Today the Public Service Commission will hear Entergy’s plan to build a new $869-million natural gas powered plant in St. Charles parish. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The Salvation Army warehouse in Lafayette was burglarized, and donations are needed so they can continue to assist flood victims. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Free counseling is available to children and youth struggling with depression after the recent floods, thanks to a partnership between FEMA and the state Department of Health. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Today the Public Service Commission will discuss Entergy’s plan to build a new natural gas powered facility in St. Charles parish. Commissioner Eric Skrmetta says Entergy is seeking to build an 869-million state of the art generator, so they can retire several older plants.

cut 4  (08)  “more efficient”

Skrmetta says Entergy claims their proposed facility will use natural gas more efficiently than other plants. The utility company says that the new St. Charles plant would save about $1.3 billion during the first 30 years of the facility’s operation. But he says Entergy customers will foot part of the bill for construction.

Cut 5  (09)  “a month”

Skrmetta says even with the new facility, there will be gaps in the demand for electricity in a few years. He says there is opposition to Entergy’s proposal from those who believe there may be other ways to produce power to meet customers’ demand without building an $869-million plant.

Cut 6 (09) “go in”

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The House Committee on Homeland Security meets today and will hear from FEMA, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, The Small Business Administration and the Department of Children and Family Services. Committee Chairman and Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says people want information on what options are available for flood victims.

CUT 7 (10)  “flood insurance”

The maximum disaster aid amount flood victims can receive from FEMA is 33-thousand dollars, but US Rep. Garret Graves says the highest he’s heard of is 8-thousand dollars. Foil hopes they can provide answers, so homeowners can start to see what their options are.

Cut 8 (09) “members” 

Foil hopes Congress will assist homeowners with additional funding, because what we have in place right now isn’t enough.

Cut 9 (08)  “the flooding”

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The Salvation Army in Lafayette was robbed, and the charity organization is trying to restock their supplies as they continue to assist flood victims in the area. Commanding Officer of the Lafayette Salvation Army, Maj. Mel James, says the thieves stole a variety of things from the warehouse.

Cut 10 (09) “of food” 2x

James says the items taken can be replaced, but the loss of food is the biggest problem. He says despite the crime, they are still trying to bring hot meals to flood victims in the Lafayette area.

cut 11 (09) “these folks”

James says monetary donations can be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 3504, Lafayette, and items can be dropped off at their location at 212 6^th Street in Lafayette. He says there are no security cameras in the building, but there were no signs of forced entry.

cut 12 (10) “the place”

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The state Department of Health is partnering with FEMA to offer free counseling to children and youth struggling with depression and anxiety after the recent floods. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health, Dr. Jim Hussey, says parents should be aware of strange behaviors their children may be exhibiting after this traumatic flood.

Cut 13 (11) “about this”

Hussey says children may appear aggressive, withdrawn, or hyperactive. He says it’s important to give these kids a sense of normalcy as much as possible, and parents should also model good behavior.

cut 14 (08)  “they’re safe”

Hussey says if parents notice these changes in their kids, they can call the Spirit Crisis Line at 866-310-7977. He says they can also take their children to a private practitioner or a state behavioral health clinic.

Cut 15 (08) “group therapy”

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Matt Viator era at ULM kicks off Saturday night at Malone Stadium in Monroe as the Warhawks hows the Southern Jaguars. The Jags were 6-5 in 2015 and Viator says they provide a good challenge for his team

Cut 16  (20)  “go along”

ULM is coming off a 2-and-11 campaign. The Warhawks defense will have a different look this season under defensive coordinator Mike Collins. Viator says there’s a lot of new guys on that side of the ball and he’s interested to see how that group plays

Cut 17 (17)  “this week”

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After a disappointing 2015 season, the Ragin Cajuns look to start 2016 with a big win over Boise State on Saturday afternoon at Cajun Field. Running back Elijah McGuire is back for UL Lafayette and he’s the only player in the naion with three-thousand yards rushing and one-thousand receiving yards during his career. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says they are expecting more big things from their senior…

Cut 18 (16) “our team”

Boise State’s quarterback is Brett Rypien. In the 10 games he played last season, the Broncos averaged 42 points a game. Hudspeth on how they plan to slow down Boise’s offense…

Cut 19 (16) “will be”

The Cajuns-Boise state game will kick-off at 11 AM. Hudspeth says it will be interesting to see how the Broncos can perform in the south Louisiana heat…

Cut 20 (18) “than anything”

The Governor’s Office announces 63-hundred people registered for the Shelter At Home Program during the first day of registration. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Two plane crash victims have been pulled from Lake Pontchartrain along with the aircraft’s wreckage. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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According to the Governor’s Office, 63-hundred people applied for the Shelter At Home Program on the first day of registration. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says the program awards up to $15-thousand for basic homes repairs, so people can get back into their homes as quickly as possible.

CUT 3 (11)  “taken care of”

Payer says people can apply at ShelterAtHome.la.gov or call 1-800-927-0216. She says the program will not repair someone’s home completely, but it will make it livable so families can come home while they continue making repairs.

CUT 4 (08)  “your rebuilding”

Payer says this program can be used with flood insurance, FEMA assistance, and SBA loans. She says the program is open to single-family owner-occupied homes. She says although this program will not work for everyone, she encourages all flood victims to apply.

CUT 5 (11)  “case basis”

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Tropical Depression 9 in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to become Tropical Storm Hermine by this evening. Alek Krautmann with the National Weather Service says right now the area of low pressure is not expected to have an impact on Louisiana, expect for high tides along the coast in southeast Louisiana.

CUT 6 (11) “Florida coast”

Krautmann says currently the tropical depression is moving at about 7 miles per hour to the north, northwest but later tonight we’ll see a gradual turn to the northeast. He says a ridge of high pressure is pushing it towards Florida.

CUT 7 (11) “Florida coast”

Krautmann says the current forecast anticipates this will remain a tropical storm as it moves toward Florida but the Hurricane Center brings it right up to 60 mile per hour strength before landfall on Thursday…

CUT 8 (07) “two days” 

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The state Department of Health has confirmed more mosquito-borne illnesses in Louisiana, including Zika and West Nile Virus. Louisiana Medical Director for the Center for Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch, says there have been 14 cases of West Nile Virus so far this year. But he says these cases are not flood related.

CUT 9 (08) “recent flooding”

Welch says right after the flood we see a decrease in mosquito populations because they drowned. But he says we could see more West Nile cases soon, as mosquitoes will come back in higher numbers because of all the standing water from the flood.

cut 10 (08)  “this point”

Welch says there have been three more cases of Zika in Louisiana, bringing the total number of cases to 26, and all of them are travel-related. He says local transmission of Zika is more likely in the parishes around Lake Pontchartrain. But he encourages all Louisianans to tip and toss.

Cut 11 (07) “and enviornment”

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The bodies of two missing people along with the plane wreckage of a small sightseeing plane were pulled out of Lake Pontchartrain this morning. The Cessna went down Saturday night and the Director of Aviation at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport Ben Morris says a large crane brought the bodies and aircraft out of the water…

cut 12 (10) “the accident”

Authorities have yet to identify the victims. But media reports say a passenger Briana Davis escaped and was rescued that night, but the pilot and Davis’ boyfriend, Baton Rouge tattoo artist and rapper Reginald Hilliard Jr., died in the crash. Morris says the couple chartered the airplane to do a nighttime tour of New Orleans Saturday night. He says the plane hit a thunderstorm during its approach to the airport.

Cut 13 (07)  “the water”

Morris says the cause of the crash is still under investigation. He says the families were very worried about recovering the bodies.

cut 14 (10)  “closure”

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Registration is now open for the Shelter At Home Program. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Today is the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and right now south Louisiana is experiencing a similar aftermath and recovery from flooding: Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The Governor’s Office announces registration is now open for the Shelter At Home Program. Communications Director Richard Carbo says people can register at ShelterAtHome.la.gov or call 1-800-927-0216. He says the program awards up to $15-thousand for home repairs so that people can get back into their homes quickly.

CUT 3 (07)  “this process”

Carbo says registering for FEMA does not register someone for the Shelter At Home Program. He encourages everyone to register for federal aid, but reminds people they need to apply for this program separately.

CUT 4 (09)  “dot gov”

Carbo says the program covers repairs such as removing debris, replacing water heaters, and making sure there’s a working bathroom and air conditioning. He says people who do not qualify for this program do have other options.

CUT 5 (10)  “for you”

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Tropical Depression 9 is in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and the latest forecast track has the developing storm moving towards Louisiana, but eventually turning and making landfall on Thursday in Florida. State climatologist Barry Keim says the National Hurricane Center has the depression strengthening into a tropical storm, but admits forecasters are having trouble predicting its intensity.

CUT 6 (08) “wide range”

Keim says the depression could become a tropical storm by the end of today or overnight and it should move into the center of the Gulf by tomorrow. He says it will basically be aimed at Louisiana, but a front should push the storm to the northeast.

CUT 7 (10) “Florida”

Keim says the storm is being steered by an area of high pressure. He says although it’s not certain yet, it looks like Tropical Depression 9 will be Florida’s problem, not Louisiana’s.

CUT 8 (09) “actually happen” 

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On this 11th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, many in south Louisiana recall similar storm recovery images of what can be seen on the roads today in the aftermath of The Great Flood of 2016. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was the Plaquemines Parish President in 2005. He says we’ve learned from Katrina that rushing cleanup is not a good idea…:

CUT 9 (11) “back up”

Overall, at least 1,245 people died in Hurricane Katrina and subsequent floods, making it the deadliest US hurricane since the 1928. 13 fatalities have been confirmed following the recent flooding, and Nungesser says it’s incredible that number isn’t higher…:

cut 10 (10)  “remarkably well”

Nungesser feels that FEMA is doing a great job this time around of getting to people quickly and providing information needed on what steps to take to make the rebuilding process go as smooth as possible. He says another thing that people can learn from Katrina just by looking at the affected parishes, is how possible it is to come back stronger than ever…:

Cut 11 (10) “after Katrina”

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Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain announces pets that were lost in the flood are being moved from the shelter at the River Center to a new shelter at the Dixon Correctional Institute in Baton Rouge. He says the move comes as a result of a donation from the Humane Society.

cut 12 (10) “at Dixon”

Strain says the River Center shelter was for short-term housing of these pets, and the new shelter will be better for long term care, as there will be a vet hospital on site.

Cut 13 (11)  “there daily”

Strain says shelter residents will still be able to see their pets once they move to the new pet shelter. He says the Department of Transportation will offer rides everyday beginning at 9 am.

cut 14 (07)  “their pets”

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Two people are dead, including a firefighter, after a party bus driven by an illegal citizen slams into several vehicles on Interstate 10 near LaPlace. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Registration information will be announced today for the Shelter At Home Program. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (26) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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There was a huge population shift from New Orleans to Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina and many are concerned that something similar will happen after these historic floods. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Two people are dead and over 30 people injured after a party bus driven by an illegal resident smashed into a fire truck and other vehicles on I-10 in St. John the Baptist Parish near LaPlace. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey says the bus hit a fire truck that responded to an earlier single vehicle wreck…

cut 4  (09)  “Toyota Camery”

Matey says one of the fatal victims was District Chief Spencer Chauvin with the St. John the Baptist Fire Department…

Cut 5  (12)  “interstate”

The bus also hit two other vehicles during the crash. A passenger in of those vehicles was also killed, 21-year-old Jermaine Starr of Moss Point, Mississippi. Matey says the driver of the bus did not have a driver’s license and faces several charges, including negligent homicide…

Cut 6 (10) “country illegally”

Matey the passengers in the bus were headed to the Baton Rouge area seeking work in the flood recovery. Two people, including another fire fighter, suffered critical injuries. The other injuries have been described as minor to moderate.

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The Governor’s Office will announce today where flood victims can go to register for the Shelter At Home program. Julie Baxter Payer says this program seeks to get people back into their own homes as soon as possible.

CUT 7 (09)  “as possible”

Payer says people whose homes had less than two feet of water in them will be eligible, but applications will be assessed on a case by case basis. She says the program awards up to $15-thousand for basic home repairs.

Cut 8 (11) “that program” 

Payer says this program can be used in conjunction with FEMA assistance, flood insurance, and SBA loans. She says applying for federal aid does not register someone for Shelter At Home.

Cut 9 (09)  “this program”

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Today is the 11 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and some who lost their homes in Katrina are once again dealing with another flood. Trauma psychologist with LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Jennifer Hughes worked at shelter in Baton Rouge earlier this month and spoke with several people, who moved to Baton Rouge and Lafayette after Katrina and they are once again re-living another disaster.

Cut 10 (09) “of nowhere”

Hughes says the images of this latest flood could be sparking symptoms of PTSD from current New Orleans area residents who are having flashbacks and hypervigilance. She says if anyone feels depressed, the first thing they need to do is reach out to family and friends.

cut 11 (08) “can help”

Hughes says the Capital Area Human Services District provides services to people dealing with PTSD, and community support will also help. She says for those who are personally impacted by these two devastating and life changing floods, this can be traumatizing.

cut 12 (07) “from this”

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After Hurricane Katrina there was a huge population shift from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, will we see this trend again after the Great Flood of 2016? Demographer Greg Rigamer expects flood victims to try and rebuild where they lived prior to the flood.

Cut 13 (08) “your home”

Rigamer says in the short term, we’ll see an influx of workers, some will be from out of state. But Louisiana won’t see any population gain because the oil industry continues to struggle.

cut 14 (07)  “either”

Livingston Parish was the hardest hit by the flood with close to 90-percent of the homes in the parish suffered flood damage. Rigamer says the recovery of Livingston will depend largely on what kind of government assistance flood victims can receive.

Cut 15 (08) “the community”

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Game week arrives for the 5th ranked LSU Tigers as they are set to face Wisconsin in Green Bay at historic Lambeau Field. It’s the first time the legendary venue will host a college football game featuring two Division One teams. LSU safety Jamal Adams is excited to play in a stadium that has been home to some of the best players in football..

Cut 16  (14)  “leave our mark”

When Packer players score touchdowns at their home stadium, they leap into the stands and celebrate with their fans. It’s called the “Lambeau Leap” and Adams says he might do the Lambeau Leap if he returns an interception for a touchdown..

Cut 17 (11)  “out of me”

Wisconsin was 10-3 in 2015. The Badgers are not known for their passing attack, but their ground game is traditionally one of the best in college football. Adams calls Wisconsin a smart, well coached football team…

Cut 18 (12) “dialed in”

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There’s one more week left in the preseason and there’s still a lot to work on for the Saints. The team fell to 0-3 in exhibition action with a 27-14 loss to Pittsburgh on Friday. Coach Sean Payton says the play of offensive and defensive lines has him most worried..

Cut 19 (12) “very concerning”

The Saints have one more preseason game and that’s Thursday night at home against Baltimore. Payton says they have two weeks left before the first regular season game and there’s still time to correct the mistakes that are being made…

Cut 20 (19) “one game”

The massive flooding not only displaced thousands of families but ruined hundreds of millions of dollars worth of crops. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Don Molino”

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If you had uninsured property destroyed by floodwaters this year, you’re entitled to a refund of the state sales tax on those items. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge was a shelter for displaced flood victims and now one of its properties near the movie studios has become a multi-agency disaster warehouse. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says people making large donations should call ahead of time to make sure that someone is there to help unload.

CUT 3 (07)  “with them”

Steele says people can call 225-800-2227 to arrange a drop off any day between 9am and 5pm. He says they really need snow shovels, which are good for removing debris, but they are accepting a wide variety of items.

CUT 4 (07)  “a baby”

Steele says they also need blankets, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries, and new kitchen items. He says right now they do not need any new or used clothes.

CUT 5 (10)  “what’s needed”

Steele says people can find a complete list of needed items at emergency.la.gov, as well as an address to ship donations.

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Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies are now in the southern part of the state to assist officers after the historic flooding. Lt. Dave Faulk says they’ve been helping throughout the disaster by bringing in amphibious vehicles and boats. He says they want to help their fellow officers during a difficult time.

CUT 6 (10) “lost everything”

The flooding has impacted the homes of deputies in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes, with many patrol cars flooded out. Faulk says they are really hurting for manpower right now…

CUT 7 (08) “smoothly”

Faulk says the deputies will patrol areas where there has been looting.

CUT 8 (06) “in place” 

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The historic flooding in the southern part of the state not only destroyed thousands of homes but greatly affected the agriculture business. Ag Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain says farming is a 13 billion dollar industry in Louisiana and 28 to 30 parishes were hurt by the massive rainfall.

CUT 9 (10) “soybeans”

Strain says those are preliminary numbers and expects total losses to be anywhere from $150 to $200 million, if the rain stops now. He says some farmers have crop insurance, but not all commodities or parishes allow insurance.

cut 10 (08)  “coverage”

Strain says livestock and crawfish are not covered under crop insurance. He says they don’t have the exact numbers on how many livestock died during the flooding, but they have aircraft working to connect lost livestock with their owners. The commissioner says the flooding has also caused a severe increase in the mosquito population.

Cut 11 (11) “encephalomyelitis”

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If you had uninsured property that was destroyed by floodwaters this year, you’re entitled to a refund of the state sales tax on those items. State Treasurer John Kennedy says this applies to the parishes that were federally declared disasters during the March and August floods…:

cut 12 (12) “property”

To learn more, visit latreasury.com and click on Sales Tax Disaster Relief. Kennedy says it may not seem like much, but every little bit helps and the money will really add up…:

Cut 13 (09)  “a lawnmower”

Claims should be filed with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Kennedy says the secretary of that department can waive documentation requirements if original receipts are not available. He says right now people need all the help they can get…:

cut 14 (05)  “little bit helps”

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Tropical Wave 99-L remains poorly organized as it moves toward south Florida, but forecasters are concerned it could possibly develop into a named storm if it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Alek Krautmann is with the National Weather Service in Slidell…

cut 15 (09) “of Mexico”

It’s possible the tropical wave could fall apart. But Krautmann says it’s worth keeping an eye on, especially if the cluster of thunderstorms can stay together as it continues to move in northwest direction…

cut 16 (11) “tropical storm “

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The LSU AgCenter says crawfish farmers will have to wait until the harvest this winter to see how much the flood impacted them. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The dean of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation does not believe that previous votes against a Hurricane Sandy relief package will prevent an aid package for Louisiana flood victims. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Army Corps of Engineers says the Comite River Diversion Project in the East Baton Rouge parish would not have reduced flooding in south Louisiana as much as some people think. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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State agencies are severely understaffed at a time when people need them the most. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says during tough budget times, there were employment cutbacks at the Department of Children and Family Services and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, because Louisiana hasn’t seen a hurricane in several years.

cut 4  (09)  “an emergency”

Walsworth says Louisiana is the most disaster prone state in the nation, and we need to be prepared for these kinds of events. He says they may need to look into training state retirees in case of emergencies.

Cut 5  (09)  “of them”

Walsworth says people are still waiting on disaster food stamps, and he’s worried about kids who are not in school, because if they were, they could get at least one good meal every day. He says DCFS is having trouble opening DSNAP locations because many of them are working at shelters.

Cut 6 (09) “the evacuees”

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After the agriculture businesses took a $110 million hit from the flood, crawfish farmers will have to wait to see how much their harvest was affected. LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialist, Mark Shirley, says some fields that were only flooded for a day or two should be alright. But he says fields that had more water could see some losses.

CUT 7 (10)  “the field”

Shirley says right now female crawfish are usually burrowing down in the fields to lay their eggs. But he says the flood waters may have pushed some of them out.

Cut 8 (08) “in the water” 

Crawfish began laying eggs in late August and continue through November or early December. Shirley says farmers need to get the water out of the fields to keep predators away when the eggs start to hatch.

Cut 9 (08)  “comes from”

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US Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and the administrator from the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet say the federal government is committed to the flood recovery in Louisiana. The two of them toured damaged areas of the Baton Rouge area yesterday. Contreras-Sweet reminds flood victims they can apply for low interest loans to repair their damaged home or business…

Cut 10 (08) “more manageable”

Castro says he supports the temporary housing solutions offered by Governor John Bel Edwards. He says the federal government learned many lessons from Katrina, which has led to better produced manufactured homes for displaced residents…

cut 11 (07) “safety features”

A FEMA spokesperson says manufactured homes have arrived in Baton Rouge and will be set up soon. Castro hopes a lot of the flood victims can take advantage of the shelter at home program, which gives a homeowner a chance to live in their residence as repairs to their home continue…

cut 12 (06) “stay there”

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Some people have suggested that if the Comite River Diversion Project in East Baton Rouge Parish had been completed, the flooding wouldn’t have been so severe. But the Army Corps of Engineers says that’s not the case. Deputy District Commander Mark Wingate says the project would only have helped a small part of the affected region.

Cut 13 (09) “in place”

Wingate says the project would have helped on the Comite River, but not the Amite or other rivers in the basin that also flooded. He says it would have reduced flooding in areas around Joor Road, but not very much in Denham Springs or farther south.

cut 14 (10)  “to inches”

The Comite project would cost upwards of $220 million. Wingate says what they need is a system wide approach to prevent flooding in the region. He says flood mitigation projects are also needed along the Amite River and Bayou Manchac.

Cut 15 (09) “or downstream”

FEMA housing units are returning to Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Over 120-thousand people registered for disaster assistance and federal and state agencies are having trouble keeping up with the demand. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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FEMA owned temporary housing units are returning to Louisiana to provide housing for flood victims who are in the process of rebuilding their homes. Governor John Bel Edwards says these trailer units are different from what we say after Hurricane Katrina.

CUT 3 (10)  “up better”

Edwards says these trailers are similar to actual mobile homes. He says flood victims who suffered over 17-thousand dollars in damages to their homes are eligible for a trailer.

CUT 4 (06)  “secure”

Edwards says the trailers will be secured on concrete blocks and not on wheels. The governor says he’s heard that FEMA representatives are checking to see if the FEMA units can fit on a person’s flood-damaged property and they’ll also have multiple trailers on a commercial lot.

CUT 5 (10)  “transportation”

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Triple-A is warning motorists looking to purchase a used car to beware of flood damaged vehicles for sale. Spokesperson Don Redman says usually damaged cars are quickly moved farther away from the devastated areas as early as one week after the disaster. He says be careful when buying a car off of Craigslist or resale sites.

CUT 6 (10) “of lots”

Redman advises people to use their sense of smell to detect any wet or musty odors inside the car. He also says to check for new carpeting and signs of dirt or mud.

CUT 7 (10) “the inside”

Redman says always get a Carfax report or some kind of vehicle history, because it can indicate where the car is coming from. He says the potential damage from the flooded vehicles may not be obvious in the short term but…

CUT 8 (11) “short circuiting” 

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Over 120-thousand people have applied for federal aid following the historic flood in south Louisiana, and many are encountering problems trying to get their assistance. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says she doesn’t like the idea of sending people to multiple locations, possibly across town, to meet with FEMA and apply for disaster food stamps.

CUT 9 (11) “another place”

Deputy Director for Disaster Recovery with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Mark Riley, says they are trying to get people out of their cars and shelters as quickly as possible. He says there are already some manufactured homes in the state after the March flood in north Louisiana, but it will be a while before they get these flood victims moved into them.

cut 10 (10)  “to do”

DSNAP has been rolled out in three phases, and many victims are still not able to receive their food stamps. Flood victims in East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Lafayette can’t get theirs until next week. Barrow is not happy about the delay.

Cut 11 (08) “to eat”

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Weather experts say the disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean is still a fairly disorganized system, and there are many unknowns about the so called, “Invest 99L.” State Climatologist Barry Keim says conditions with this system are expected to become more favorable by the weekend…

cut 12 (08) “hurricane center”
Keim says if this storm does develop, it would probably enter the Gulf of Mexico Sunday or Monday. He says it is too early to speculate on what specific impacts might occur

Cut 13 (11)  “this thing”
Keim says this is kind of scary considering everything south Louisiana is already going through right now with the flooding. He says it’s still a ways out and things could change anytime…:

cut 14 (07)  “our problem”

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Governor John Bel Edwards visits Acadiana today to meet with officials about recovering after the historic flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Just five months after seeing residents of north Louisiana deal with a historic flood, south Louisianans are going through the same thing, but in very different ways. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has announced the state’s plan for getting flood victims out of shelters as quickly as possible. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Acadiana today to speak with local officials about the recovery process form the historic flooding. One of his stops will be in the town of Youngsville. Mayor Ken Ritter says the flood devastated the Lafayette parish town. He says the silver lining is that they have a strong community, and what was a rescue mission has moved quickly into recovery.

cut 4  (07)  “hardest hit areas”

Ritter says over 600 homes were affected by the storm, and most of the affected areas are not in flood zones. He says this poses a serious problem for many of their young residents who didn’t have flood insurance.

Cut 5  (09)  “should purchase”

Ritter says their focus now is helping those people without insurance who may have just lost their first home. He says the community is coming together to help these people rebuild, and they’re hoping for more federal assistance.

Cut 6 (09) “their feet”

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The Louisiana Senate’s Homeland Security Committee holds a meeting today to get an update on recovery efforts two weeks after the floods. State Sen. Bodi White of Central says several agencies will meet and discuss the next steps.

CUT 7 (10)  “National Guard”

White says the public is welcome to attend the meeting or watch the broadcast online at the Louisiana Senate website. He says they will not take public comment today but plans to have representatives with the Small Business Association at their meeting next week.

Cut 8 (07) “you know” 

White says this hearing will hopefully shed light on what worked and didn’t work during this disaster. He says the more information they can push out to the public, the better.

Cut 9 (10)  “local information”

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Louisiana has seen two historic floods just five months apart, and though similar in nature, the devastation is vastly different. Rev. Allison Sauls was living in Monroe during the March flood, and recently moved to Lafayette just before the flood in south Louisiana. She says the flooding in the south was more widespread than it was up north.

Cut 10 (10) “this go around”

Sauls says up north there was more flash flooding from the rain, whereas in the south it was hard to tell if the water was coming from the rain or the rivers. She says it’s been incredible to see folks who are still recovering up north coming to help people in south Louisiana.

cut 11 (07) “months ago”

Sauls says much of the flooding in north Louisiana was in rural areas. But she says the southern flood was so expansive it pushed water into more urban areas, especially in the Baton Rouge region.

cut 12 (09) “it wasn’t”

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Governor John Bel Edwards announces multiple options on how the state plans to house displaced flood victims. The governor says one option is manufactured homes for those homeowners who received extensive damage to their months that will take months to repair.

Cut 13 (11) “who need them”

Edwards says homeowners whose home sustained more than $17-thousand in damage are eligible, as well as renters whose rental was destroyed. He says the Shelter At Home Program is new to Louisiana and seeks to get people back into their own homes quickly.

cut 14 (07)  “and habitable”

Edwards says the Shelter at Home program pays up to $15-thousand for plumbing and electrical inspections, removing debris, making sure there is a working bathroom and air conditioning, and providing small refrigerators and microwaves.

Cut 15 (08) “overall repairs”

Edwards says the program will be open on Monday, and they will announce then how people can apply.

Kaplan Senator Jonathan Perry wants to set the record straight about the alleged comments he made about regulating the Cajun Navy. Halen Doughty has the story…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank lost nearly one million pounds of food as it took on four feet of water during the flooding. Emelie Gunn has more on their recovery…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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It was recently reported that Kaplan Senator Jonathan Perry wants to file legislation that would create more red tape for the “Cajun Navy” during emergencies. But Perry says that’s not the case. In an interview this morning with KPEL Radio in Lafayette, the senator set the record straight that he wants to help those volunteers.

CUT 3 (11)  “law enforcement”

Perry says he just wants to clear up the misconceptions about what he said. He says bills can’t even be filed until next year, and if and when he does file this legislation, it would not require a fee or tax to be a part of the Cajun Navy.

CUT 4 (10)  “the waiver”

Perry says after WWL-TV and The Hayride wrongfully reported that he wanted to regulate the Cajun Navy, calls and emails came in attacking not only him, but his family as well. He says if anyone disagrees with what he said, that’s fine, but he wants people to get the facts straight first and leave his family out of it.

CUT 5 (09)  “them alone”

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The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank received more than four feet of water, lost a million pounds of food, along with the majority of its equipment during the Great Flood of 2016. President and CEO Mike Manning says with the hard work and donations from the Salvation Army and other food banks, they’re back online distributing food…

CUT 6 (08) “the problem”

Manning says other food banks from across the country have stepped up to donate during this tough time. He says right now, agencies from Tennessee and Texas are here to help.

CUT 7 (10) “stints”

It’s estimated it will take more than one million dollars to clean their facility. Manning says the warehouse is now completely gutted and it will take a few weeks to dry out and sanitize the facility but they’re lucky to have multiple satellite locations.

CUT 8 (10) “coming in” 

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The City of Central was hit hard by the Great Flood of 2016, with 90-percent of its residents taking on water in their homes. Mayor Jr. Shelton says 9-thousand out of 11-thousand homes were affected. He says complete subdivisions are just devastated and now Central residents are trying to rebuild.

CUT 9 (11) “destroyed”

Shelton says Central is a very resilient city and even after losing everything, people are still helping each other with the cleanup. But, he says his residents are working on adrenaline and he’s worried that will soon run out…

cut 10 (09)  “tiring out”

Shelton says up until today, people have had trouble signing up for FEMA assistance, mostly because they are stuck in their homes still in the cleanup process. But now he says they’ve set up a good communication line with FEMA.

Cut 11 (10) “claims” 2x

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Hurricane forecasters are still monitoring the tropical disturbance called Invest 99 that’s developing near Puerto Rico. Todd Kimberlain with National Hurricane Center says they sent a plane today to get a closer look at the storm.

cut 12 (09) “not quite yet”

Kimberlain says there’s a high probability that this area of low pressure can develop into Tropical Storm Hermine.

Cut 13 (07)  “few days” 2x

Kimberlain says Invest 99 is moving in the direction towards the Bahamas. Some computer medals suggest the tropical wave could make its way into the Gulf, but Kimberlain says it’s way too early to guess where it will go.

cut 14 (11)  “end up”

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The Louisiana School Board Association is encouraging people to donate to aid flood damaged schools. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards gave President Obama a list of requests that the state needs in order to recover from the Great Flood of 2016…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Debris cleanup in flooded neighborhoods should move more quickly now because of an order signed by the Department of Environmental Quality. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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First Lady Donna Edwards is working with the Louisiana School Board Association to assist flood damaged schools with repairs and supplies. LSBA Executive Director Scott Richard says at this point, about 20 schools were severely damaged during the rainstorm…

cut 4  (10)  “Lafayette Parish”

Visit the LSBA Fund for Restoring Schools GoFundMe page to donate. Richard says mold in the schools is an issue but the biggest problem is teachers and school employees are struggling to get back up and running when it comes to an actual place to live. He says they created the campaign to help local school districts.

Cut 5  (11)  “basic supplies”

The East Baton Rouge School System and Central Community Schools are set to resume classes after September 6^th, but Livingston Parish has not made a decision yet. Richard says they’ve raised right about 8-thousand dollars over the last few days. He says it’s unfortunate that we’re losing instructional time but they understand how many families have been affected.

Cut 6 (10) “learning environment”

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After President Obama visited Louisiana, he left with a better understanding of this 1,000 year flood and a letter from Governor John Bel Edwards asking for help. The Governor’s Communications Director, Richard Carbo, says while seeing the devastation first-hand is important, he doesn’t want to discredit what the federal government has provided to Louisiana.

CUT 7 (08)  “weeks ago”

Carbo says Governor Edwards gave the President of a list of aid requests that includes assistance for flood victims and money to improve flood protection along the Comite River. He says Louisiana is also looking to reduce the costs the state will have to absorb for responding to the disaster.

Cut 8 (08) “the cost” 

Over 115-thousand south Louisiana residents have signed up federal disaster assistance. Many of these storms victims had significant damage to their home and do not have flood insurance. Carbo says the President’s visit is part of the dialogue on how to help these individuals out.

Cut 9 (08)  “be available”

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Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Chuck Carr Brown signs an emergency order that’s designed to expedite the process of cleaning up debris in flooded neighborhoods in the 20-parish area affected by the recent severe weather. DEQ spokesperson Greg Langley says the order expands the range of debris that can be accepted by certain landfills.

Cut 10 (09) “like that”

The emergency order ends September 30. The debris removal process has started in some areas. Langley says many people also lost appliances like refrigerators and washing machines and he explains how they will be handled.

cut 11 (08) “disposed of”

This is the first time since Hurricane Katrina that DEQ has expanded what is allowed in landfills. Langley says they hope that if there are more places to take debris, it will speed up the cleanup process before the debris becomes a health hazard.

cut 12 (10) “unhealthy”

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Many are hoping that President Obama’s visit to Baton Rouge will help Louisiana get more federal funding quickly. Republican US Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s good that the visit shined a national spotlight on this disaster, but now we need to see the follow through.

Cut 13 (09) “projects”

Cassidy says Congress will vote on additional funding for Louisiana when they convene for the fall session after Labor Day. He says what they need now is an exact dollar amount from the state.

cut 14 (08)  “they will”

The Governor’s Office hopes to have those dollar figures by the beginning of September. Cassidy says there have been thousands of people across the country affected by natural disasters, and Congress wants to help them all.

Cut 15 (07) “disease”

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