SHREVEPORT, La. — Sheriff Steve Prator of Caddo Parish can barely recognize his house near Twelve Mile Bayou and the Red River in northern Shreveport.

The Mighty Red, as the river has been called, has engulfed his property and home, which was built in 1952. For more than a week, Sheriff Prator has been trying to do his job while recovering what he can from his house daily. It would not be so devastating if he could still reach it by foot or by car, but for now he has to travel by boat.

“It went from interesting to very serious,” Sheriff Prator said, adding that on Friday night, he gave up hope of saving his house. “We cleared out everything we could. Antiques, furniture, we put everything on 16-inch cinder blocks.”