Although rain remains in the forecast for the remainder of the week, the threats of flooding have diminished since the weekend.

According to news reports, the weekend floods led to six deaths in the state and tens of thousands of rescues, but for the most part, residents of Washington Parish weathered the storms largely unscathed.

Briefly, from Saturday to Sunday, the Red Cross opened a shelter at Franklinton High School, but Bobbi Jo Breland, the assistant director for the parish’s office of homeland security and emergency preparedness, said the shelter was closed Sunday morning because no one was using it.

State offices in Washington Parish remained closed on Monday due to the flooding and Breland said “30 to 40” homes in the parish did experience some flooding, particularly in the Bogue Chitto River area near Franklinton. Breland said her office is, as of Monday, still assessing the damages from the flooding and she asks residents to call her office and report damages if they have not done so already.

“Call our office to report the damage,” Breland said. “Hopefully that will help in getting a federal declaration like we got in March.”

The number to call is 985-839-0434. Breland said if residents get an answering machine, they should leave a message.

On Friday, Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for Louisiana, but so far there has not been a federal declaration of emergency for Washington Parish. If there is enough damage, a federal declaration could come and, with that declaration, federal funds.

In the meantime, Breland said residents could call on the Red Cross and local aid agencies for some help.

The Louisiana Red Cross office’s number is 225-268-8107.

If anyone would like to donate to the Red Cross, they may do so by visiting www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or people can donate $10 by texting the word LAFLOODS to 90999.