BATON ROUGE - A spokesman says that approximately 18,000 people have been rescued so far from rising floodwaters.

Maj. Doug Cain of the Louisiana State Police said Sunday that so far 18,000 people have been rescued from East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes.

High-water vehicles, boats and helicopters have been rescuing people and bringing them to safer areas.

Rain-swollen rivers and creeks have burst their banks, causing widespread havoc across parts of southern Louisiana.