WRKF News

More than 135,000 south Louisiana households have applied for FEMA assistance, and the latest estimate of damaged homes exceeds 85,000. That was before six more parishes were added to the disaster declaration last Friday.

Hotel rooms are full; apartments are hard to find; and people are living with family and even in tents in their front yards.

Now that it’s September, it’s official. State climatologist Barry Keim says August 2016 is Louisiana’s wettest August on record – due to the mid-month event that caused historic flooding.

More than 135-thousand south Louisiana households have applied for FEMA assistance thus far. But many of those who’ve received their awards already are – shall we say? – disappointed.

“When FEMA first come in and announced $33-thousand, that’s what people heard.,” state Senator Bodi White complained. “It’s that one line soundbite, and everything else, they don’t hear that. And, you know, it’s not true.”

Sunday morning, August 14th, you awaken to find water rising in your home. You reach for your cell phone to call for help and – no service.

“You can’t get help. You’re looking for family members. You have to find a place to stay. You need transportation, and on, and on, and on,” Public Service Commissioner Lambert Boissiere recounted during Wednesday’s PSC meeting.

As South Louisiana settles into recovery mode following historic flooding, the State Bond Commission met Tuesday to talk about Louisiana’s fiscal situation.