First Responders

摘要

In mid-August 2016, a couple weeks shy of the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, residents of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi experienced another life-altering natural disaster. A lingering weather pattern, one without the typical characteristics of a tropical storm, took thousands by surprise. It was one of the most extensive rain events in recorded history, one forecast to only occur once every five centuries. After the area was deluged by more than 20 inches of rain in less than 72 hours, flooding ensued for days. Baton Rouge and the surrounding area were most severely impacted.Many residents, living in areas never before flooded, didn't expect to be in the wake of the impending disaster. Some woke in the middle of the night and unexpectedly stepped into the rising tragedy — ankle-deep water. More than 20,000 people had to berescued.