Louisiana flooding: A look at the National Guard's herculean rescue efforts

[Editor's note: This story has been updated. It was first published at 2:07 p.m. Aug. 15.]

More than 3,300 Louisiana National Guard troops are working to rescue stranded residents and support relief operations after heavy flash flooding devastated 12 parishes in the state.

Since Friday, the Guard has rescued more than 7,600 people and 1,200 pets, officials say. More than 236 high-water vehicles have been mobilized.

“That’s what we are focused on, saving lives,” Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis, adjutant general of the Louisiana Guard, said in a news release.

The Guard also is assisting local and state first responders with engineering missions and security and shelter support. This includes providing shelter support at the Baton Rouge River Center beginning Sunday night at the direction of Gov. John Bel Edwards.

"As conditions change, we are transitioning and moving toward a 50 percent response — saving lives, search and rescue operations — and a 50 percent recovery effort [including] shelter security, commodities distribution, logistics and parish support," Curtis said Monday evening.
Guard helicopters also are conducting air drops of water and food to stranded motorists along Interstate 12.

Also participating in search and rescue operations are more than 60 boats.

Guard troops have distributed more than 714,000 sand bags, about 213,690 bottles of water, 260 tarps and 16,700 Meals, Ready to Eat. The Guard also has issued more than 2,200 cots and 1,700 blankets.
The Guard troops, alongside local and state first responders, have been working through the weekend as southern Louisiana faced torrential downpours that pushed rivers and creeks above flood stage — some areas saw close to two feet of rain over a 48-hour period, according to The Associated Press.

Six people have died, and thousands of people across the region were still hunkered down in shelters Monday, the AP reported.