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NEWS | March 14, 2016

Louisiana Guard expands flood fight to southern part of state

By Sgt. 1st Class Denis Ricou Louisiana National Guard

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard was continuing Monday to assist local agencies respond to significant flooding from north to south, working around the clock since March 9.

The LANG, as directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, has about 1,340 Guard members responding to flood operations in at least 25 parishes.

Guard tasks include evacuations, search and rescue by vehicle, boat and helicopter, distribution and supply of water, security and shelter support and sandbag distribution.

Over the course of these operations, the LANG has used more than 160 high-water vehicles, 44 boats, and three helicopters.

The LANG has rescued more than 4,255 people and 354 pets, according to the LANG.

Louisiana National Guard troops have distributed more than 71,500 bottles of water and issued more than 1,008,000 sand bags with eight sandbag-filling machines.

Guard members in Texas and Mississippi were also assisting local authorities cope with flooding. According to figures from the National Guard Bureau, Texas had 61 personnel on state active duty and Mississippi had 86 troops working. Mississippi's involvement with the response was completed Monday.