U.S. President Barack Obama issued a disaster declaration on Sunday for flood-ravaged Louisiana, where at least five people have died and emergency crews have rescued more than 20,000 people stranded by historic flooding, the Associated Press reports.

According to the source, Gov. John Bel Edwards says more than 10,000 people are in shelters and more than 20,000 people have been rescued across south Louisiana because of widespread flooding.

The governor says the Baton Rouge River Center, a major events location in the capital city’s downtown, will be opened Sunday as a shelter to handle the large numbers of evacuees.

Edwards said President Barack Obama called him and said that “the people of south Louisiana are in his thoughts and prayers and the federal government will be a solid partner,” according to the agency.

Torrential rains have caused widespread flooding in parts of southern Louisiana.