Two Red Cross volunteers from northwest Louisiana will join four others and the Emergency Response Vehicle already serving flood victims to our south.

Local American Red Cross chapter director Michelle Davison said Sheniqua Washington and Fernando Lugo from Shreveport left the Shreveport office this afternoon to head to south Louisiana. They'll be supporting sheltering efforts in the affected areas.

The Red Cross is helping at least 4,700 people in dozens of emergency shelters after what's reportedly been unprecedented flooding that's left 15 rivers in record flood stage.

We experienced record flooding in March, but Davison told me the flooding in the southern part of the state was even worse than that.

"In March, we had 31 parishes that were impacted, but there were really only a handful that were impacted so greatly that it was catastrophic for the parishes," Davison said. "In this one, we have more than 40 shelters open, we have, I think, 27 parishes that are impacted. So it's almost as great in size as the March flood, but...just the live water rescues by themselves, the number is so much greater than what we had in March."

Brad Kieserman, Vice President of Disaster Services Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross, said this is by far our largest sheltering effort in Louisiana since Hurricane Isaac.

Davison is saying the closest parish to us that's seen significant flooding is Lafayette. Rapides is one of the areas where emergency officials are keeping an eye on neighborhoods for signs of potential flooding.

Disaster volunteers are opening shelters, and providing meals and comfort to thousands of residents who have had to evacuate their homes. Many of them have had to leave with only the clothes on their backs.

To help people affected by the Louisiana Floods, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recovery from these disasters.

FLOODING SAFETY INFORMATION

The Red Cross has steps people should follow to remain safe:

1. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and heed evacuation orders when given. When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there.

2. Stay away from floodwaters.

3. If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.

4. Keep children out of the water.

5. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP

Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to receive emergency alerts and information about what to do in case of flooding and other disasters, as well as locations of shelters. The App also includes emergency first aid information and a Family Safe feature which allows people to instantly see if loved ones are okay. The free Emergency App is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

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