NEW ORLEANS - More than 500 American Red Cross disaster workers have responded to Louisiana, with hundreds more responders active across the Gulf South where devastating flooding has impacted thousands of people.

Thursday night, about 200 people stayed overnight at seven Red Cross and community-run shelters across the state.

Kay W. Wilkins, chief executive of the Red Cross in Louisiana, says this is one of the largest disasters to hit the state in recent years.

Wilkins says as many as 12,000 people have been impacted by the flooding and they have served more than 34,800 meals and distributed 12,650 relief items including personal care kits and cleaning supplies.