State offices in the Louisiana parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge and Iberville were ordered closed Tuesday, May 18, due to extreme flooding, the governor’s office reported.
A day earlier, Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing severe weather impacting Southwest Louisiana. The National Weather Service has issued numerous flash flood warnings and tornado warnings for the area. Additional rains are expected across the state for the next several days.
Lake Charles, Louisiana, received more than 12.41 inches of rain on Monday, according to Accuweather, which reported that amount is the third-highest single-day rainfall total in Lake Charles’ history.
“Water rescues and other emergency actions have been necessary this afternoon as heavy rainfall fell across Southwest Louisiana,” Gov. Edwards said in a media release. “The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) stands ready to support our local partners with any emergency resources needed beyond their capabilities. We are only a few weeks away from the start of hurricane season, but this threat is the latest in a string of recent weather threats that remind us of the importance of preparedness and staying informed. And as the weather threat continues this week, I implore Louisianans to monitor their local weather forecasts and follow all instructions from local leaders.
A state of emergency is an administrative step that authorizes the use of state resources to aid in storm response efforts.
According to the NWS, a moderate risk of excessive rainfall remains through Thursday for the Central Gulf Coast to the Southern Plains.
“The showers and thunderstorms will produce heavy rain over the region producing numerous areas of flash flooding. Additionally, the heavy rain may cause many streams and possibly larger rivers to flood,” the NWS said.
The flood warning for the Lake Charles area has been extended until further notice, the NWS said.
Topics Louisiana
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Investment Funds File New Suits Over Lighthouse Insurance Collapse in 2022 
Progressive Gains as Drivers Shop Around for Auto Insurance—Again 
Former Congressman Charged After Collision with State Trooper in Florida 
FBI Says Chinese Hackers Preparing to Attack US Infrastructure 
