Floods Affect 850 Homes in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. — Floodwaters that damaged at least 850 homes in southeastern Louisiana began a slow retreat in some areas Sunday, but a threat of further flooding remained.

A 50% chance of rain was forecast for today in the Baton Rouge area, which was hardest hit by flooding that began on Friday after a week of rain.

Flooding was worst in neighboring East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes, the National Weather Service said. The floods were said to be the worst in the area since 1983.

Bertha Helmke of Baton Rouge told how she helped haul her family’s belongings out of her home on Friday and then sat back and watched the water pour in for the third time in 13 years.

“Throughout the whole thing I didn’t shed a tear, but now it’s all hitting me,” Helmke said. “ . . . I don’t know what to do.”

Floodwaters isolated several subdivisions.

Terry Felder of Denham Springs said that despite the floods, he will stay.

“This is a minor inconvenience,” Felder said. “It’s not something that’s going to sneak up on you.”