While much of the nation's attention has been focused on the damage Hurricane Gustav inflicted on South Louisiana, Monroe and Alexandria have been suffering in relative obscurity.
Extensive flooding has occurred in Central Louisiana, which has gotten nine inches of rain. Some of the worst flooding was in southern Rapides Parish.
Streets all over Alexandria are flooded and water was in several houses in Rapides Parish today, authorities said. National guardsmen were helping evacuate people.
In Avoyelles Parish, south of Alexandria, the roofs of two houses in Effie were blown off by a possible tornado, sheriff's deputies said.
The Monroe area has gotten 10 inches of rain.
Bayou Desaird overflowed its banks in Monroe. Floodwaters today had gotten into a neighborhood with several hundred homes in it near the intersection of Interstate 20 and U.S. 165. High water was also reported in West Monroe.
Authorities said national guardsmen evacuated people from homes in the Tanglewood neighborhood Tuesday night. Sixty-four people were taken to shelters, emergency management officials said.
Nearly 70,000 homes and businesses in Northeast Louisiana had no electricity at one point and dozens of roads were blocked by fallen trees or tree limbs after high winds swept through the area.
A line of severe storms was moving through much of South Louisiana today, bringing heavy rain.
Late this morning, a possible tornado was reported near Crowley, which is located west of Lafayette, the National Weather Service said.
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