More Local Firefighters, Deputies Being Sent to South Louisiana

A new team of sheriff's deputies and a third fire department unit deploy to Baton Rouge this afternoon.

The Caddo Sheriff's Office is sending six deputies to south Louisiana to assist with flooding and patrol requests.

The deputies, part of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association Emergency Task Force, leave at 2 p.m. from the substation on North Market Street. They'll be assisting with patrol duties in Livingston Parish.

Other deputies will be returning home today after spending several days in East Baton Rouge Parish helping with rescue operations in flooded neighborhoods.

In addition, Fire Chief Scott Wolverton has received another request from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for even more manpower and resources.

USAR Task Force III will be heading south, tentatively at 1 p.m. The team is made up of two Bossier City firefighters, 16 Shreveport firefighters, two cadaver K-9s, a live search K-9, a K-9 response truck and the Urban Search and Rescue Truck with all of its special equipment.

"LA Task Force III will be tasked with conducting secondary searches in the flooded homes as the water recedes," said Fire Chief Scott Wolverton. "We will be joining LA Task Force I from New Orleans to accomplish this request. LA Task Force II in Baton Rouge is not available due to the impact to their area. This would be a potential deployment of 14 days searching with K-9 dogs for any survivors or fatalities."

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office posted the following message on its Facebook page:

We no longer have any requests for rescues and the water is continuing to recede. We've gone through in the northern parts of the parish to check for any remaining stranded residents. Our call volume has decreased significantly.

 

We've completed all requests for rescues in the southern parts of the parish. We are still working in Mallard Lakes and Santa Maria due to high water. We are also going through and clearing streets to make sure roads are open at this time.

"The City of Shreveport is glad to be in a position to help those in south Louisiana who are facing difficult times," said Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler. "As public servants, we are always ready and willing to help others in need."