The Flooding Affecting Louisiana and Surrounding Areas

[Unkotare]

Is a terrible tragedy and burden for our fellow Americans. It is heartbreaking to see Americans facing the irresistible power of nature, but in all such instances we also see the true nature of Americans pulling together to help one another. It is too easy to lose heart when we see the consequences of decades of irresponsible and destructive political rhetoric (now coming from the very highest offices) in places like Milwaukee last night, but we must also remember things like this:

 

[dannyboys]

The school buses in The Chocolate City had no diesel fuel to start them.
The people (family members) Negun put in charge of the City school bus system imbecilidad the money intended for buying the diesel fuel.
Not once but TWICE.
The City finally had to institute a program where the buses were only allowed to fill up at City run fuel depots. The problem was the fucking diesel fuel IN the school bus tanks was syphoned off so the buses couldn't get to the City run fuel depots when the flooding started.

 

[Lucy Hamilton]

Is a terrible tragedy and burden for our fellow Americans. It is heartbreaking to see Americans facing the irresistible power of nature, but in all such instances we also see the true nature of Americans pulling together to help one another. It is too easy to lose heart when we see the consequences of decades of irresponsible and destructive political rhetoric (now coming from the very highest offices) in places like Milwaukee last night, but we must also remember things like this:

What happened last night in Milwaukee? Are they flooded?

That man deserves a medal, rescuing the woman and her little dog, the dog is very cute.

I'd like to think that most people would have done as that man did, I would have gone into the water to get that woman and her little dog.

 

[dannyboys]

Is a terrible tragedy and burden for our fellow Americans. It is heartbreaking to see Americans facing the irresistible power of nature, but in all such instances we also see the true nature of Americans pulling together to help one another. It is too easy to lose heart when we see the consequences of decades of irresponsible and destructive political rhetoric (now coming from the very highest offices) in places like Milwaukee last night, but we must also remember things like this:

What happened last night in Milwaukee? Are they flooded?

That man deserves a medal, rescuing the woman and her little dog, the dog is very cute.

I'd like to think that most people would have done as that man did, I would have gone into the water to get that woman and her little dog.

Police shooting in Milwaukee sparks violent protest
Just the usual. 'Young negro man' get's into a fight with a LEO.
The LEO shoots the violent thug.
The 'bonobos' go on their usual Saturday night violent rampage burning their own shithole.
Yaaaaawn!

 

[Hiryuu]

Is a terrible tragedy and burden for our fellow Americans. It is heartbreaking to see Americans facing the irresistible power of nature, but in all such instances we also see the true nature of Americans pulling together to help one another. It is too easy to lose heart when we see the consequences of decades of irresponsible and destructive political rhetoric (now coming from the very highest offices) in places like Milwaukee last night, but we must also remember things like this:

In some places you don't have to have a political agenda or government policy in order to know how to help your neighbors.

 

[waltky]

Louisiana hit hard by inundating rains...

Rising floodwaters leaves thousands homeless in Louisiana
August 15, 2016 — Robert and Gwen Arceneaux endured a sleepless night Sunday after noticing floodwater creeping into their home — in a neighborhood that had never seen water before.

They gathered up their dogs and a few bags of belongings and fled out the back door, eventually wading through waist-deep water to a passing National Guard truck — joining the more than 20,000 people rescued from their homes in a still-growing tragedy across southern Louisiana. Now safe at a movie studio-lot-turned-shelter their worries weren't over, as they tried to get medication for Robert, who suffers from lung cancer. "We need to get somewhere safer," Gwen said, as her dogs panted heavily under the hot sun. Across southern Louisiana Sunday, residents scrambled to get to safety as rivers and creeks burst their banks, swollen from days of heavy rain that in some areas came close to two feet over a 48-hour period.

In high-water vehicles, boats and helicopters, emergency crews hurried to rescue scores of south Louisiana residents as the governor warned that it was not over. More than 10,000 people are in shelters and the Baton Rouge River Center — usually reserved for major events — was sheltering evacuees. From the air homes in southwest Louisiana looked more like little islands surrounded by flooded fields. Farmland was covered, streets descended into impassable pools of water, shopping centers were inundated with only roofs of cars peeking above the water. From the ground it was just as catastrophic. Drivers tried to navigate treacherous roads where the water lapped at the side or covered the asphalt in a running stream. Abandoned cars were pushed to the side of the road, lawn furniture and children's toys floating through the waters.

The low pressure system that wreaked such havoc moved into Texas, but the National Weather Service warned that there's still danger of fresh floods, as swollen rivers drain toward the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the rivers have crested, but several are still rising. The federal government declared a major disaster in the state, specifically in the parishes of Tangipahoa, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge and Livingston. Edwards said President Barack Obama called him and said that "the people of south Louisiana are in his thoughts and prayers and the federal government will be a solid partner." Edwards called on people to refrain from going out to "sightsee" even as the weather gets better.

Four people have been reported dead, said Devin George, the state registrar for vital records, earlier Sunday. Later Sunday, a woman's body was recovered by divers from inside a flooded vehicle in East Baton Rouge Parish, appearing to raise the death toll to five. Witnesses said the woman was seen Saturday night attempting to turn around in high water when her vehicle was swept away, said Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

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Floodwaters disrupt life in Louisiana, over 3000 people rescued
Monday 15th August, 2016. - Many residents of Louisiana found themselves stranded off highways and homes as floodwaters inundated the Baton Rouge area. Calling the floods ldquo;historic,rdquo; Governornbsp;John Bel Edwardsnbsp;declared a state of emergency.

Rescue efforts picked up Sunday morning in Eastern Baton Rouge as teams evacuated two nursing homes in the area, informed Mike Steele, official of the Governor39;s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Emergency workers carried out over 2000 rescues carrying out those stranded at their homes and those stranded on the Interstate 12, which was closed from Baton Rouge to Tangipahoa Parish. The Louisiana Air National Guard (LANG) deployed 200 employees and 750 guardsmen for the rescue efforts. Additionally, the organisation employed 160 high water vehicles, 35 watercrafts and managed to rescue more than 3,000 people. Three deaths have been recorded so far in the incident.

The flooding that started Friday has damaged more than 1,000 homes in East Baton Rouge Parish, more than 1,000 homes in Livingston Parish and hundreds more in St. Helena and Tangipahoa parishes. In Denham Springs, a suburb of Baton Rouge, aerial surveys revealed submergence of entire shopping centers and cars. In Baker, north of Baton Rouge, residents were rescued by boats or risked wading through the snake infested flood waters to reach dry ground. A footage which has emerged from the floods shows a woman drowning in her convertible car when rescuers reach and pull her out from the roof. On her insistence, the rescuers are seen going back into the waters to save her dog. Both the woman and her pet were saved eventually.

Emergency teams were even forced to evacuate Governor Edwards and his family from the Governorrsquo;s Mansion as floodwaters filled the basement of the house. The governor surveyed the affected areas by helicopter on Saturday and warned citizens that it would be ldquo;too risky to venture outrdquo; even once the rains subside. "I'm still asking people to be patient. Don39;t get out and sightsee. Even when the weather is better, it's not safe", Edward said. Louisiana received heavy rainfall measuring 6-10 inches on Friday which intensified into floods. The torrential rains along the U.S. Gulf Coast have also threatened other states like Mississippi which has already declared a state of emergency in face of heavy rainfall.

Floodwaters disrupt life in Louisiana over 3000 people rescued

 

[waltky]

More damage than Superstorm Sandy...

Louisiana residents without flood insurance face uncertainty
August 22, 2016 - In areas that hadn't been considered at high risk for flooding, many residents did not purchase flood insurance.

Quenton Robins watched on Sunday morning as a giant metal claw clamped down on his mother's ruined belongings, snapping wooden cabinets with an audible crack as the operator of a giant mechanized arm slowly cleared a mound of debris from her yard in Baton Rouge. Five feet (1.5 meters) of water swept through the homes in the quiet Park Forest neighborhood just over a week ago, shocking residents who had been told they did not live in a flood zone. "It's not a flood zone," said Robins, a 27-year-old Navy veteran. "At least it didn't used to be." As efforts in Louisiana turn from rescue to recovery, renters and homeowners who do not have flood insurance are facing an uncertain financial future.

Private insurers do not cover flood damage and flood insurance in the United States is underwritten by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Homeowners who live in designated high-risk flood zones are required to carry flood insurance if they have a federally backed mortgage. In Louisiana, an estimated 42 percent of homes in high-risk areas have flood insurance, according to FEMA. Only 12.5 percent of homeowners in low and moderate-risk zones do. Many of the areas hit hard by record rainfall last week were not considered at high risk for flooding. Those residents without flood insurance are eligible for up to $33,000 in FEMA individual disaster assistance funds, although most will likely receive less than that, based on payments following other major disasters.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, FEMA paid $6.6 billion to approximately 1.07 million households and individuals in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, an average of just over $6,000 per grant, according to agency figures. Superstorm Sandy in 2012 produced an average payout of under $8,000 for about 180,000 residents of New York and New Jersey. FEMA spokesman Rafael Lemaitre said the individual assistance is intended to supplement insurance and to provide short-term relief for immediate needs. "It's not designed to make survivors whole again," said Lemaitre, adding that FEMA recommends all homeowners obtain flood insurance regardless of the risk in their area. He also said residents could apply for low-cost loans from the Small Business Administration.

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[Old Rocks]

And at the same time, we have huge fires here in the West. Numerous small towns in California have lost hundreds of home from the fires fueled by the ongoing drought. And the city of Spokane, Washington has major wildfires burning right at the city limits.

Right now, we Americans do need to pull together. The climate is now presenting us with problems in multiple regions.