Louisiana parish sees rain, flooding

March 12, 2012 at 3:34 p.m.

by The Associated Press

City of Carencro workers help 93-year-old Anais Guilbeau from her home after water flooded it Monday, March 12, 2012. Guilbeau said she has lived in the home since 1948 and has never seen flooding like this. The city workers said they had rescued “around 15” citizens from the flood as of 11 a.m.
City of Carencro workers help 93-year-old Anais Guilbeau from her home after water flooded it Monday, March 12, 2012. Guilbeau said she has lived in the home since 1948 and has never seen flooding like this. The city workers said they had rescued “around 15” citizens from the flood as of 11 a.m.

CARENCRO, La. — Lafayette Parish has declared a state of emergency after dozens of houses flooded in and north of Carencro, where a daycare center evacuated children to City Hall as heavy thunderstorms stalled between Lafayette and Opelousas and dumped up to 15 inches of rain.

The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness also has mobilized resources to help respond to the flooding.

National Weather Service spokesman Joe Rua in Lake Charles says radar indicated up to 15 inches of rainfall by noon Monday in Acadiana. More was on the way, though not as heavy as earlier in the day.

Louisiana State Police closed Interstate 49 between Lafayette and Opelousas.

Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Kip Judice says about 40 households in and north of Carencro sought help leaving their flooded homes.

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