8-17 NWR Louisiana Flooding

This is your Northwest report for Wednesday, August 17 I'm David Sparks and, as is more and more the case these days, dangerous, unpredictable and violent weather dominates the news. Rescue Crews continue in southern Louisiana where boats are being used constantly to go between parishes which have been affected by high waters. Rains and river flooding have resulted in nine deaths and 40,000 homes have been damaged by flooding the likes of which you have never been seen before. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing as the flooding continues and officials are going door to door to check on flood victims. They are also looking into submerged vehicles for people stranded by flash floods. Victim, Kenneth Shields who had to be rescued by boat when his home and cars went underwater. "It's terrifying. It came up so quick. He just wanted to rise and wouldn't stop." Over 30,000 people have been rescued since Friday. State officials say only a fraction of people affected by the storms had flood insurance because their homes were not in traditional flood zones.

And while on the topic of rescue, my northwest.com reports The U.S. Coast Guard has found four rafters who were reported missing on the Sandy River east of Portland. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the men from Vancouver, Washington, decided to spend the night on a sandbar after it got dark and they couldn't see where they were going. They were reported missing late Monday after failing to meet up with two friends. A Coast Guard helicopter landed on the sandbar at daybreak and picked up the rafters who were cold but uninjured.