Volunteer groups from around the country are in Louisiana donating their time to help flood victims clean up their homes. Emelie Gunn has more…
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The City of Walker is suing the state for I-12 construction that’s believed to have worsened the flooding. Halen Doughty has more…
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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..
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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Dardenne says no matter how much the feds contribute, they are committed to helping Louisiana residents recover.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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
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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…
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