Louisiana flood: Worst US disaster since Hurricane Sandy, Red Cross says
By Holly Yan and Rosa Flores, CNN
Updated
12:32 PM EDT, Fri August 19, 2016
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Story highlights
At least 13 people have died across five parishes
Red Cross: 7,000 people are in shelters, and thousands more are without power
(CNN) —
The catastrophic flood devastating Louisiana is now the worst natural disaster to strike the United States since Hurricane Sandy four years ago, the Red Cross said.
“Thousands of people in Louisiana have lost everything they own and need our help now,” said Brad Kieserman, the Red Cross’ vice president of disaster services operations and logistics.
“This disaster is the worst to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy, and we anticipate it will cost at least $30 million – a number which may grow as we learn more about the scope and magnitude of the devastation.”
“I bought enough food to last for a week in case we were flooded in, but I wasn’t prepared for this much devastation,” said Jo Lee Misner, who lives in the Livingston Parish community of Colyell. “Local stores are running low on everything from food to fuel.”
At least 36 of her relatives have lost their homes – all 13 of them.
“It’s unbelievable what we’ve been through,” she said. “We never imaged this would happen.”
And it’s not over. At least 13 people have died across five parishes. And with more rain forecast, the destruction could mount.
A road in Baton Rouge was relatively dry Saturday but was inundated by Sunday.
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LA DOTD
US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited flood-stricken areas Thursday, a day after the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived.
President Barack Obama had directed FEMA Director Craig Fugate to “utilize all resources available to assist in the response and recovery,” the White House said. Obama has declared at least 20 parishes as disaster areas.
The US Coast Guard, National Guard, local emergency responders and even neighbors have helped rescue more than 30,000 residents and 1,400 pets.
Help desperately needed
On Thursday, some residents returned to their homes, only to find their belongings soaked and destroyed. Heaps of drenched furniture, mattresses and toys were piled up on lawns as owners struggled to find anything salvageable.
Nathan Teaford said many residents have no protection from floods.
“There’s areas that are not in a flood plain. They’ve never required flood insurance and never thought that something like this would happen because they were above elevation,” he said.
Teaford left his suburban Baton Rouge home in a truck. He came back in a boat.
The costliest US floods
Hurricane Katrina in 2005: $16.3 billion
Superstorm Sandy in 2012: $8.3 billion
Hurricane Ike in 2008: $2.7 billion
Hurricane Ivan in 2004: $1.6 billion
Hurricane Irene in 2011: $1.3 billion
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency
But he was one of the lucky ones; the floodwater stopped at his foundation. Many of his neighbors, though, were not as fortunate.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said at least 40,000 homes have suffered at least some damage. It’s not clear how many are uninhabitable.
He called on volunteers to help clean out mud from homes.
“Not everyone can do this on their own,” the governor said. He said anyone interested in helping can visit VolunteerLouisiana.gov.
The Red Cross has also asked for donations to help more than 7,000 people in emergency shelters.
“Thousands more are without power in hot, humid conditions,” the aid group said.
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Baron Leblanc, left, and George Snyder move a refrigerator out of George's flooded home in St. Amant on Thursday, August 18. More than 30,000 people have been rescued in southern Louisiana after heavy rains caused flooding. "This is a major disaster," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has said.
PHOTO:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A Virgin Mary statue is barely visible in front of a flooded home in St. Amant on August 18.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Flooding affects a chicken coop in Sorrento on August 17.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Kade Lewis helps gut his grandparents' home in Walker on Wednesday, August 17, after flooding.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Caskets float in floodwaters near a cemetery in Gonzales on August 17.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A man talks on his phone while helping salvage items from a house in Denham Springs on August 17.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Gary Schexnayder stands in a flooded street in Sorrento as an early morning fog blankets the area August 17.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
David Key looks outside his flooded home in Prairieville on Tuesday, August 16.
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Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Raymond Lieteau waits for help to move a refrigerator as his friend Melissa Lockhart helps clean up the living room in his flood-damaged home in Baton Rouge on August 16. Lieteau had more than 5 feet of water in his home.
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Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Danny and Alys Messenger canoe away from their flooded home in Prairieville on August 16.
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Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A pickup truck is partially submerged in Port Vincent, Louisiana, on August 16.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Cattle are driven through a flooded road in Sorrento as they are herded to trucks on August 16.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
People sort through water-damaged products outside Jasmine's Beauty Supply in Baton Rouge on August 16.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A man navigates a boat of rescued goats past a partially submerged car in Gonzales on August 16.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Noel Michael holds up a cell-phone photo of her flooded home in Livingston, Louisiana, on Monday, August 15.
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Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Ann Chapman, from the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, carries a dog she helped rescue in Baton Rouge on August 15.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Eli Turnage hands out water to people waiting in line at Carter's Supermarket in Livingston on August 15.
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Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A boy in Baton Rouge rides his bike inside the flood-damaged Life Tabernacle Church on August 15.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Ryan Evans makes his way through Baton Rouge on August 15.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Robert Enfinger and his wife, Michelle, spend the night in a church that had been turned into an evacuation shelter in Walker.
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Tracy Thornton walks to his house through a flooded neighborhood in Baton Rouge on August 15.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Floodwaters surround prefabricated houses in Denham Springs on August 15.
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BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Evacuees spend time together at the church shelter in Walker on August 15.
PHOTO:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
An American flag hangs in floodwaters in Walker on August 15.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Danielle Blount and her 3-month-old baby, Ember, wait to be rescued by the Louisiana Army National Guard near Walker on Sunday, August 14.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Members of the Louisiana Army National Guard help people near Walker on August 14.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Youngsville police Chief Rickey Boudreaux takes a break from helping flood victims to view the damage to his own home on August 14.
PHOTO:
Scott Clause/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Jennifer Bernard and her dog, Shelby, travel by kayak down the flooded streets of Youngsville on August 14.
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Scott Clause/The Layfayette Advertiser/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Floodwaters inundate a street in Youngsville on August 14.
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Scott Clause/The Layfayette Advertiser/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A girl takes her horse out on a dry road near Walker on August 14.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Emergency personnel rescue flood victims near Walker on August 14.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Those displaced by the flooding wait to board National Guard trucks at a Denham Springs church on August 14.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Residents evacuate Hammond, Louisiana, with food in ice chests on Saturday, August 13.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Floodwaters overwhelm businesses in Hammond on August 13.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Jeff Robinson lowers a ladder from a National Guard truck as his wife wades through floodwaters near their home in Baptist, Louisiana, on August 13.
PHOTO:
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
An aerial view of flood-damaged homes in Hammond on August 13.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Tammie Wise holds her dog, Mikey, after Jeffrey Lesage helped rescue them in Central, Louisiana, on August 13.
PHOTO:
Travis Spradling/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A resident wades through floodwaters at apartments near Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
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Brianna Paciorka/The Advocate/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A firefighter brings luggage to hotel guests during an evacuation of the Fairfield Inn in Lafayette, Louisiana, on August 13.
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Brad Kemp/The Advocate/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
People ride an all-terrain vehicle through a flooded neighborhood in Carencro, Louisiana, on August 13.
PHOTO:
Scott Clause/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
The Tangipahoa River overflows near the towns of Amite, Independence, Tickfaw and Robert on August 13.
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Ted Jackson/The Times-Picayune/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Officials close down an exit off Interstate 55 south in Independence as floodwaters creep closer to the highway on August 13.
PHOTO:
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Jeremy and Chelsea LeMieux paddle through floodwaters in Carencro on August 13.
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Scott Clause/The Lafayette Advertiser/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Rescue personnel and civilians team up to pull people from their homes along the Tangipahoa River on August 13.
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Ted Jackson/The Times-Picayune/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
Cattle huddle together in floodwaters near Hammond on August 13.
PHOTO:
Max Becherer/AP
Photos: Louisiana flooding is 'major disaster,' governor says
A firefighter helps a resident in Baton Rouge on Friday, August 12.
PHOTO:
Gerald Herbert/AP
At least a dozen parishes are still under flood warnings Thursday, with scattered storms in the forecast, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said.
“River levels are expected to continue to fall, but some will remain in flood (stages) at least through the weekend,” he said.
And given Louisiana’s topography, this recovery will be exceptionally slow.
“It’s flat. So unlike West Virginia, where water just runs into the river and goes down, it goes down very slowly” in Louisiana, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.
“This is a very lumbering, slow, slow flood. It’s going to be with us still for many, many days.”
CNN’s Rosa Flores reported from Livingston Parish, and Holly Yan reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN’s Azadeh Ansari, Christina Zdanowicz, Scott McLean, Lizzie Jury, Joe Sutton and Dave Alsup contributed to this report.