TEXAS STORM -The death toll from Harvey is expected to climb after surpassing 30 on Wednesday. Officials fear the number of fatalities will climb sharply in coming days as neighbors, emergency workers and family members search for the missing. Experts don't expect the death toll from Harvey to come anywhere close to that of Hurricane Katrina, when 1,800 people died. Many of those flood-related fatalities came when a levee broke and water inundated New Orleans. Parts of southwest Louisiana did get heavy rainfall when Tropical Storm Harvey made landfall a second time when it reached Lake Charles, Louisiana Wednesday. Although some neighborhoods were flooded and hundreds were rescued from their homes, Louisiana fared much better than neighboring Texas.
At his press conference yesterday, Governor John Bel Edwards said Louisiana fared much better than neighboring Texas and that resources were being shared in the rescue / relief efforts. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents were assisting their Texas counterparts in nearby Port Arthur as were members of the Louisiana National Guard. Persons wishing to travel to and from the southern part of Louisiana into Texas are advised to avoid Interstate 10 as parts are underwater. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser urged people to not take their boats into the areas impacted by floodwaters impulsively. Persons wishing to help in the recovery effort are encouraged to go to the website: http://VolunteerLouisiana.gov.
