US: Louisiana towns face floods as recovery begins

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) – Much of southern Louisiana continues to experience flooding or faces flood warnings Tuesday after weekend torrents propelled rivers over their banks.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said at least 10 victims have been killed and 40,000 homes were damaged.

“Well over” 20,000 people have been rescued, Edwards said during a joint news conference with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate.

Since Friday, about two feet (60 centimeters) of rain slammed southern Louisiana for 48 hours, inundating local homes and businesses with floodwaters that have yet to recede in the vast majority of areas.

Towns further downriver continue to face the threat of additional flooding.

Parts of the state have begun to enter a recovery phase, Edwards said, but he added that more than 8,000 people are living in shelters.

The Louisiana National Guard said in a statement that it has begun to divide its efforts equally between recovery and search and rescue operations as some areas begin to see floodwaters recede.

More than 3,300 guardsmen are assisting in the efforts, the guard said.

President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency Sunday, freeing up federal funding to supplement state and local recovery efforts.

Edwards said on Twitter that 40,000 state residents have applied for FEMA assistance.