News Aug 14 2016, 3:29 pm ET Louisiana Flooding: At Least Three Dead, 7000+ Rescued

EAST BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — More than 7,000 people have been rescued from their homes after massive floods swept across the state, and officials warned Sunday that even though the rain had subsided, dangers loomed.
"It's not over," said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Sunday. "The water's going to rise in many areas. It's no time to let the guard down."
Edwards said crews had already rescued 7,000 people from their deluged homes. More than 5,000 people stayed in Red Cross and government-run shelters Saturday night, Department of Children & Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters added.
The flooding has left at least three people dead, and a fourth person was reported missing in the floodwaters in St. Helena's Parish, officials said.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards — who declared a state of emergency —called the floods "unprecedented" and "historic."
The heavy rain began on Friday, with between 6 and 10 inches of rain falling on parts of southeast Louisiana. Several more inches fell Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
In a 24-hour period, Baton Rouge had as much as 11 inches, according to The Associated Press.
Edwards said Sunday he didn't know how many homes had been damaged in the state, but "it's in the thousands," he said.
Sunday brought drier weather, but residents in affected areas were warned to stay in their homes — unless they're told to evacuate — and off the roads. "Even a typical afternoon summer thunderstorm has the potential to cause flooding," Edwards said.
The Amite River in Denham Springs already has reached historic levels and is expected to rise 4 1/2 feet above the record, according to The Weather Channel.
Livingston Parish was among the hardest hit, with some towns completely cut off. Hundreds of motorists were stranded along the local interstate, according to officials.
More than 1,700 rescue personnel have been mobilized and nearly 170 high-water vehicles tasked or staged to assist the efforts, according to the Louisiana National Guard. An additional 800 guardsmen will likely be deployed.
The U.S. Coast Guard was also assisting in the rescue efforts, using helicopters to help residents from their rooftops, cars and trailers.

(by Gabe Gutierrez, Cassandra Vinograd and Elisha Fieldstadt)

 (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/reality-check-america-already-great-or-rapid-decline-n617101)