Historic floods slam the deep South

In a news release, the Coast Guard said that a helicopter crew rescued two adults and their 6-year-old child from their home and took them to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport on Saturday.

Gov. Edwards was joined by local and state officials Saturday morning to update on the historic flood event. “This is an ongoing event and we are still in the response mode”.

The governor said at least two deaths have been confirmed and searches are being carried out.

“We have record levels of flooding along rivers and creeks”, he told reporters during a news conference, urging residents who have been advised to evacuate to leave their homes.

Roads that had never flooded were under water, he said, adding that the backlog of people waiting to be rescued.

Eventually, Gibson made it out of her Tangipahoa Parish home with her dogs, and they were all rescued by National Guard soldiers on a boat.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as rescue workers in the southeastern part of the state brace for more precipitation. It remains in effect until September 10.

Temperatures would stay in the mid 90s from yesterday through tomorrow, with the humidity pushing heat index values higher in NY and Philadelphia, home to around 10 million people combined, meteorologists said.

There are about 16 shelters open.

Heavy rain triggered flash flooding in many neighborhoods, and power outages were reported throughout the region, as police closed many roads due to the flooding. As well, it is expected that Louisiana asks for federal help to recover from the disastrous rainfall. He and his family were forced to relocate after the basement of the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge flooded, said spokesman Richard Carbo. The office moved its operations to a state police facility farther north.

The first fatality happened in East Baton Rouge Parish on Friday. The flooding is expected to continue and extend to the west.

She gave instructions to people on where to meet up with deputies who can transport them to shelters. The department’s social media went into action to inform people about what to do.

“The Amite River is continuing to rise at a rapid rate and will continue to do so. If you live on the Amite River corridor it is urgent that you make plans to evacuate your home immediately”, he said.

The threat of heavy rain would expand westward with “at least a slight risk of flash flooding tonight over a large area from the southern plains to the mid-Mississippi/Ohio valleys and even the Northeast”, the National Weather Service said.

Rain in some spots was beginning to diminish.

Browning said the area is sparsely populated and authorities only came across the truck after earlier successfully rescuing the driver of an 18-wheeler whose rig was pushed off the roadway.

The National Weather Service told the New Orleans Times-Picayune another four to eight inches were expected.

“This is a particularly risky situation”. But he emphasized the importance of getting to higher ground. Dauphin Island got 5.26 inches during the same period.

Some rainfall totals have exceeded 20 inches.

Wilkinson County Chancery Clerk Thomas Tolliver said an apartment complex and surrounding houses in the town were flooded after 10 inches of rain fell. He said other rivers are reaching record flood stages.

“We have reports of people in attics, people on rooftops”, he said. “I don’t see any break in the weather until early in the week next week”. The rain will continue and ease by Tuesday. “Because these are record floods, we don’t know how wide the water is going to get in these areas”.

Michael Martin, chief of operations for the parish sheriff’s office, said the woman was riding in a auto with her husband and his mother when flood waters swept the vehicle into the river.

“For hours, deputies have been handling an extremely high call volume and have been able to keep floodwaters at bay. Unfortunately, the floodwaters have proved to be too much”, the statement said. There’s been “no interruption in services”. Doug Cain from the Louisiana State Police said about 125 vehicles were stranded on a seven-mile stretch of Interstate 12 near Baton Rouge and the occupants were being taken to safety. Farmland was covered and streets descended into impassable pools of water. “Please stay away from campus if possible.” and that LSU “Football Fan Day and Media Day” on Sunday are canceled.

Several residents said it’s the worst flooding they’ve seen in their life.

Sandy Morgan, 34, was rescued by boat Friday night along with his family and returned home Saturday morning to survey the damage.

Flooding plagued this area in January and March of this year, as well. “Thank God”, he said.