The Latest: Flood damage at least $110M to Louisiana ag
The Latest on Louisiana flooding (all times local):
4:30 p.m.
The LSU AgCenter estimates that the floods in south Louisiana have caused at least $110 million worth of damage to agriculture — and the figure is likely to grow.
Economist Kurt Guidry says in a news release that factors include damage to crop yield and quality, damage to infrastructure and loss of stored commodities. He says typical summer rains could slow the fall of floodwaters, delaying harvest and doing even more damage.
Guidry says few soybeans were harvested before the floods, and that crop has about $46 million in known damage.
He says rice is likely to take a $33 million hit, corn $10 million and sugarcane at least $3 million.
Guidry says livestock deaths are not yet clear. He says reduced pasture and forage will cost producers nearly $2 million.
___
12 p.m.
More than 2,800 people remain in shelters a week after the devastating flooding that wrecked homes across south Louisiana.
The Department of Children and Family Services announced the latest figure Monday.
The storm and its flooding have damaged an estimated 60,000 homes and forced thousands to seek temporary housing with relatives, friends or shelters.
More than 106,000 people have registered for federal disaster aid, with the state saying $20 million has been distributed to individuals so far.
At least 40 state highways remained closed.
___
11:45 p.m.
The grace period for renewing flood insurance policies in south Louisiana parishes heavily damaged by flooding has been extended to 120 days.
FEMA announced the extension Monday, saying it gives policyholders "one less thing to worry about" while they're trying to repair homes and respond to the disaster.
Usually, homeowners have 30 days from when coverage ends to renew their insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program.
The 120-day grace period applies to the 20 parishes included in the federal disaster declaration. The extension applies to flood insurance policies with a 30-day grace period that ends sometime between Aug. 11 and Sept. 10.
FEMA says more than 25,000 flood insurance policyholders have submitted claims for losses during Louisiana's catastrophic flooding so far.
___
9:55 a.m.
Hillary Clinton says she will visit flood-damaged Louisiana when "the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response."
In a statement Monday, the Democratic presidential nominee called the floods a crisis in need of a national response. She noted that she had asked supporters to contribute to the Red Cross to help recovery efforts for the more than 100,000 people affected by the floods.
Clinton added that she wants to make sure there is a focus on Zika prevention, so that the mosquitoes that carry the virus don't spread to Louisiana.
Republican nominee Donald Trump visited Louisiana on Friday and President Barack Obama is expected Tuesday. Heavy flooding this month killed at least 13 people and displaced thousands more after water engulfed their homes.
___
7:45 a.m.
Vermilion parish officials have lifted the evacuation order for the town of Gueydan (GAY'-dahn).
Rebecca Broussard (BROO'-sahrd), director of emergency preparedness for the parish, tells The Advertiser (http://bit.ly/2bYjWmp) Sunday it's safe for all residents to return home.
The levee along Louisiana Highway 713 just north of Gueydan was breached on Wednesday.
Volunteers from the town of about 1,500 residents worked around the clock bring in equipment and begin repairs.
Helicopters carried 4,000-pound sandbags dropped them along the levee. By the time the breach was contained Saturday, Broussard said 333 of the sandbags had been dropped.
___
7:10 a.m.
The south Louisiana floods, which have forced tens of thousands of people to look for housing, comes at a time when the metro Baton Rouge housing market was already grappling with a limited inventory of homes.
As of July, the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors' Multiple Listing Service found there were 3,382 homes on the market in the metro areas.
In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, Ginger Maulden, president-elect of the Baton Rouge realtor's group, tells The Advocate (http://bit.ly/2bzML73) she expects the inventory will drop even lower. Maulden says some people who had listed their property may end up taking it off the market and letting displaced family or friends live there. She says some homes that were listed may have been damaged by floodwaters and can't be sold.
___
5:45 a.m. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is opening three disaster recovery centers in Louisiana to help those affected by the recent flooding.
The centers will open Monday in Baton Rouge, Amite and St. Francisville.
FEMA says the centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Representatives from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, FEMA, the Small Business Administration, volunteer groups and other agencies are at the centers to answer questions about disaster assistance and low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.
___
2:05 a.m.
A man who lost most of his worldly goods in the Louisiana flooding says he and his wife are thankful their family survived. And, Chuck Craft jokes: "I guess God wanted me to de-clutter."
He and his wife, Karen, live outside Walker, a small town near Baton Rouge. They're among the thousands of Louisiana residents dragging water-logged furniture, appliances and other belongings out to the garbage.
The church they attend, South Walker Baptist, has become an oasis by providing sustenance for the body and soul. With help from the community and donations from across the U.S., the congregation of about 100 is providing shelter, meals and basics such as toothpaste and diapers.