Louisiana Flood Breaks Records, Displaces Thousands

The Southern states have been getting pummeled by rain, causing massive flooding and endangering countless thousands. Louisiana [caption id="attachment_20898" align="alignright" width="300"] Louisiana Flood - via USA Today[/caption] Over 40,000 homes have been affected by the flooding in Louisiana. More than 11,000 people are now homeless in the state. At least nine people are dead. And now, it seems like things will only get worse before they improve. More rain is expected this week, according to a local report, which could make the flooding situation even worse. Although the rivers have started to fall in their water levels, the Amite River reached a high of 46.2 feet, rising above the 29-foot flood stage, beating out its previous record by 6 feet in one area. More rain would certainly make things unbearable. These floods came from days of constant, torrential rain. A federal emergency was declared, and now 10,000 people are in shelters. Since the flooding began, over 30,000 people have been rescued from the floods. As flood waters continue downstream, worry grows for areas south of Baton Rouge. With so much rain, it could push the floods further past that area, creating more problems for those downstream. Aside from the Louisiana flood, which has received the more brunt of damage and high waters, a few other states are experiencing their own woes. Mississippi Flash flooding did some major damage to some locations in Mississippi, including the town of Crosby, where water washed away one man’s home. Dozens of people have been displaced, with homes now drenched in three feet of water. Texas But it’s not just Louisiana that’s being threatened by floods. Texas has also been experiencing heavy rainfall. Fortunately, no flooding has yet been reported, although flash flooding could be a major issue. Flooding is an issue to all states, so no matter where you live, check out your flood risk at floodsmart.gov and take the necessary precautions to countering floods. And remember, if you do plan on getting flood insurance, most plans will take 30 days to come in effect, so don’t wait until it’s too late!