BATON ROUGE -- Eight deaths are now attributed to the storms and flooding in south Louisiana.
Devin George, state registrar for vital records, said Tuesday the latest confirmed death occurred in East Baton Rouge Parish. A 66-year-old man's body was found in the Sherwood Forest area.
George described it as an "accidental drowning" related to the storm.
Of the eight deaths, two were in Tangipahoa Parish, two were in St. Helena Parish and the other four were in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Floodwaters were receding in many parts of south Louisiana on Tuesday, though they were continuing to rise in other areas as the water drained south.
Devin George, the state registrar for vital records, said the storm-related deaths include two people in East Baton Rouge Parish, two in St. Helena Parish and two in Tangipahoa Parish as of Monday.
More than 20,000 people have been rescued in Louisiana, including 15,000 in Livingston Parish since Friday. That effort continued Monday afternoon. Although the water was receding quickly, people remained stranded.
The National Weather Service says the rivers in the Baton Rouge area have started to fall, but still remain above flood stage setting record levels over the weekend.
Forecaster Mike Efferson at the weather service office in Slidell, Louisiana, says the rivers and streams north of Interstate 12 have crested and have started to drop, while those south of the interstate continue to rise.
Efferson says the Comite River just east of Baton Rouge on Monday morning dropped nearly 2 feet from the 34.2-feet level over the weekend. Flood stage is 20 feet. He says Amite River at Denham Springs is at 43.5 feet Monday after reaching 46.2 feet. Flood stage is 29 feet.
Efferson says the area around Baton Rouge could see up to a half-inch of rain Monday, with a 40 to 50 percent chance in the forecast. The Baton Rouge area remains under a flood watch until 4 p.m. Monday, but Efferson said it likely will be extended.
Forecaster Mike Efferson at the weather service office in Slidell, Louisiana, says the rivers and streams north of Interstate 12 have crested and have started to drop, while those south of the interstate continue to rise.
