Communities along the US Gulf Coast are facing continued flooding after days of exceptionally heavy rainfall caused evacuations, water rescues and widespread damage across Louisiana and Mississippi.

More than 2 feet of rain has fallen in parts of Louisiana since Sunday, while portions of Louisiana and Mississippi received more than a foot within 12 hours. Forecasters warned that additional rainfall could create further flooding because the ground is already saturated and has little capacity to absorb more water.

The severe weather has also been deadly. In Georgia, two people were killed and two others injured Friday when an oak tree weakened by rain-soaked soil fell onto a pickup truck, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier in the week, two people died in flooding in Texas, while Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said a county road worker was killed while helping with storm cleanup.

Southern Mississippi remained particularly vulnerable Friday, with another flash flood emergency issued for parts of Covington County. Around 11 inches of rain fell near Seminary, trapping vehicles, closing roads and damaging homes. Officials said there were no reported injuries in the area.

Authorities also advised residents near Sanford to evacuate because of rising water in Okatoma Creek. Emergency crews carried out at least one rescue, while several businesses were reportedly affected by floodwater.

The damage extended across Pearl River County, where at least 22 homes, a business, six roads and a public building were damaged. Officials had previously evacuated residents living downstream from Anchor Lake Dam because of concerns that continued flooding could threaten the structure. Those evacuations were later lifted after authorities said they had high confidence in the dam’s structural integrity.

Mississippi officials also reported two EF-1 tornadoes in Hancock County. Gov. Reeves declared a state of emergency in areas affected by the storms as additional rainfall remained possible.

Louisiana has also suffered extensive damage. Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency, while officials in Avoyelles Parish reported that approximately 200 homes had been flooded. About 60 residents were evacuated from a nursing home as water levels rose.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur contributed to the severe weather, producing at least eight tornadoes in southern Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service. An EF-1 tornado in Avondale damaged several homes, displaced one mobile home from its foundation and sent two people to the hospital.

Officials warned that the flooding threat is not over. Although rainfall expected through Saturday night is forecast to be less intense than the extreme downpours earlier in the week, even moderate or steady rain could produce additional flooding because the soil remains saturated.

Forecasters expect another 1 to 3 inches of rain across much of the Gulf Coast, with some locations potentially receiving 4 inches or more. Louisiana’s Plaucheville recorded 22.53 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, a total that could potentially challenge the state’s historical record pending further verification.

SOURCE: CNN, Chris Dolce, Briana Waxman, Mary Gilbert and Kate S. Petersen, updated June 21, 2026.