Flooding Issues Crest in Louisiana

More than 11,000 Louisianans have now applied for disaster assistance as a result of flooding in the southern part of the state.

Three straight days of torrential downpours in southern Louisiana caused rivers to rise to record levels, leaving seven deaths in its wake. Four of those deaths occurred as a result of people attempting to drive their vehicles in high waters.

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Boat crews are still searching for people in need of assistance, and many citizens of Louisiana are waiting for flood waters to subside to see what, if anything, they can salvage of their homes and businesses.

“Emergency crews already have rescued more than 20,000 people and continued to search for more after a storm dumped more than 2 feet (61 cm) of rain in three days,” reports Reuters.

Some rivers began to recede on Monday, while others are still reaching their peak.

Louisianan Lonnie Wells told Reuters, “The water started rising three or four days ago and it’s still coming up right now.” Wells, 59, lives in French Settlement, and is trying to ride out the storm with his chickens, rabbits, goats, and dogs — against the advice of neighbors and government officials.

President Obama has issued a disaster declaration in the state of Louisiana, despite remaining on his lavish vacation in Martha’s Vineyard this week.

Experts don’t expect the flood waters to go down any time soon. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Jennifer McNatt said “it is going to take a while for that water to make its way out” in a phone conversation with Reuters reporters.

In the meantime, the NWS is keeping an eye on flooding in Texas, where a flood watch is in effect from Houston to the Hill Country region in the central part of the state. Experts are monitoring any flooding that may spread to Arkansas as well.

For more on how Obama won’t allow epic flooding to ruin his vacation, click here.

Feature image via AP/ Patrick Dennis / NBC News