Louisiana Amateur Radio Emergency Service Volunteers Standing Down
08/20/2016
ARRL.org
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[UPDATED 2016-08-21@1342 UTC]

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Amateur Radio volunteers from Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi volunteered to serve at multiple Red Cross chapters and shelters throughout the affected area. With local and parish resources stretched to the limit, ham radio volunteers have been serving as the communication link between Red Cross shelters and command centers, relaying information on the needs at each shelter back to Red Cross offices.

Brad Kieserman, the Vice President of Disaster Services Operations and Logistics for the American Red Cross, called the flooding disaster “the worst to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy, and we anticipate it will cost at least $30 million – a number which may grow as we learn more about the scope and magnitude of the devastation.”

According to estimates, more than 40,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of residents displaced. The flooding also left 13 people dead. As of early today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was reporting that about 3100 evacuees remained in Red Cross shelters. The Louisiana Emergency Operations Center remains at full activation, and more than 2800 National Guard personnel have been conducting flood relief operations around the clock.

According to FEMA, significant river flooding will persist into next week across portions of southern Louisiana, due to heavy rainfall late last week. Major flooding will mainly be along portions of the Mermentau and Vermilion rivers into next week. Backwater flooding southeast of Baton Rouge is also expected to continue into next week, especially impacting St John the Baptist, St James, Ascension, Iberville, East Baton Rouge, and Livingston parishes.