6 Dead in Louisiana Flooding, 10,000 in Shelters

The federal government has declared a major disaster in southern Louisiana after massive flooding killed six people, destroyed homes, and left 10,000 in shelters, Gov. John Bel Edwards said. The four parishes hit the hardest in flooding that began Friday include Tangipahoa, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge, and Livingston. Nearly 20,000 people have been pulled out of the flooded areas in sometimes-dramatic rescue operations using helicopters and boats, with some people saved while clinging to rooftops and trees. Authorities have frantically been trying to make sure there are enough shelters for the thousands of people forced out of their homes, even transforming a movie studio into a shelter. On Sunday, as weather forecasters said the heavy rains had moved on to Texas, rescuers said they had begun saving pets in addition to humans, with about 100 animals rescued since Friday. President Barack Obama has reached out to Edwards regarding the crisis, he said, telling him in a phone call Sunday that “the people of south Louisiana are in his thoughts and prayers and the federal government will be a solid partner.”