Louisiana Seeks Disaster Declaration

Because of the heavy rainfall and flooding that hit the Louisiana in mid-May, Governor Bobby Jindal asked President Bush to declare a disaster in a number of parishes.

In a letter sent through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region VI, Jindal asked that the declaration cover the parishes of Bossier, Caddo, East Carroll, Livingston, Tangipahoa and Washington.

Jindal says nearly 700 homes across the state received some level of damage from the severe weather, which hit the state May 13-15. In addition, he said, $2.5 million worth of damage was assessed to public structures in the affected parishes.

At least one person was killed when a pecan tree fell onto a camper in Grosse Tete.