edwards says he’s spoken directly with members of the Cajun Navy. He says the biggest concern for the volunteers on their personal boats is refueling, so the state is helping with that effort when they arrive at the Texas border

Cut 11 (06) “forestry”

Edwards says being in the same position a year ago, we all understand the importance of the Cajun Navy and appreciate their help.

Cut 12 (08) “being there”

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The North Louisiana Red Cross opens an evacuation shelter in Shreveport today. Executive Director Michelle Davidson says the shelter at Morning Star Baptist Church will house up to 250 individuals. He says they have other shelters on standby that can open as needed.

Cut 13 (12) “as well”

Davidson says this shelter will be a vital resource for those fleeing the storm who have likely been dealing with the effects of Harvey for several days. She says as of now, the shelter is only intended to house storm victims for the short term.

Cut 14 (09) “next steps are”

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Cleco is preparing for Tropical Storm Harvey’s arrival in Louisiana as five of the energy company’s operation regions are in the path of the storm. Jennifer Cahill with Cleco says they are doubling the number of crews available to safely restore power.

Cut 15 (10) “outages” x2

Cahill says downed powerlines are the biggest possibility during Harvey because of falling trees and limbs. She says Cleco is reminding customers to stay safe and beware of rising water…

Cut 16  (11)  “flooded areas”

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Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish 12 years ago today. Emelie Gunn has more from former Governor Kathleen Blanco as she remembers….

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Cajun Navy is sending rescue teams to Texas to help with the Tropical Storm Harvey response. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Twelve years ago today Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and many Texans are facing a similar catastrophe today. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Today marks the 12 year anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Over 15-hundred people died in Louisiana from the powerful storm and former Governor Kathleen Blanco says it could’ve been a lot more if they did not evacuate one million people from New Orleans in a short period of time but some people decided not to leave…

Cut 4  (11) “mountain”

Blanco says on top of the physical damage, there was so much mental stress after families were separated. She says so many Louisiana residents worked feverously to help each other during this difficult time.

Cut 5  (09)  “Louisiana people”

Blanco says shelters starting popping up all over the state for flood victims who lost everything they owned during Katrina. She says from Lafayette to Monroe, Louisianans came together and then help starting coming from around the country.

Cut 6 (10) “Louisiana”

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Louisianans are heading to Texas in droves to assist with the ongoing rescue efforts. The Cajun Navy is assisting in the massive search and rescue efforts to help those stranded in homes and on rooftops. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the generosity of the community is unbelievable.

Cut 7 (10)  “and selflessness”

Graves says the people flocking to Texas have been through this before, as many of the rescuers were disaster victims themselves just one year ago. He says they know what supplies are needed, and they’ll be able to hit the ground running once they reach the affected areas.

Cut 8 (11) “next few days”

Graves encourages those who wish to help to check the Cajun Navy 2016 Facebook page for an updated list of needs. He says they are accepting donations of bottled water and other emergency supplies.

Cut 9 (11)  “with people”

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Today marks 12 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and Texans are facing a similar situation now with Harvey. State climatologist Barry Keim says both made landfall as a major hurricane, but Katrina reached Category 5 strength in the Gulf and weakened, while Harvey continued to strengthen until landfall. He says that worsened Katrina’s storm surge.

Cut 10 (10) “to shore”

Keim says the biggest surge from Harvey so far is 6.8 feet, while Katrina caused the biggest surge ever measured in the western hemisphere at 28 feet. He says it’s the opposite for rainfall as Katrina only dumped upwards of 15 inches.

Cut 11 (12) “as time goes on”

Keim says Harvey has been meandering around at about 2 miles per hour. He notes the storm has only moved about 100 miles since last Friday. He says these are two highly contrasting storms with similar major impacts in two of the country’s biggest cities.

Cut 12 (11) “these two events”

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Harvey has strengthened as it moves over the Gulf along the Texas coast. John Cangialosi with the National Hurricane Center says the biggest concern is the continued rainfall over eastern Texas and western Louisiana with isolated totals reaching 50 inches in some areas. He says Louisiana is in for a lot more wet weather.

Cut 13 (09) “time period”

Cangialosi says tropical storm force winds are likely, especially along the western and central Louisiana coast. Up to three feet of storm surge is also expected in the area. He encourages everyone to stay up to date on advisories issued in their areas.

Cut 14 (09) “over to Louisiana”

Cangialosi says the Bayou State could see between 10 and 20 inches of rain in some areas. He says Harvey is still churning very slowly, which means the rain isn’t moving out anytime soon.

Cut 15 (12) “half of the state”

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There are seven players on the LSU football team from the Houston area and it’s difficult time for them. Starting offensive tackle Toby Weathersby says parents are okay living in a second floor apartment, but flood waters are threatening his grandparents home….

Cut 16  (16)  “worse and worse”

Weathersby says his grandparents are set in their ways and do want to evacuate their home as flood waters continue to rise. He says if he was in Houston, he would carry his grandparents out of harms way…

Cut 17 (16)  “get out”

Weathersby says he’s trying to not let the troubles at home, affect his preparation for the game….

Cut 18 (13) “me inside” 

Louisianans are rushing to aid our Texas neighbors who are getting hit hard by Tropical Storm Harvey. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the worst is yet to come in Louisiana with Tropical Storm Harvey. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Michelle Southern”

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Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents are on hand to aid our Texas neighbors as they deal with epic flooding in the Houston area. Adam Einck with LDWF says the agents will assist the Texas authorities with search and rescue efforts.

Cut 3 (12) “need to be”

This time last year, many Texans were in the Bayou State assisting with recovery efforts from the devastating flood in south Louisiana. Einck says LDWF is happy to return the favor for our neighbors to the west.

Cut 4  (11) “do that as well”

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The Cajun Navy is being deployed once again, this time to assist with the flood response in Texas. Penny Shar is with Project We Care Louisiana in conjunction with the Cajun Navy. She says about 100 people with boats and high water vehicles are leaving from Baton Rouge, and more are joining the caravan in Lafayette.

Cut 5  (08)  “and donated”

Boat owners who want to help can call 985-215-6864 or 225-806-0746. Shar says more rescue groups will hit the road later this week. Donations can be made at Costco in Baton Rouge or by calling Shar to have them picked up.  She says they’re asking for a variety of items for the trip.

Cut 6 (02) “perishable items”

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Flash flood watches are out across south and central Louisiana as Tropical Storm Harvey moves back into the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make a second landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border on Wednesday. Kent Kuyper with the National Weather Service says there is the chance of tornadoes.

Cut 7 (07)  “parish”

Kuyper says southwest Louisiana can see anywhere from 10 to 15 inches of rain over the next few days.  He says the biggest threat for residents inland is flash flooding.

Cut 8 (06) “Alexandria”

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Thousands of people in Texas are flooded out of their homes because of Harvey. The images are reminiscent of what happened 12 years ago when Hurricane Katrina struck southeast Louisiana. Former Governor Kathleen Blanco says she’s curious to why Houston never developed an evacuation plan like Louisiana had in 2005.

Cut 9 (11)  “mandatory”

Blanco says the low lying regions of Galveston and along the coast should’ve been evacuated by time and direction. She says Houston evacuations need to be staged.

Cut 10 (09) “sensible way”

Blanco says in 2005, there weren’t videos from phones showing the devastation, but now videos are flooding social media showing the severe flooding. She says she saw a picture of a flooded nursing home in Texas…

Cut 11 (11) “themselves out”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the worst is yet to come in Louisiana with Tropical Storm Harvey. He says in southwest Louisiana, forecasters say 10-15 inches of additional rain could fall on already saturated grounds through Friday…:

Cut 12 (08) “ground level”

Edwards says the main threat from Harvey for the Pelican State continues to be rain, but he says tornadoes are also a concern. Tornado watches are posted for the entire southern half of the state which is already under a flash flood watch. Edwards says, so far, there have been no reports to damage as it relates to structures…:

Cut 13 (13) “flow back south”

President Trump approved the governor’s Federal Emergency Declaration request for Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vermillion Parishes, and ordered assistance to supplement state and local response efforts. Texas is dealing with the worst of this storm and Edwards says Louisiana is ready to help with evacuees and shelters if they as for it…:

Cut 14 (10) “I-20”

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LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva says a venue has yet to be decided for the Tigers season opener against BYU. Alleva says a decision should be made by the latest tomorrow…

Cut 15 (12) “in Houston”

Several sites are reportedly being considered, including the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Alleva says LSU is responsible for setting up this match up and they are the ones who will make the final decision…

Cut 16  (12)  “to be played”

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Twenty-five years ago many Louisianans were dealing with the devastation left by Hurricane Andrew. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is not out of the woods when it comes to Tropical Storm Harvey. Jeff Palermo explains why…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Shreveport City Council will consider next month a proposal to build a 30 million dollar sports complex downtown. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Twenty-five years ago today, Louisiana was recovering from the destruction left by one of the most devastating storms in US history. Hurricane Andrew caused flooding and spawned tornadoes across south Louisiana after making landfall near Morgan City on August 26. Mayor Boo Grizzaffi recalls waking up to the wreckage.

Cut 4  (13) “pick up the pieces”

Property damage from Andrew reached $150 million in St. Mary Parish alone. Grizzaffi says in the weeks that followed, many remained without power, their homes flooded and no means to replace what was lost. He says everyone came together to try and rebuild, but many did not know where to begin.

Cut 5  (13)  “got laid out”

Grizzaffi says the recovery in Morgan City was fairly quick because having a local power plant enabled them to restore power right away. He says the rebuilding took longer because residents relied on outside work and materials since almost everything in the town was a total loss.

Cut 6 (12) “big pile of mess”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is not out of the woods yet when it comes to Tropical Storm Harvey. Edwards asks residents to stay vigilant and pay attention to local news reports. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Harvey will eventually move towards Louisiana…

Cut 7 (10)  “come in Lake Charles”

Keim says rainfall from Harvey is Louisiana’s biggest threat….

Cut 8 (07) “rain bands”

Keim says a good portion of Louisiana’s coast, along with southwest and central Louisiana are under a flash flood watch for the next several days…

Cut 9 (08)  “south central Louisiana”

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With Louisiana in a state of emergency due to Harvey, the Attorney General’s Office warns consumers to be wary of price gouging. Deputy Director of Public Protection Mike Dupree says once the governor declares a state of emergency, price gouging laws go into effect. He says these laws prevent businesses from hiking prices to make a quick buck.

Cut 10 (08) “the increase”

Dupree says that does not include price changes like a few cents increase for a gallon of gas, which could go up due to the market. But he says if the price of emergency supplies spikes overnight, consumers should be suspicious.

Cut 11 (09) “going on”

Price gouging within five days of a declaration is a crime punishable by a $500 fine and up to five years in prison. Dupree says unfortunately, officials see this often during disasters. He encourages anyone who suspects a business of price gouging to report it immediately.

Cut 12 (10) “1-800-351-4889”

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The Shreveport City Council will soon consider a proposal to construct a 30-million dollar sports complex in the downtown area. The goal of the complex, which would be right next to a proposed mixed use development site, is to lure the New Orleans Pelicans G-League team to the arena.  Local banker Rich Holland says different entities are now gathering their plans for presentation.

Cut 13 (10) “optimistic”

There is also talk of the facility being used as a practice facility for the New Orleans Saints. Holland says the over 100 million dollar mixed development site would be privately funded by Birmingham based Corporate Reality. Holland says this would bring great benefits to Shreveport.

Cut 14 (11) “community”

Some individuals and organizations are not pleased with this proposal, like the local police department. Holland says in 2006, the Saints were in Shreveport for a preseason game and it was great for the economy. He says there will be no additional direct taxes placed on Caddo Parish residents.

Cut 15 (10) “the debt”

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For the second straight preseason game, the Saints defense did not allow an offensive touchdown. The Saints held the Texans to 246 total yards and 13 first downs in a 13-0 victory over Houston on Saturday night. Defensive End Cam Jordan says they are cultivating the right mentality…

Cut 16  (22)  “this year”

The last three seasons the Saints ranked near the bottom of the NFL, but they’ve looked much better so far in this preseason. On Saturday night, the defense had four sacks. Coach Sean Payton says it was good to see…

Cut 17 (20)  “more time”

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LSU is scheduled to play BYU this Saturday, but athletic director Joe Alleva doubts it can be played in Houston. Alleva says a number of alternate locations are being considered and a decision should be made early this week.

First year offensive coordinator Matt Canada will likely decide to give the ball to running back Derius Guice a lot this season. Guice has rushed for 18-hundred yards and 18 touchdowns during his career at LSU. Canada says the Baton Rouge product should have another terrific season…

Cut 18 (20) “rare talent” 

Wide receiver is a question mark on LSU’s offense. DJ Chark is the only proven wideout on the team and Canada is anxious to see who else will step up…

Cut 19 (17) “receivers”

Harvey is now a major hurricane as it moves towards the Texas coast. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Gas prices are expected to go up because of Hurricane Harvey. Don Molino has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

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A viral Facebook post helped Shreveport Police put an alleged booze thief behind bars. A video with more than 20 million views shows a woman stuffing bottles of liquor into her purse, her pants, and even her bra at a local store. Cpl. Angie Willhite says officers responded to the incident at the Thrifty Liquor Store on August 18.

Cut 3 (09) “for that alcohol”

Willhite says Crime Stoppers posted the store’s surveillance on YouTube, and it went viral almost instantly. She says local law enforcement immediately recognized 37-year-old Sekonie Jones.

Cut 4  (10) “dealings with her”

Willhite says Jones walked out of the store with 11 bottles of alcohol on her person. Jones surrendered herself on one charge of misdemeanor theft. Willhite says after the video was posted, Crime Stoppers tips started flooding into the station.

Cut 5  (09)  “tips on it”

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Harvey is closing in on the Texas coast and is growing in strength as it nears Corpus Christi. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the National Hurricane Center has Harvey meandering inland in Texas over the weekend but then shifting towards Louisiana…

Cut 6 (11) “Bay”

Keim says the five to 15 inches of rain expected to fall in Louisiana could create problems as it falls on already saturated soil. He says the storm is expected to stall and remain at least tropical storm strength into Wednesday.

Cut 7 (10)  “right now”

Keim says Harvey will have immediate impacts on Louisiana with already storm surge and high surf. He says this will be the first category three hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Wilma in October 2005.

Cut 8 (09) “forever”

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Hurricane Harvey could push prices up at the pump. Don Redman with AAA says refineries are shutting down as they prepare for the storm, which could drive up gasoline prices.

Cut 9 (07)  “are currently”

The current statewide average for a gallon of gasoline is $2.14. Redman says gulf coast refineries could be down for a week or more, which will hurt supply. He says gas prices are always subject to change during hurricane season, and this is the kind of storm everyone dreads approaching the coast.

Cut 10 (12) “15 cents”

Redman says prices haven’t jumped up yet, but they could by next week. He says we’ve seen record high demand for gas this summer. Ample supply from refineries has kept gas prices relatively low. He says this is why AAA encourages drivers to top off their tanks anytime a named storm is in the Gulf.

Cut 11 (09) “go up”

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The rice crop in south Louisiana is in jeopardy as Hurricane Harvey is expected to drop lots of rain on the Bayou State. LSU AgCenter Rice Specialist Dr. Dustin Harrell says 90 to 95-percent of this year’s rice has been harvested but the storm could complicate the remaining crop in the fields.

Cut 12 (11) “rice”

Harrell says farmers are rushing to harvest what’s left before Harvey pounds the state with rain. He says this year’s crop was already subpar and extreme flooding could cause additional problems with the new crop…

Cut 13 (08) “there too”

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American Humane will show off a new rescue vehicle in Walker this Saturday. The 50-foot vehicle is designed to rescue animals during disasters like floods and hurricanes. President and CEO Robin Ganzert says a generous donation covered the cost of the vehicle.

Cut 14 (09) “for Louisiana”

Ganzert says the truck can handle multiple types of disaster responses. She says it carries equipment and supplies, and it can shelter up to 100 animals. She says it can even house rescue responders.

Cut 15 (08) “rescuing animals”

Ganzert says the truck can also serve as a wellness clinic because it has a medical space. That’s what the vehicle will be doing Saturday in Walker from 9 am to 2 pm at Z-Time Fitness. She invites everyone out to get your pet healthy and happy for the fall season.

Cut 16  (08)  “free of charge”

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A southwest Louisiana mother won $2 million in the Powerball. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The state Department of Education is seeking to train 500 teachers to become mentors for aspiring educators. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Texas is bracing for the landfall of major hurricane, but Louisiana is not of the woods. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana is home to the third worse drivers in the nation, according to a report by SmartAsset. Vice President of Financial Education AJ Smith says they looked at vehicle fatalities, insurance rates, and Google searches to determine the rankings. She says the Bayou State did not fare well in any of those categories.

Cut 4  (08) “of that factor”

Smith says at 86 percent, Louisiana has the 16^th lowest rate of insured drivers in the country. Smith says high rates of uninsured drivers can drive insurance costs up for other motorists. She adds a lot of Louisianans are looking up speeding tickets and parking tickets on the web, which could mean they’re accumulating tickets at higher rates.

Cut 5  (08)  “parking tickets”

Eight of the top ten states with the worst drivers are in the South. Florida and Mississippi were the only states that had worse drivers than Louisiana. Hulliberger says there was one area where Louisiana did not rank in the bottom.

Cut 6 (10) “in the country”

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A southwest Louisiana mother of four is now a millionaire after winning $2 million in the Powerball. The woman works as an assistant manager at the Tiger Mart in Lake Arthur. Store manager April Lemaire says if anyone deserves to win, it’s her.

Cut 7 (09)  “giving person”

The Tiger Mart will receive a bonus of 20-thousand dollars for selling the ticket. Lemaire says the whole community is thrilled for the winning player. The woman from Jefferson Davis Parish actually picked her own numbers, and five of them matched Wednesday night’s drawing.

Cut 8 (11) “happy for her”

Lemaire says the assistant manager plans to keep working at the convenience store. She says the lucky winner doesn’t have any plans yet for how she will spend the money, but it will likely go towards helping her kids.

Cut 9 (09)  “she actually won”

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Louisiana Department of Education is seeking to train over 500 Louisiana educators so they can serve as mentors to future teachers. Assistant Superintendent of Talent Hannah Diestsch says the Bayou State is changing the way teachers learn how to teach. She says the new method will be similar to how medical students become doctors.

Cut 10 (11) “teacher”

Diestsch says the residency takes place along with a mentor who can guide the aspiring teacher’s development and growth. She says these expert teachers will receive a one thousand dollar stipend and are selected by their school district.

Cut 11 (11) “resources”

Mentors have to be nominated by their school systems by September 8^th and training will begin this fall.  The plan is to train an additional two-thousand teachers over the next two years. Dietsch says they’re looking for passionate teachers.

Cut 12 (10) “most useful”

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What will Hurricane Harvey bring to Louisiana? Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the storm is expected to deliver Texas damaging winds and life-threatening flooding. Carboni says Louisiana is also in for wet weather.

Cut 13 (11) “storm surge”

Carboni says Cameron and Vermilion Parishes will see the minor storm surge. The state is on guard for potential flooding statewide. Carboni says large rainfall totals are expected in southwest Louisiana.

Cut 14 (10) “at this point”

The forecast track from the National Hurricane Center calls for Harvey to make landfall either Friday night or Saturday morning and then stall at the middle of the Texas coast through the weekend. Carboni says several models show Harvey will eventually turn east towards the Bayou State.

Cut 15 (12) “or storm surge”

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The Saints are set to the play the Texans in exhibition game number three. Quarterback Drew Brees is expected to get his first action of the preseason and he’s excited to finally play in a game…

Cut 16 (19) “that I’m proud of”

Veteran running back Adrian Peterson is expected to make his preseason debut as well. Brees says he’s been impressed with the future Hall of Famer during camp…

Cut 17 (15)  “right after”

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The LSU Tigers will count on a lot of young players during 2017 season. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda says his young linebackers Tyler Taylor, Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips strive to be great…

Cut 18 (19) “love to see” 

Aranda says he’s also impressed with freshman K’Lavon Chaisson’s pass rushing abilities…

Cut 19 (23) “do that”