Death Toll In Louisiana Floods Climbs As Many Find Themselves Living In Shelters
BATON ROUGE, La (CBSNewYork) -- The death toll in the Louisiana flooding has climbed to ten, and more than 11,000 people are in shelters.
While floodwaters have started to subside in some places, they are moving south now.
Larry Lee felt helpless as he watched flood waters swallow his town.
"I kind of expected it, but I just couldn't picture it," Lee told CBS2's Don Champion.
For days, residents in Sorrento -- south of Baton Rouge -- knew the water was coming. In just a matter of hours Lee's mother's home flooded. His could be next.
"I got a lot of friends that are losing everything. I got friends who rove out and lost everything," he said.
As the water rose, volunteers from a local college filled sandbags for homeowners determined to protect their property.
People in Sorrento and other parts of Ascension Parish said they're bracing for another foot of water by Tuesday night.
To the north in Baton Rouge, flood waters were finally receding.
Water was up to the roof of a home, the entire structure was finally visible Tuesday. The governor said 40,000 homes were damaged, and 20,000 people had to be rescued.
"We understand that there are still a lot of people who are suffering," Governor John Bel Edwards said.
Some flood victims were getting a first look at their homes.
"It looks devastating you know, but it's not. It's just something we're gonna deal with. Get better with it, and make it happen buddy," Craig Pourciau said.
Even with massive property damage, many residents were determined to rebuild.
More than 11,000 people are in shelters, and 30,000 homes and businesses are without power.
