More than 20 inches of rain have pummeled Baton Rouge since last week. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through the week. Susie Heroman of Billy Heroman’s in Baton Rouge told the Society of American Florists the business was operating on a “skeleton crew.”
The historic flooding in Louisiana continues its devastation this week. At a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Gov. John Bel Edwards said at least 11 people have died in the floods and 30,000 people have been rescued. The governor expects close to 30 of the state’s 64 parishes to be declared disasters, CNN reports.
Earlier this week Susie Heroman of Billy Heroman’s in Baton Rouge told the Society of American Florists her business was operating on a “skeleton crew.”
“Our three stores are all safe and dry,” she wrote, adding that her family members’ houses are also water-free. “We feel blessed beyond belief.”
Unfortunately, she added, not everyone has been so lucky.
“We have quite a few employees who have lost everything,” she said. “Some are in their homes, which haven’t flooded, but they are surrounded by water and cannot leave or get food or supplies… It is catastrophic, and we do need your prayers.”
More than 20 inches of rain have pummeled Baton Rouge since last week, and more is on the way, forecasters said. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through the week.
Community members have “rallied to rescue everyone” affected by the disaster, Heroman noted. Acts of heroism abound.
“On Sunday morning, people began to show up on the I-12 O’Neal Lane exit, two exits down from our main store,” she wrote, explaining that the interstate had been closed for more than 60 miles since the night before. “They began to use the off ramp of the Interstate to launch boats. Everyone was trying to help evacuate anyone they could find.”
At press time, SAF was still reaching out to members in the affected areas. Look for more information in future issues.
