17 Harrowing Photos From the Louisiana Flooding You Haven’t Seen

By Eleanor Sheehan

Published on 8/17/2016 at 2:25 PM

After three days of rain totaling over 25 inches, most of Southern and Central Louisiana is submerged in water. So far, over 40,000 homes have been damaged, 11 people have died, and the relief effort to rescue more than 30,000 people has exceeded that of Hurricane Katrina. Officials have already deemed Louisiana's flooding the worst natural disaster in America since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

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The historic flooding is unprecedented in Louisiana, but it unfortunately follows a trend that other states in the South have encountered in recent years. Experts estimate that Louisiana's flooding occurs every 500 to 1,000 years in some parishes and they also claim it's the byproduct of climate change. As the waters recede, people are beginning to return to their homes and assess the devastation. Ahead are pictures that demonstrate just how dire the situation is.

01
A casket floats in the water near a cemetery.

A casket floats in the water near a cemetery.

02
Men herd their cattle to trucks so they can be transferred to dry land.

Men herd their cattle to trucks so they can be transferred to dry land.

03
Two officials watch as a truck drives through the flood.

Two officials watch as a truck drives through the flood.

04
An animal rescue volunteer carries a dog out of the flood in Baton Rouge, LA.

An animal rescue volunteer carries a dog out of the flood in Baton Rouge, LA.

05
People get gas on boats while traversing a flooded neighborhood in Sorrento, LA.

People get gas on boats while traversing a flooded neighborhood in Sorrento, LA.

06
People rescued from their homes wait in an evacuation shelter.

People rescued from their homes wait in an evacuation shelter.

07
A home in Denham Springs, LA surrounded by water.

A home in Denham Springs, LA surrounded by water.

08
A woman is happy to see her rescued dogs at their temporary shelter in Gonzales, LA.

A woman is happy to see her rescued dogs at their temporary shelter in Gonzales, LA.

09
A panorama shot of the flooding in Port Vincent, LA.

A panorama shot of the flooding in Port Vincent, LA.

10
People sort through the damage outside of stores in Baton Rouge, LA.

People sort through the damage outside of stores in Baton Rouge, LA.

11
Aerial views above Denham Springs, LA.

Aerial views above Denham Springs, LA.

12
A car is nearly fully submerged by the water in Port Vincent, LA.

A car is nearly fully submerged by the water in Port Vincent, LA.

13
People are rescued by a tractor in Port Vincent, LA.
Getty | Jon Readle

People are rescued by a tractor in Port Vincent, LA.

14
A swamped garbage truck illustrates just how high the waters are.

A swamped garbage truck illustrates just how high the waters are.

15
Another gas station is submerged in Gonzales, LA.

Another gas station is submerged in Gonzales, LA.

16
A man in Gonzales, LA walks down his flooded street to assess his home's damage.

A man in Gonzales, LA walks down his flooded street to assess his home's damage.

17
Aerial footage of the flooding above Port Vincent, LA.

Aerial footage of the flooding above Port Vincent, LA.