A state emergency has been declared for parts of Louisiana after flash floods soaked parts of the state. WVLA-TV reports.
By msnbc.com staff
States of emergency were in force Tuesday in four Louisiana parishes after torrential rain left homes and roads under several feet of water. More than 100 residents fled their homes and dozens of motorists had to be rescued.
Flooding closed the major highway through St. Landry Parish, and many roads across the four parishes remained closed on Tuesday.
"In my 28 years in law enforcement I have never seen the interstate closed," St. Landry Sheriff's Capt. Jimmy Darbonne told weather.com.
Dozens of homes in Carencro, a town in Lafayette Parish, were evacuated on Monday when some 15 inches of rain fell within five hours.
"We had up to 7 feet of water on some streets," said Capt. Kip Judice, the local sheriff's spokesman. "We had no deaths or injuries but a lot of near calls."
About 100 Carencro residents took refuge Monday evening at a Red Cross shelter, and several area schools were closed Tuesday.
Carencro flood images via NBC33TV.com
John Bruce / St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Department
This highway intersection in St. Martin Parish, La., was among the areas cut off Monday by flooding.
Flooding also hit Acadia and St. Martin parishes.
"Essentially, you saw about one quarter of a year’s worth of rainfall fall within about five hours," The Baton Rouge Advocate quoted Mike Marcotte, a National Weather Service forecaster, as saying. "I’m sure the people that were involved in this will remember and they should remember because it’s going to be something that won’t be repeated for a long time to come."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook
