Flooding Devastates Parts of Louisiana, US

by Kilian SC · August 24, 2016

(CNS photo/Jonathan Bachman, Reuters)

A statue of Mary is seen partially submerged in flood water in Sorrento, Louisiana. Historic flooding in southern Louisiana killed at least 13 people and damaged an estimated 60,000 homes, said state officials.

At least 102,000 people have registered for federal recovery assistance. The flooding has been called the worst US natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy.

“As we all know the severe flooding in many areas of our diocese has dramatically affected the well-being and livelihood of countless people,” said Baton Rouge Bishop Robert W. Muench.
“To those so impacted I express genuine empathy, heartfelt solidarity and commitment to help as best as we can,” he said, adding his thanks “to those who have so impressively and sacrificially reached out to serve.” He called the “outpouring of concern” extraordinary in “our area and beyond.”

News reports said the civil entity of East Baton Rouge Parish was the hardest hit of parishes in the region by the heavy rains that fell Aug. 11-14. In some areas, as much as 61cm of rain fell in 48 hours; in another, more than 79cm of rain fell in 15 hours.
Civil authorities reported that at least 13 people died in the floods and that about 60,000 homes were damaged, although a Baton Rouge economic development group put the number of damaged houses at 110,000. The Red Cross put the overall cost of recovery at $30 million.