Film industry professionals are looking for jobs helping flood victims. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

================

More than 6 million dollars has been raised through over 5-thousand GoFundMe campaigns to assist flood victims. Don Molino has more…

CUT 2 (25)  “I’m Don Molino”

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Professionals in Louisiana’s film industry are available to help in the recovery process from the historic flood. President of Film Production Capital, Will French, says the state’s film industry is down 85-percent, which means carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other skilled workers are unemployed.

CUT 3 (10)  “rebuilding process”

French says this is a way to help both flood victims and film industry workers. He says unless these people get work, they could leave the state to work on film projects in Georgia or California.

CUT 4 (12)  “local victims”

French says it’s not just people, they have resources too. He says one catering truck on a film set can serve 5-thousand meals a day, and there are currently 4 catering trucks sitting idle in Louisiana. He says they don’t want to see a repeat of what happened after Katrina.

CUT 5 (08)  “is now”

French says people who want to work and companies looking for employees can email film.helping.la@gmail.com.

==================================================

Over 5-thousand GoFundMe campaigns have been created to aid victims of this historic flooding raising more than six million dollars. CEO of GoFundMe Rob Solomon says money is being donated from all around the country and the world. He says this is the largest U.S. natural disaster seen on the GoFundMe platform.

CUT 6 (08) “earthquakes”

GoFundMe campaigns to rescue animals from the flood waters have raised 132-thousand dollars. Solomon says he’s seen the media mention that the Louisiana flood hasn’t received the attention it deserves but…

CUT 7 (10) “overwhelming”

Solomon says First Lady Donna Edwards is helping to raise money for teachers who lost everything in their classrooms. He also says celebrities, like the Voice’s Meg Linsey, have created GoFundMe campaigns.

CUT 8 (10) “each other” 

==================================================

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco understands what state and local officials are dealing with as the recovery has begun from the devastating flood that inundated thousands of homes without flood insurance. She says similar to Hurricane Katrina, we are once again dealing with a serious housing dilemma.

CUT 9 (09) “occurs”

Blanco is concerned the lack of housing for flood victims could result in people moving out of the state to live with family members elsewhere. She says even those with flood insurance are struggling.

cut 10 (11)  “a shock”

Blanco says this will not be an overnight recovery and rebuilding will cost billions of dollars. She says it will be very hard for flood victims to repair their homes without some kind of government assistance.

Cut 11 (11) “shortage”

===================================================

The National Hurricane Center is keeping its eye on three tropical systems in the Atlantic, and one of them has the potential of getting into the Gulf of Mexico. State climatologist Barry Keim says tropical storm Gaston is not a threat to the coastal US at this time and Fiona in the mid-Atlantic is fizzling out, but another disturbance, called Invest 99 is worth keeping an eye on.

cut 12 (10) “a possibility”

Keim says the storm appears to be heading over Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. But he says it is possible that Invest 99 could move into the Gulf.

Cut 13 (09)  “some watching” 

Keim says it’s not a surprise to see the Atlantic heating up with tropical activity as we are in the peak of the hurricane season. And he says all the conditions are right for major storms to develop.

cut 14 (07)  “south Louisiana”

==============================================

President Barack Obama spent the day touring a flood damage neighborhood in East Baton Rouge parish that were inundated by the flood waters. In a press conference held in front of a pile of debris, the President shared the heartwarming stories he heard of neighbors helping neighbors. He says Louisiana will have all the federal support it needs for as long as it takes.

cut 15 (11) “are rebuilt”

The Commander in Chief says FEMA is continuing to work around the clock to find temporary housing for those that have been displaced. He says when Congress gets back in session, they will look at how to help Louisiana long term, but the state has already received millions in federal assistance.

cut 16 (10) “payments”

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The Humane Society of Louisiana is still working to rescue animals that were lost in the flood and reunite them with their owners. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Baton Rouge today to see some of the damage from the Great Flood of 2016. Don Molino has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

Congressman Garret Graves says the first order of business when Congress returns in September is to meet the unmet needs to those who lost everything in the floods. Emelie Gunn has more on his plans…

Cut 3 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Homes and vehicles were not the only things lost in the recent flood, as the LSU AgCenter reports hundreds of thousands of acres of crops were lost. Kurt Guidry with the AgCenter says the total value of crops lost is about $110 million.

cut 4  (12)  “sweet potatoes”

Guidry says soybeans crops had about $46 million in yield losses, and rice wasn’t far behind at $33 million in losses. He says it could be a while before we know exactly how much farmers lost in their yield because of the flood.

Cut 5  (09)  “this damage”

Guidry says about $3 million worth of sugarcane will have to be replanted, and it’s still not clear what the livestock losses are. He says during the flooding in north Louisiana this spring, ranchers lost upwards of 500 to 600 cattle.

Cut 6 (07) “latest event”

_______________________________________________

President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Louisiana today to see the devastation from the flood first hand. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says from a political standpoint, it would have been better if the President had come sooner.

CUT 7 (09)  “do anything”

Cross says right now the real question is if Congress will give Louisiana more federal support. He says the best thing that could come out of this visit is for Mr. Obama to convince Congress to help flood victims get back on their feet.

Cut 8 (10) “that regard” 

According to the White House the President will get a first-hand look at the devastating flooding, hear from local officials and tell the people of Louisiana that the American people will be with them as they rebuild. Cross says voters who like the President may be glad that he came. But he says other will not be as thrilled to see the Commander in Chief.

Cut 9 (12)  “Mr. President”

___________________________________________________________

The Humane Society of Louisiana is partnering with animal shelters around the country to help rescue and find homes for animals that were left behind when the flood waters rose. H-S-L Executive Director, Jeff Dorson, says they are still doing animal rescues in Livingston parish.

Cut 10 (09) “and recover”

Dorson says they’ve also teamed up with Livingston Parish Animal Shelter, and people can call or come by to see if their animal may have been rescued. He says they’re doing everything they can to reunite pets with their owners.

cut 11 (08) “their animal”

Dorson says they are looking for people who want to volunteer or shelter animals. He says people can find out more and make monetary donations at HumaneLA.org.

cut 12 (10) “help everybody”

_______________________________________________________

Congressman Garret Graves says once Congress returns next month, first order of business is to address the unmet needs of the property owners whose homes were flooded and didn’t have flood insurance. He says in order for our community to recover there needs to be an assistance package to help those affected.

Cut 13 (08) “this size”

Graves says if these flood victims end up owing more on their house than it’s worth, they could eventually be on a government poverty program. He says they are working on legislation that could help homeowners who lost everything.

cut 14 (08)  “core needs”

Graves admits it may be difficult to get a financial aid package approved because 3 members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation voted against a Hurricane Sandy relief package. The congressman plans to speak to the president today about financial aid for flood victims, local businesses, schools, plus flood protection from the area.

Cut 15 (05) “watershed”

Flood victims who have been displaced may have trouble finding a new home. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

================

LSU Economist Jim Richardson estimates it will take at least a year to recover from the historic flood damage. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

===============================================

State officials estimate 60-thousand homes were damaged in the Great Flood of 2016, and many displaced residents are now looking for new places to live. Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors president Tiffany Palmer says unfortunately there’s a low inventory of homes, especially for apartments…

CUT 3 (09)  “and Southern”

Palmer says she doesn’t expect people to flee the area completely, but many will look for homes in areas that did not flood. She says if families are able to find rentals, they could run into leasing problems, because most landlords want to sign leases for at least six months.

CUT 4 (09)  “have one”

The already short supply of available homes has dwindled, as some were flooded or taken off the market. Palmer says those looking to buy new homes may not be able to find their dream home, because of the limited availability.

CUT 5 (09)  “perfect one”

==================================================

The evacuation order has been lifted in the Vermilion parish town of Gueydan (GAY-dahn). Vermilion Emergency Preparedness director Rebecca Broussard says they avoided major flooding in Gueydan thanks to the Louisiana National Guard.

CUT 6 (09) “in that area”

An evacuation order for the town of Gueydan was issued when the levee along Highway 713 was breached Wednesday, but the breach was contained Sunday after hundreds of 4-thousand pound sandbags were dropped along the levee. However, Broussard says they still had over 11-hundred homes flooded throughout the parish.

CUT 7 (07) “a process”

Broussard says some homes in Vermilion Parish had water up to the roof, and several roads are still underwater. She says usually flooding in Vermilion is the result of storm surge from hurricanes, but that’s not the case this time.

CUT 8 (07) “insurance” 

==================================================

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says volunteers are needed to help flooded homeowners get the muck out of their homes. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says until this difficult cleanup is done, people cannot start to rebuild.

CUT 9 (08) “urgent need”

Steele says the damage from this flood is similar to what they saw in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina.

cut 10 (10)  “deal with”

Steele says people who want to help can sign up at VolunteerLouisiana.gov. He says many people whose home were damaged are elderly and not able to repair the damage.

Cut 11 (09) “large area”

===================================================

It’s estimated it will take at least one year to recover from the historic floods. That’s according to LSU Economist Jim Richardson who says Livingston Parish, which was the hardest hit, will need a while to get back to some kind of normalcy. He expects big national businesses should be back on their feet quickly, but it may take smaller businesses longer.

cut 12 (10) “business loans”

Richardson says in the short-term, this event could boost the economy with flood victims purchasing new furniture, flooring, and sheet-rock. He says the biggest issue is housing for those who lost their homes, which cannot be solved overnight.

Cut 13 (10)  “availability” 

Richardson says many victims of the flooding did not have flood insurance, which will force some to go into debt to restore their home.

cut 14 (10)  “be in”

==============================================

The Amite River, which contributed to much of the flooding in southeast Louisiana should finally fall below flood stage today. Freddie Zeigler, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in Slidell, says the Amite is still above flood stage at French Settlement in Livingston Parish, but that should change by tomorrow

cut 15 (05) “four-point-four”

Zeigler says even though the Amite should be below flood stage by tomorrow, the flood event is not over as backwater remains a problem in some areas…

cut 16 (06) “drain out”

=====================================

Volunteer groups from around the country are in Louisiana donating their time to help flood victims clean up their homes. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The City of Walker is suing the state for I-12 construction that’s believed to have worsened the flooding. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The state department of children and family services begins the process of handing out disaster food stamp cards to flood victims. Jeff Palermo has the story..

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Volunteers from around the country have come to Louisiana to offer assistance to flood victims trying to rebuild their homes. Samaritan’s Purse, a volunteer group out of North Carolina, has set up disaster relief units in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Spokesperson Todd Taylor says if you are in need of help or want to donate your time, visit Samartianspurse.org or call (985) 402-4350 in Baton Rouge.

cut 4  (10)  “sheet rock”

To contact Samaritan’s Purse in Lafayette, call (337) 349-5130. Taylor says the organization will be in Baton Rouge for 12 weeks and 10 weeks in Lafayette and they need more volunteers. He says currently, the group is focusing on cleanup.

Cut 5  (09)  “treatments”

Samaritan’s Purse was in north Louisiana earlier in the year to help with flooding and had a five year presence in the state after Hurricane Katrina. Taylor says all the services are free and the organization is funded through private donations. He says volunteers have been out working already and the damage is overwhelming.

Cut 6 (12) “go to”

_______________________________________________

Today the city of Walker begins putting together its lawsuit against the state for the construction of I-12. City officials believe the concrete wall that separates the east and west bound lanes worsened the flooding in the city. Mayor Rick Ramsey says when the interstate was widened to six lanes, the median was taken out and replaced with a concrete wall.

CUT 7 (09)  “United States”

Ramsey says areas that have never flooded before took on three to five feet of water. He says he believes without that wall, the flooding wouldn’t have been nearly as bad. He says they were prepared for a major flood, but not this.

Cut 8 (12) “we had” 

Ramsey says he knows the wall caused the three foot difference in water marks from one side of the interstate to the other, but he is not confident in their ability to win the suit against the state.

Cut 9 (09)  “photographic proof”

Attorney Joe Bruno filed a similar suit against the Army Corps of Engineers for work they did in St Bernard parish that led to more flooding there after Katrina, but it was unsuccessful because the Corps had immunity. He says Walker could run into a similar problem.

Cut 10 (11) “to do so”

The Department of Transportation issued a statement on the case, saying “Considering the unprecedented rainfall in such a short time-frame, it is unlikely that the median barriers in this area can be considered the cause for flooding.”

___________________________________________________________

State officials hope to get more financial help from the federal government to pay for flood relief efforts throughout south Louisiana. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the state has already spent at least $12.5 million, and that number is expected to grow exponentially. He says right now the feds will reimburse Louisiana for 75-percent of that, but he hopes for more federal dollars.

cut 11 (10) “10-percent”

The 75-percent reimbursement comes automatically with the declaration of a federal disaster area. Dardenne says it will take an act of Congress to get to the 90-10 split.

cut 12 (09) “10 match”

Dardenne says no matter how much the feds contribute, they are committed to helping Louisiana residents recover.

Cut 13 (11) “displaced”

___________________________________________________________

Disaster food stamps will be available to flood victims in eight parishes starting today. The eight parishes are East Feliciana, Iberia, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St Landry, Tangipahoa and Vermilion. Governor John Bel Edwards says eligible residents that have their last names begin with the letter A-to-D can can get their benefits at select locations…

cut 14 (09)  “be patient”

Check the department of children and family services website to find out when you’ll be able to get your benefit card and where. He says starting next Monday, DSNAP cards will be available in Acadia, Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Lafayette parishes…

Cut 15 (10) “are eligible”

The disaster food stamps are for those who do not receive regular food stamps and it can help individuals buy groceries due to lost income or flood damages. Edwards says to find out if you’re eligible for disaster food stamps, you must pre-register…

Cut 16  (09)  “dot-gov”

___________________________________________________________

The Saints are back at their training facility today after a disappointing performance in Saturday’s preseason loss to Houston. New Orleans defense played well, they held Houston to 59 rushing yards and forced a couple of turnovers. But Coach Sean Payton says the offense’s performance was as bad as it gets…

Cut 17 (15)  “good things”

Brandon Coleman led the Saints in receptions with six catches for 47 yards, but had a chance to make several big plays, but he couldn’t hang on to the football. Payton says Coleman has had a “pedestrian” camp

Cut 18 (17) “seen better”

Before the game on Saturday, the Saints released veteran cornerback Keenan Lewis, who has battled knee and hip injuries. Payton says the decision to cut Lewis was based on the fact that he couldn’t get on the field…

Cut 19 (13) “wish him well”

South Louisiana parishes that were underwater just a week ago are starting to transition into recovery, but there’s still a long road ahead. Don Molino has more on recovery efforts…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

================

Water and food distribution centers have been set up in Livingston Parish for victims of the historic flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

===============================================

As the state transitions into recovery from the 1,000-year flood, resources and volunteers are more important than ever. Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern says this is the worst natural disaster they have seen in years.

CUT 3 (10)  “Superstorm Sandy”

McGovern says at one point 10-thousand people in the state were in shelters, and that is now down to 8-thousand. She says they will be here as long as it takes for this community to recover.

CUT 4 (11)  “relief items”

McGovern says the Red Cross has served 100-thousand meals to the people in shelters. She says if anyone wants to volunteer or donate to the Red Cross, they can go to RedCross.org. She says their work is far from over.

CUT 5 (09)  “and snacks”

==================================================

Flood victims are at Bass Pro Shop today in Denham Springs to receive water and food, as well as, meet with FEMA representatives to apply for disaster assistance. Terry is a Denham Springs resident whose home was flooded during the storm. He says he lost two trailers and a truck but is lucky he can stay with his daughter….

CUT 6 (12) “shower, sleep”

Ed is also a Denham Springs resident who tried to stay in his home as long as possible during the flooding. He says when he finally decided to leave, the water was up to his chest when he stepped outside and was only able to bring a few items with him…

CUT 7 (10) “made it”

The National Guard is distributing water, MREs and other necessary supplies for the flood victims. Sgt. First Class Travis Jenkins says this effort it to make sure people affected can get through to the next phase of their recovery. He says all the Guardsmen are happy to be out here to help those in need.

CUT 8 (10) “the area” 

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Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, along with running mate Mike Pence,  have been touring the flood damage in East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes today. Trump is amazed at the level of destruction the floods left behind

CUT 9 (10) “here to help”

Trump took pictures with relief workers and offered his support to flood victims who lost their homes and personal belongings. He also took time to hand out supplies and toys to children. Most of the people who came in contact with Trump were glad he came…

cut 10 (12)  “your support”

Fellow republicans, Lt Governor Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry, met Trump when he arrived at the Baton Rouge airport on Friday morning and traveled with him to the flood-damaged areas. Nungesser says Trump’s visit can can help raise awareness around the nation that many are suffering in Louisiana…

Cut 11 (08) “whole again”

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says she spoke with Governor John Bel Edwards on the phone today. The White House says President Barack Obama will be in south Louisiana on Tuesday.

===================================================

Frustrations are growing in Walker in Livingston Parish over the lack of federal resources to help those affected by the historic flooding. Mayor Rick Ramsey says they’ve been told by FEMA that no temporary housing will be brought in for residents. He says FEMA will try to expedite some reimbursement but that isn’t enough…

cut 12 (12) “elevation”

Ramsey says his most recent update states there is no intention of bringing in FEMA trailers or providing temporary housing. He says it’s a crime that FEMA doesn’t think the flood victims who lost their homes need a place to live.

Cut 13 (11)  “at night”

======================================

The total value of all the homes lost in the flood in the Baton Rouge area could be up to $21 billion. That’s according to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s preliminary analysis of flood damage in Louisiana, which estimates 31% of homes in the 9 parish Baton Rouge area are in flooded areas. President and CEO Adam Knapp says the preliminary data demonstrates just how devastating this flood is.

cut 14 (08)  “community standpoint”

The analysis also found that 87-percent of homes and 91-percent of businesses in Livingston parish are in areas that flooded. Knapp says that means 48-thousand residences were potentially ruined, and not many of them were insured for flood damage.

cut 15 (06) “entire parish”

Knapp says he hopes these shocking findings will be enough to persuade federal officials to give Louisiana more financial support. He says it could even motivate more citizens to do what they can to help.

cut 16 (07) “to recover”

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The U.S. Small Business Administration is in Louisiana to assist businesses affected by the flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is on its way from response to recovery from the deadly floods in south Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The White House says President Obama has no plans to cut his New England vacation short to come see the flood damage in Louisiana first hand, which has infuriated some Louisiana residents. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Louisiana Economic Development is urging businesses impacted by the historic flooding to apply for any financial assistance. LED Secretary Don Pierson says more than 9-thousand businesses were affected. He says the first thing small businesses need to do is to get in touch with FEMA.

cut 4  (10)  “FEMA”

Pierson says the LED website will also have the most up to date information from DOTD, the Red Cross and other organizations. He says they’re working closely with the U.S. Small Business Administration to help business get back on their feet.

Cut 5  (10)  “small businesses”

Pierson says they want to ensure that none of the businesses affected go out of businesses because of this disaster. He says small businesses in particular help plants maintain operations here…

Cut 6 (10) “to us”

_______________________________________________

Flood relief efforts continue throughout south Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says we are transitioning into recovery very quickly. He says disaster food stamps will be available in 7 of the affected parishes starting Monday.

CUT 7 (08)  “a week”

At least 13 people have died as a result of the historic flooding. Over 40-thousand homes have been affected and 30-thousand people were rescued. The governor says crews are going door to door searching homes and vehicles in badly flooded areas to see if anyone else needs help.

Cut 8 (08) “been assisted” 

Edwards says they plan to announce a housing plan today for those who are not able to return to their flooded home. He says they’ve been trying to determine how many people need housing and where they are now….

Cut 9 (10)  “today”

___________________________________________________________

There are no plans for President Barack Obama to cut his New England vacation short to see the devastation in Louisiana first hand. It’s caused many Louisiana residents to wonder if Mr. Obama is concerned about the flooding disaster. US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says the President can’t be everywhere, but he is up to date on the situation.

Cut 10 (09) “expedited”

Johnson says more than 900 FEMA personnel are on the ground and hundreds more are expected. He says the President has done everything federal law permits him to do to help Louisiana.

cut 11 (07) “recover”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he is not complaining in any way about our federal partnership.

cut 12 (10) “every day”

Edwards says if the President came to the state this week, it would cause a disruption in traffic, hamper recovery and relief efforts, and law enforcement officers would have to leave their posts to help with security.

Cut 13 (09) “or two”

___________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, it could be a while before the hardest hit flood victims have power in their homes again. As of Thursday night, seven-thousand customers are without power and utility crews are working to re-energize lines.  Entergy spokesperson, Kacee Kirschvink (Kursh-vink), says when water is involved, it’s a tedious process to reconnect power safely because water and electricity don’t mix.

cut 14 (07)  “the meters”

Kirschvink says customers who received floodwaters in their homes or business may have to make repairs to their electrical system before power can be restored.

Cut 15 (12) “are needed”

Kirschvink says at one point Entergy had over 32-thousand customers without power, and that number is now down to just over 7-thousand. She says if a customer’s meter has to be removed or deactivated because of water damage, the homeowner will then need to hire a licensed electrician to make sure their systems are ready to go.

Cut 16  (10)  “their service”

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

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Don Molino”

================

Plans are underway to determine temporary housing for flood victims still in shelters. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

===============================================

Thousands of south Louisiana residents lost everything in the flood, and the Salvation Army is taking donations to help the people who were affected. Capt. Brett Meredith is the Commander of the Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge. He says every donation helps.

CUT 3 (08)  “are needed”

Meredith says during disasters they only accept new items, not things that are gently used. He says it’s important to remember that flood victims in the hardest hit areas lost literally everything they own.

CUT 4 (09)  “for granted”

Meredith says 100% of donations go to the flood victims. All monetary donations can be made by texting STORM to 51555. He says the Salvation Army continues to distribute goods, even though their facilities in Baton Rouge took on water damage..

CUT 5 (10)  “facilities”

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

==================================================

The Department of Children and Family Services says as of this morning, there are a little over 4-thousand flood victims still in shelters. Deputy Secretary Terri Ricks says some flood victims went home once the water receded and the power returned. She says they are working on a plan for housing those who have nowhere else to go.

CUT 6 (10) “childcare”

Ricks says we’ve already seen come consolidation and expects the River Center and Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge will come together so Celtic can get back to business. She says no firm decisions have been made on temporary housing, but…

CUT 7 (10) “that out”

Ricks says a meeting is being held today with the Governor and FEMA to determine how to move forward with housing for the near and distant future.

CUT 8 (10) “basis” 

==================================================

Former-Saints player Darren Sharper will spend 18 years in a federal prison for drugging and raping 9 women in four states. Legal analyst Tim Meche says today, Sharper got the deal of the century. He says many people are wondering how he got such a break on his sentence.

CUT 9 (10) “incredible deal”

In the courtroom, Sharper said he made some “heinous decisions” and that he’s like to apologize “a thousand times” to the victims. Meche says Sharper’s money was probably more help to him in this case than his Saints fame.

cut 10 (09)  “legal team”

Originally, Sharper worked out an agreement with prosecutors that would have led to a nine-year prison sentence, but last June U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo rejected it, because it was too lenient. Legal analyst Chick Foret…

Cut 11 (07) “18 years”

The sentence of 18 years and four months is 15 months shy of the maximum sentence.

===================================================

Over 85-thousand people have registered for federal disaster assistance with FEMA after the devastating floods ravaged thousands of homes in south Louisiana.  FEMA Spokesperson Maria Padron says to register, call the disaster hotline at 1 (800) 621-FEMA and the lines are open until 10 p.m. seven days a week. She says the next step is an inspector will come out to the home to verify the losses.

cut 12 (10) “that packet”

Padron says in the next few days FEMA will be opening disaster recovery centers so flood victims can come in and ask questions. She says the amount of money you receive goes on a case by case basis.

Cut 13 (08)  “dollars”

Padron says the average payment received is about 2-thousand dollars and money could come quickly if your paperwork is filed promptly.

cut 14 (04)  “already” 2x

======================================

A state health official says there will be an increase threat of West Nile in the flooded areas of the state. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

 Even though it’s a hectic week in south Louisiana, LSU is expected to start school on Monday as usual and accommodate local students affected by the flood. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Many people lost important documents and photographs in the recent flood. Halen Doughty has more from the State Archives Office on how to salvage them…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The massive flooding in south Louisiana now poses an increased risk for West Nile. That’s according to the State Medical Director for the Center of Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch, who says in the short-term, flooding washes away mosquitoes and their larvae, but floods leave standing water, which allows mosquitoes to breed and the population to grow quickly…

cut 4  (10)  “those systems”

 Welch says they are going to be very vigilant and focus on mosquito control over the next few weeks. He says some of the hardest hit areas were Livingston and Ascension Parishes, which have seen plenty of cases of West Nile in years past….

Cut 5  (09)  “after flooding”

 Welch says mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus are not as prevalent in the flooded areas of the state, but the threat should not be ignored.

Cut 6 (10) “New Orleans area”

_______________________________________________

The water is leaving Livingston Parish for the most part, but what the flood left behind is catastrophic. Parish-wide, officials say at least 75% of homes were impacted with 2 to 8 feet of water, but that figure could easily grow as this is still very much an ongoing situation. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry says people are coming from all over the US to help:

CUT 7 (09)  “and do so”

There were between 15,000-20,000 rescues made during this event. Landry says more than 90% of homes in the Denham Springs were flooded. He says most businesses also took on water at unimaginable levels…:

Cut 8 (13) “under water” 

There have been reports of minor looting of alcohol and cigarettes in the area, but Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says just because the jail took on water, it doesn’t mean he won’t put you in it. Livingston Parish Public schools are all closed until further notice, and Landry says he believes every school in the city took on water…:

Cut 9 (12)  “it’s bad”

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Residents in Jefferson Davis parish are simultaneously recovering from a historic flood and preparing for more water to come. Chief Deputy Chris Ivey with the Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Office says the water is receding in many areas of the parish, and people are moving back into their neighborhoods as they can.

Cut 10 (09) “over them”

Unfortunately, more rain is heading towards southwest Louisiana. Ivey says they aren’t expecting many more areas to flood, but they are gearing up for possible search and rescues to come.

cut 11 (08) “still there”

Conditions are looking a little better farther east down the I-10 corridor. Lafayette OEP Director Craig Stansbury says over 5-thousand homes were damaged in the flood, and many people are still in shelters.

cut 12 (06) “or not”

Stansbury says the parish is starting to enter the recovery phase. He says they will be assisting FEMA with setting up a location and whatever else the residents need going forward.

Cut 13 (06) “debris removal”

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The State Archives Office is offering advice for salvaging documents or photographs that were damaged in the flood. Archivist Doug Harrison specializes in preservation. He says the best thing people can do is separate the documents into the smallest possible stacks so they can dry.

cut 14 (08)  “a bit”

Harrison says if you cannot separate the documents enough to air dry, or of you don’t have anywhere to dry them, you can wrap them in wax paper and put them in the freezer.

Cut 15 (06) “calmer”

Harrison says pictures need to be air dried as soon as possible. He says if you cannot separate the pictures, you can freeze them too, but the chances of them surviving are far lower than regular documents.

Cut 16  (10)  “salvage those”

State officials are developing a plan for housing the thousands of flood victims who still cannot return to their homes. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Celtic Movie Studios in Baton Rouge has transformed into a shelter for flood victims. has more…

CUT 2 (32)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Department of Children and Family Services is advising flood victims to pre-register for disaster food stamps. If you experienced loss or damage from the floods, you can apply online on the D-C-F-S website or call 1-888-LA-HELP-U. DCFS Deputy Assistant Secretary Sammy Guillory says pre-qualifying makes it easier for enrollees to receive emergency food stamps, once D-SNAP application sites open…

CUT 3 (07)  “the process”

Guillory says applicants must provide their social security numbers, address, and income. He says this is a one month assistance program for people who do not receive regular SNAP benefits. He says anyone who was affected by the flood can apply.

CUT 4 (11)  “of employment”

Guillory says DSNAP benefits will be available once the state gets approval from the federal government. He says they hope to have registration sites open next week, but that’s not set in stone. He says DCFS has a lot on its plate right now.

CUT 5 (07)  “been flooded”

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As the flood water rose, many people were fleeing to shelter. Celtic Media Studios in Baton Rouge opened their doors to thousands of people who were forced out of their homes after the devastating storm. Director of Studio Operations Patrick Mulhearn says the lull in the film industry actually turned out to be a blessing…

CUT 6 (11) “do this”

Mulhearn says Saturday night the population of Celtic was zero and Sunday afternoon the population was about 4-thousand people. He says when the bus loads of victims started coming in, there were no volunteers so he turned to Facebook to ask for assistance because the phone lines were down.

CUT 7 (09) “everything else”

Mulhearn says there has been talk about Baton Rouge being divided but he’s never seen a more united community than over the weekend. He says people from all different professions have shown up to help and boost morale, from face painters for the kids to snoball stands.

CUT 8 (10) “gathering dust” 

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Thousands of flood victims are still in shelters, and many more are staying with family and friends. Governor John Bel Edwards says his office and other agencies are developing a strategy for housing these people in the immediate and distant future. He says it’s too early to know exactly what that plan will look like.

CUT 9 (08) “the same”

Edwards says there’s a lot of information that needs to be gathered from those that have been affected. But he says FEMA knows how to do this, so the state is following their lead.

cut 10 (10)  “a plan”

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate says they aren’t sure yet if the plan will include bringing in FEMA trailers or not. But he says if it comes to that, these are not the small travel trailers we saw after Katrina.

Cut 11 (07) “approved”

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The flooding is not over yet as officials in St. James Parish are preparing for backwater flooding. Parish President Timmy Roussel says the levels of water in the Blind River are higher than what was seen during Hurricane Isaac. He says residents are scrambling to sandbag their homes before the water reaches it.

cut 12 (09) “fire station”

There are numerous sandbagging locations on both the east and west banks. Roussel says the community has really teamed up and when one home is completely sandbagged, they all move on to the next. He does expect some homes to take on water and multiple homes already have….

Cut 13 (10)  “as possible”

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While flood waters are receding in some parishes, the Lake Arthur area in Jefferson Davis parish is still expecting more flooding this weekend and into next week. Johnathan Brazzell with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the Mermentau River is expected to crest at 11.5 feet by Friday, which would be the third highest crest the river has ever seen.

cut 14 (08)  “for miles”

Brazzell says this will lead to more homes flooding and road closures in that area. He says the flooding concerns are far from over in some southwestern parishes, particularly around Lake Arthur.

cut 15 (09) “two weeks”

Brazzell says unfortunately there is still more rain in the forecast. He says there’s a possibility some flash flood warnings as the day goes on.

cut 16 (09) “of time”

Flood warnings are still in effect for Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Acadia, and, Vermilion parishes until further notice.

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