Residents of Baton Rouge, La., who have seen their parishes ravaged by historic floodwaters over the past week are receiving assistance from more than 100 airmen from the Louisiana Air National Guard. The Guardsmen are organizing security and providing transportation and other assistance at a shelter set up at the Celtic Media Centre, according to a US Northern Command release. Torrential rains that fell from Aug. 10-17 created flood conditions throughout the Baton Rouge area, killing 13 and damaging 40,000 homes, reported the Washington Post. Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Aug. 12.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.