President Barack Obama toured a flood damaged subdivision in East Baton Rouge parish this afternoon. The President says the nation is “heartbroken” over the 13 people who died in the flooding. Mr. Obama also says the federal government will assist flood victims until they are back in their homes and their lives are rebuilt.

During his stop in Baton Rouge, the President also met with Alton Sterling’s family, the black man who was killed in a confrontation with two white officers. The President was also expected to meet with the families of the officerss killed or injured in last month’s ambush.

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 the disturbance is currently called Invest 99…
cut 12 (10) “…a possibility”
Keim says this system is on track to head over Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco says it’s critical for Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to bring additional funding back to the Bayou State to help flood victims repair their homes. Blanco says housing is the most important component to a recovery after a major disaster…
cut 11 (11) “…shortage”
Blanco says getting additional resources from Congress could be a tough sell, because three members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation voted against a Hurricane Sandy relief package.

Film executive and New Orleans native Will French says there are hundreds of film workers who are willing to get paid to help in the recovery efforts. French says they don’t want a repeat of what happened after Hurricane Katrina….
cut 5 (08) “…is now”
French says companies looking to hire film workers to assist in the recovery efforts should email film-dot-helping-dot-l-a—at-gmail-dot-com.

Louisiana Radio Network…
cut 30 (06) “…loved ones”
That’s President Barack Obama, speaking from a subdivision in Zachary where homes were flooded and damaged personal belongings are sitting on the curb waiting to be thrown out. The President says the federal government will do what it can to help flood victims get back on their feet.

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 says this will not be an overnight recovery and rebuilding will cost billions of dollars.

Film workers, who are currently unemployed, are hoping companies will hire them to help in the recovery efforts. President of Film Production Capital, Will French, 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”
Film workers looking for work or employers looking to hire should email film-dot-helping-dot-l-a-at-gmail.com.

Three tropical systems in the Atlantic have the attention of the National Hurricane Center. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s not a surprise the Atlantic is heating up with tropical activity as we are in the peak of the hurricane season. And conditions are right for storms to develop…
cut 14 (07) “south Louisiana”
Keim says a system called Invest 99 has the potential of getting into the Gulf.

President Obama is currently getting a chance to see the flood damage first-hand. Republican Congressman Garret Graves hopes the President will see the state needs additional federal assistance than what FEMA currently provides…
cut 13 (08) “…this size”

Meanwhile, film industry professionals are ready to be hired and assist in the recovery efforts…
voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The CEO of GoFundMe Rob Solomon says over six-million dollars has been raised for over five-thousand GOFundMe campaigns that were created to aid flood victims. There’s been talk that donations are down for this disaster, because of the lack of national media attention, but Solomon says that’s NOT the case on their website…
cut 7 (10) “…overhwelming”
Solomon says First Lady Donna Edwards has partnered with the Louisiana School Board Association on Go Fund Me to raise money for schools that lost supplies, had damage to their buildings and clean-up costs.

Over 115-thousand individuals have signed up for federal disaster assistance.

President Barack Obama is expected to arrive in Baton Rouge at this hour. The President is expected to tour flooded areas of the Capital City to see the flood damage first hand. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says the Commander in Chief could also play a vital role in getting more federal aid to Louisiana.

Congressman Garrett Graves says in order for our community to recover there needs to be an assistance package to help those affected. But he admits it may be difficult to get a financial aid package approved because three 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”

Graves says they are working on legislation that could help homeowners who lost everything in the flood.

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.

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”

President Barack Obama is on his way to 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 and the President will play a critical role in that decision.

LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says the flooding has resulted in a 110-million loss to the state’s ag industry. Soybeans and rice are the two crops hit the hardest and Guidry says hundreds of cattle were lost…
cut 6 (07) “…latest event”
The AgCenter will update the damage assessment in a few weeks, but they don’t expect it to come close to the damages from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which were around one billion dollars.

Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says about 80-percent of the flood victims in the 20 affected parishes did not have flood insurance. Republican Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says they are working on legislation that could provide government aid for homeowners who lost everything…
cut 14 (08) “….core needs”
Graves admits they could get push back from federal lawmakers, because three members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation voted against a Hurricane Sandy relief package.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is partnering with animal shelters around the country to help rescue and find homes for animals left behind when the flood waters rose. HSL executive director Jeff Dorson says people can find out more and make monetary donations at Humane-la-dot-org…
cut 12 (10) “…help everybody”

President Barack Obama is scheduled to arrive in Baton Rouge later this morning as he’ll get his first look at the devastating flood damage in south Louisiana. Mr. Obama was criticized for not ending his vacation last week and coming sooner. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there are flood victims who are glad the President is here, while others will not be as thrilled…
cut 9 (12) “…Mr. President”
Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves says once Congress returns to Washington DC 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….
cut 13 (08) “….this size”
Graves is hopeful the President can convince Congress that a significant financial aid package is needed.

The historic flooding in south Louisiana will cost the state’s agirculture industry at least 110 million dollars. That’s according to LSU Ag Center economist Kurt Guidry…
cut 4 (12) “…sweet potatoes”
The AgCenter is still trying to determine livestock deaths, Guidry says it’s likely in the hundreds.

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…
voicer 1 (30) “….I’m Halen Doughty

President Barack Obama will arrive later this morning to assess the damage left behind by a historic flood that killed 13 and left thousands of individuals displaced. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross 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”
Over 106-thousand people have registered for federal disaster aid.

LSU Ag Center economist Kurt Guidry says the flood damage has resulted in a 110-million dollar economic loss to the state’s ag industry. Guidry says that number will likely go up…
cut 5 (09) “…this damage”
Soybeans and rice were two hardest hit crops.

GOP Congressman Garret Graves says the first order of business when Congress returns next month is to meet the unmet needs of flood victims. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 3 (25) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Humane Society of Louisiana has a very active operation in Livingston Parish as they continue to find abandoned animals. H-S-L executive director Jeff Dorson 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. For more information go to humane-la-dot-org.

President Barack Obama visits south Louisiana today to see the damage from the Great Flood of 2016. Don Molino has more…
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Don Molino”

LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says the flooding has resulted in a 110-million loss to the state’s ag industry. Soybeans and rice are the two crops hit the hardest and Guidry says hundreds of cattle were lost…
cut 6 (07) “…latest event”

Louisiana’s Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says about 80-percent of the flood victims in the 20 affected parishes did not have flood insurance. Republican Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says they are working on legislation that could provide government aid for homeowners who lost everything…
cut 14 (08) “….core needs”
Graves admits they could get push back from other members of Congress, because three members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation did not vote for the Hurricane Sandy relief package.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is partnering with animal shelters around the country to help rescue and find homes for pets 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”
Nearly 60 animals rescued from the Baton Rouge area were taken to a shelter in Virginia.

President Barack Obama visits 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”
Republican Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he plans to speak to the President today about financial aid for flood victims, local businesses, schools and funding for flood protection for that area…
cut 15 (05) “….watershed”
FEMA deputy associate administrator for insurance, Roy Wright, says over 25-thousand claims have been filed with the National Flood Insurance Program and 15-million dollars in advance payments have already been sent out to flooded homeowners.

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…
voicer 1 (30) “….I’m Halen Doughty

According to the LSU Ag Center, the flood damage will cost the state’s agricultural industry at least 110-million dollars.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says flood victims are still needing volunteers to help gut their homes. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says visit volunteer-louisiana-dot-gov if you want to help. He says many people whose homes were damaged are elderly and not able to make repairs on their own.

Cut 11 (09) “large area.”

Steele says the Great Flood of 2016 is similar to what was seen in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

LSU Economist Jim Richardson predicts it could take at least one year for southern Louisiana to recover from the historic flooding. Richardson says in the short-term, the flooding could boost the economy with flood victims purchasing new furniture, flooring, and sheet-rock. He says housing is the biggest issue for those who lost their homes..
Cut 13 (10) “availability”

 
Flood victims who have been displaced may have trouble finding a new home. Don Molino has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

The LSU AgCenter estimates the heavy rains that caused the Great Flood of 2016 will cost Louisiana at least 110 million dollars. Soybeans will likely take the biggest hit with yield losses expected to be nearly 46 million dollars. It’s not clear at this time how many livestock deaths were caused by the flooding. The flooding will cost the rice industry about 33 million dollars in yield losses.