Heavy Rain Brings Flash Flooding to East Texas and Shreveport-Bossier

SHREVEPORT, La. - Emergency crews responded to numerous reports of cars getting stuck in floodwater Monday as torrential rain caused flash flooding in the Shreveport-Bossier area and beyond. The steady downpour made travel extremely dangerous. In parts of Shreveport, water rose so high it nearly covered some cars. Some drivers got stuck as they attempted to navigate through flooded streets across Shreveport-Bossier. One resident described the terrifying moment when her daughter became stranded in floodwater. She said, 'They're in their 20s, and they were crying, saying, 'I'm stuck,' and it's going to take like two hours for the tow truck to try to get to her.' On Youree Drive near Washington Street, the water rose near knee level. High water like this forced many people to stay off the roads. Others had to walk home, dealing with the same hazards drivers faced. One person said, 'I almost went into the ditch because I couldn't tell how deep the water really is. But a lot of places, it's very deep.' Some residents feel the problem goes beyond the weather, citing the need for a better drainage system to prevent flooding. With more heavy rain in the forecast this week, there is growing concern that flooding could return. Roadway conditions throughout the city are expected to deteriorate throughout the afternoon as heavy rain continues. A water rescue has been confirmed by the Shreveport Fire Department at Pierremont Road and Thornhill Avenue. Sandbags are available for pickup in Shreveport and Bossier. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) offers the following resources: low-lying areas can flood quickly, and it's often hard to tell how deep water covering a road may be. A regular car can be swept away in floodwater in as little as six inches of water during a flash flood. Even roads without barricades may be impassable. It is illegal and dangerous to drive around a 'road closed' barricade onto a closed road. We will continue to update this story as the situation develops.