MARKSVILLE, LOUISIANA — A life-threatening Flash Flood Emergency was declared early Thursday for southern Avoyelles Parish, as catastrophic flooding swept through Marksville and Cottonport after 8 to 12 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours.
The National Weather Service issued the alert at the highest level used for flooding events, a designation reserved for situations where catastrophic damage and direct threats to human life are already occurring or considered imminent. The emergency is set to remain in effect until 1 p.m. local time Thursday, though officials warned conditions could worsen before then.
Radar data captured shortly before 9 a.m. showed intense rainfall still moving directly over the Cottonport and Marksville corridor, suggesting totals already considered catastrophic may continue to climb. Drainage systems and local waterways across the parish have been pushed well beyond capacity, leaving roadways and low-lying neighborhoods submerged.
Forecasters noted the storm system extends further north toward the Alexandria area, where radar also showed heavy rainfall, indicating the flooding threat spans a wide stretch of central Louisiana and is not isolated to one community.
Emergency officials issued an urgent warning to residents in the affected zone: move to higher ground immediately. Authorities reinforced the standard flood safety directive, “turn around, don’t drown,” urging people not to walk, swim, or drive through flooded roads under any circumstances, as water levels continue to rise.
Local emergency management teams are monitoring the situation closely as the storm continues to produce dangerous rainfall rates. Residents are advised to stay off the roads, avoid low-lying areas, and monitor official alerts for updates as the Flash Flood Emergency progresses through the morning.
This is a developing situation, and conditions on the ground may change rapidly.
