Louisiana Flooding: Elderly Man Dies in High Waters, State of Emergency Declared
— -- An elderly man has died after he was swept away in high waters amid severe flooding in the East Baton Rouge Parish of Louisiana, according to an East Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesman.
The heavy rainfall and devastating flooding has led Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards to declare a state of emergency while Flash Flood Warnings remain in effect in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi this afternoon.
In parts of eastern Louisiana, up to 3 inches of rain has fallen every hour.
In Livingston, more than 17 inches of rain fell since midnight today -- adding up to three months' worth of rain in less than one day.
In Tangipahoa Parish, which is east of Baton Rouge and north of New Orleans, 140 people were rescued from high waters, said Robby Miller, president of Tangipahoa Parish.
He said he has never seen flood water rise so quickly in the area before.
Eighty roads in the parish are closed.
The flooding closed many schools in the Baton Rouge area, including Louisiana State University.
In Baker, Louisiana, evacuated residents were moved to city hall for shelter.
Officials are also calling for people to stay off the roads.
And the rainfall isn't over. An additional 5 inches of rain is expected to hit parts of Louisiana in the next two days - including some spots that already have over a foot of rain.
