Published August 15, 2016
The Latest on flooding in the Deep South (all times local):
5:45 a.m.
The Louisiana Department of Health has opened a special needs shelter in the field house on the LSU campus for those affected by the flooding in the Baton Rouge area.
Spokesman Bob Johannessen said Sunday night the shelter is for people with special medical conditions.
Johannessen said the shelter is designed for individuals who are homebound, chronically ill or who have disabilities and are in need of medical or nursing care, and have no other place to get care.
He says those seeking shelter will be screened by nurses to determine the level of care needed. Only people who meet admission criteria can be sheltered.
If a person's condition is too critical, they will be referred to a hospital for sheltering or admission. If their condition isn't severe enough for the medical special needs shelter, they'll be referred to a general shelter.
___
2:10 a.m.
Thousands of people are living in shelters after rising waters forced them to flee their homes in southern Louisiana.
Gov. John Bel Edwards says more than 10,000 people are in shelters and more than 20,000 people have been rescued from their homes.
One of those shelters is the Baton Rouge River Center, a major events location in the capital city's downtown. It was opened Sunday night to handle the large numbers of evacuees.
The federal government has declared a major disaster in four parishes following widespread flooding across southeastern Louisiana.
Edwards said President Barack Obama called him and said the people of southern Louisiana are in his thoughts and prayers and that the federal government will be a solid partner.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-latest-special-needs-shelter-on-lsu-campus