Floods ravaged the US state of Louisiana Monday, leaving six people dead and thousands more forced to flee rising waters after days of catastrophic rainstorms.
More than 20,000 people had to evacuate their homes and as many as 10,000 were living in emergency shelters, officials said, after rains pummeled much of southern Louisiana starting last Thursday evening.
Over the weekend, rain accumulations totaled more than 20 inches in five parts of the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area.
Six people were killed, and 40,000 homes and business were without power, according to Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards quoted by ABC News.
The White House declared four parishes -- equivalent to counties in other states -- major disaster areas.
Television images showed residential areas covered in several feet of water, with cars and homes partially submerged.
While US media reported that floodwaters had begun to recede in some areas, they were flowing into others.
National Weather Service predicted that many waterways would remain above flood stage Monday. The agency continued to issue flood warnings, saying water in many areas would not recede at least for another day.
The Amite River, the source of flooding for many areas, had risen 14 feet above flood level in one reading, besting a previous record flood in April 1983, the NWS said.
The White House action makes emergency federal funding available to support rescue crews and the eventual recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Monday began asking those affected by the floods to apply for assistance, and officials said 11,000 people had already registered.
Officials reported that hundreds of roads, most in the southern parts of the state, were closed due to flooding.
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