"Louisiana Flooding Damage Reports, Still Preliminary, Are Sobering"

"Even as thousands of residents of southern Louisiana are returning to their flood-damaged homes, more danger could lie ahead as rain continues to fall and the full extent of the damage can't be known, according to state emergency response officials.

Preliminary casualty and damage reports are chilling. As we reported previously, 11 people are confirmed dead, 30,000 people were evacuated, and about 40,000 homes were damaged. And those are just preliminary numbers based on reports from 20 affected parishes, said Mike Steele, a spokesman for the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

"We still have to go out with FEMA to get a comprehensive assessment of the damage," said Steele. "It's still early in this process."

So far, about 70,000 people have applied for federal assistance, said Steele. And that number could climb, he said, with reports of more rain in some southeastern parishes. Steele said the opening of schools could be delayed for days."

Richard Gonzales reports for NPR August 17, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"Louisiana assesses flood damage as residents return to soaked homes" (Reuters)

Complete Flood Coverage (Baton Rouge Advocate)