More than 20,000 people were rescued after massive floods in Louisiana and officials warned that despite rain subsiding, water levels will continue to rise.
More than 10,000 people were in Baton Rouge area shelters, Gov. John Bel Edwards told NBC News on Sunday night, calling the flooding “unprecedented, historic.”
“It’s not over,” Edwards told the network. “The water’s going to rise in many areas. It’s no time to let the guard down.”
Edwards fled the governor’s mansion with his family because of flooding, according to USA Today.
NBC said the heavy rain began Friday as 6 to 10 inches fell on southeast parts of the state. Several more inches fell Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
The flooding killed at least four people. The latest casualty was reported on Sunday night as officials confirmed that a 59-year-old man was swept away by a current while walking along a road in Tangipahoa City on Friday. The man, who was not identified, drowned, Devin George, director of the state registrar, told NBC.
The Coast Guard in Baton Rouge rescued more than 50 people from rooftops, cars and trailers from helicopters and boats due to the flooding.
The Amite River in Denham Springs has already reached historic levels and is expected to rise 4½ feet above the record, according to The Weather Channel.
More than 1,700 rescue personnel were mobilized and nearly 170 high-water vehicles were tasked or staged, according to the Louisiana National Guard. An additional 800 guardsmen probably will be deployed.
Also deployed were 170 high-water vehicles, 20 boats and five helicopters, according to CNN, which showed dramatic video of a rescuer tossing a PFD to a woman and rescuing her dog.
The state Transportation Department told NBC that more than 100 roads had been closed.
This post originally appeared here.
