While Mississippi is dealing with its fair share of flooding and storm damage, it is much worst in neighboring Louisiana.
Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency on Thursday for Louisiana in the wake extensive flooding and severe storms that also produced the first U.S. tornadoes of the year in the state.
Jindal said seven parishes including Acadia, Avoyelles, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Livingston and St. Landry parishes have already declared local states of emergency to help residents deal with flooding and prepare for further rainfall ahead over the weekend.
The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said they expect more parishes to declare local emergencies in the days ahead as storm damage is assessed.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), portions of central and southern Louisiana have received eight to more than foot of rainfall since Wednesday.
St. Landry Parish spokeswoman Megan Vizena said 30 percent of the area was underwater.
Authorities in Franklin Parish evacuated 118 people after seven inches of rain washed over some roads and bridges, the NWS reported.
In Acadia, rescuers reportedly saved close to 80 people from rising water, including 20 at an oil well.
In addition to the excessive rainfall and flooding, the NWS says at least two tornadoes touched down in southern Louisiana.
The first tornado touched down in Breaux Bridge in St. Martin Parish around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, damaging an estimated 50 homes, according to the NWS. The tornado was about 50 yards wide and was on the ground for three miles.
The second tornado touched down about three miles southeast of New Iberia just before 6 a.m. Thursday, sporadically causing damaging in Iberia Parish. Twelve mobile homes were damaged with three pushed off their foundations, trees were snapped and several outbuildings were destroyed.
A third unconfirmed tornado was captured on an industrial plant security camera, ripping across the Plaquemine area of Iberville Parish around 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
Fortunately, no one was reported injured in these tornadoes, although, hundreds have been evacuated and dozens of homes have been damaged or destroyed in the floods and tornadoes.
The Louisiana National Guard is on standby and has already sent high-water trucks to some areas.
Jindal's statewide declaration frees up additional resources for parishes to deal with flooding, and lasts until at least Feb. 9.
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