Catastrophic floods wreck Louisiana

The flooding in Louisiana was declared the worst disaster to strike the United States since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Nearly 7 billion gallons of rain struck the region in one week. Red Cross officials estimated the damage to be at least $30 million, a number which is sure to grow as rescue, recovery and restabilization efforts continue. At least 13 people have died across five parishes. And more rain is in the forecast. More than 30,000 residents and 1,400 pets have been rescued. Some residents were able to return to their homes on Thursday, only to find soaked, mostly unsalvageable wreckage. An estimated 40,000 houses were damaged and some 86,000 people have applied for federal disaster aid. In a familiar scenario for floodravaged Gulf residents, President Barack Obama was criticized for not coming to visit the devastated areas, instead continuing his vacation.

Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty Images A man navigates a boat of rescued goats past a partially submerged car after flooding on Tuesday in Gonzales, La. Tens of thousands have been rescued following unprecedented floods, including a 78-year-old woman who spent a night stranded in a tree.