Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) delivered an official letter to President Biden today, again urging him to issue a supplemental disaster request following yesterday’s torrential rainfall event and flooding.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has issued a state of emergency due to flooding and tornado warnings in Southwest Louisiana — and he's urging residents throughout the state to be prepared, because rain is expected to continue falling over the next several days.

"Water rescues and other emergency actions have been necessary this afternoon as heavy rainfall fell across Southwest Louisiana," Edwards said in a statement. "We are only a few weeks away from the start of hurricane season, but this threat is the latest in a string of recent weather threats that remind us of the importance of preparedness and staying informed."

Roads were flooded, water-logged cars abandoned in the street and high water vehicles dispatched to help people as heavy rain fell across southern Louisiana Monday. In some areas of western Louisiana still recovering from back-to-back hurricanes last year more than a foot of rain fell.

The National Weather Service said in a Facebook post Monday that south Lake Charles in western Louisiana saw 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 centimeters) of rain in a 12-hour period. But the rainfall wasn't limited to that one area. Numerous areas in Calcasieu Parish where Lake Charles is located saw totals of 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) of rainfall Monday.