Heavy rain and widespread flooding in Louisiana lead the governor to declare a state of emergency today, with more rain expected over the state through Saturday.
The Associated Press reports numerous rivers in southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi were overflowing their banks and threatening widespread flooding after extreme rainfall, the National Weather Service says.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says state officials are in constant contact with local officials, and assistance is already on the move to affected parishes.
Mike Steele, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says requests were coming in for high-water vehicles, boats and sandbags.
Steele says Tangipahoa Parish alone requested tens of thousands of sandbags.
A flood watch remains in effect until Saturday across most of south Louisiana. The weather service says in a statement that an additional 3 to 5 inches could fall over the area.
The Comite River near Baton Rouge and Amite River near Denham Springs are expected to set record crests over the weekend. Forecaster Alek Krautmann says both rivers could flood many houses in suburban areas near Baton Rouge.
Mayor Kip Holden issued a statement this afternoon urging Baton Rougeans to monitor local weather and news stations.
“With this ongoing weather situation, please use the buddy system and check on family, neighbors and the elderly as they may experience problems from this weather system during this duration,” reads the mayor’s statement.
Information on Baton Rouge sandbag locations and road closures can be found online.
