iStock/Thinkstock(BATON ROUGE, La.) — Most residents of southeastern Louisiana’s Livingston Parish, in the Baton Rouge area, are facing total loss after days of deadly, devastating flooding, according to a local official.
Of the 54,000 homes in Livingston Parish, authorities estimate that 80 percent of residents will face a total loss when they return home, parish Sheriff Jason Ard told ABC News.
In 24 hours, 21 inches of rain fell in Livingston Parish — just under the 24-hour state record of 22 inches, set in 1962.
About 30,000 people have been rescued from the floodwaters, and about 12,000 people are in shelters, officials said.
At least eight people have died.
President Barack Obama declared a federal emergency in the state on Sunday.
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