
In one scene, a mansion sits surrounded by murky floodwater, its front glass doors only half-visible.

In another, a sheriff's office substation lies abandoned, its car park and greenery having already succumbed to the water.

These photos show the devastating effect of recent flooding in rural northwest Louisiana following storms in neighboring Oklahoma and Texas.

The storms, which killed at least 31 in total, have overwhelmed the region's Red River, forcing many residents to evacuate their homes.

Others have been left desperately trying to keep out the encroaching floodwater, while hundreds of buildings have had their power cut off.

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Disaster: A mansion sits surrounded by murky floodwater, its front glass doors only half-visible, in Bossier City, northwest Louisiana

Engulfed by water: Bossier Sheriff's Office's substation lies abandoned, its car park and grass having already succumbed to the water

On the lookout: Owen Belknap, 16, looks for snakes while standing atop sandbags protecting a friend's Louisiana house from water

Stranded: Rural Louisiana has suffered devastating flooding following storms in nearby Oklahoma and Texas. The storms, which killed at least 31 people in total and left many homeless, have overwhelmed the region's Red River. Above, a campervan stranded in the water

Relief efforts: Officials have recruited prisoners to unload sand bags on the I-220 highway i(above) and distribute them in the region

No cars, only boats: Rigby Hollingsworth is pictured boating past a family friend's home that is protected by sandbags on Wednesday

Making the most of a bad situation: Residents sit on the balcony of their partially submerged home caused by flooding in Bossier City

Flooding: Floodwaters from the Red River engulf sprawling homes in the River Bluff subdivision in Bossier City, Louisiana, on Monday. About 15 houses have been flooded in the subdivision, where house prices range from an estimated $400,000 to nearly $1 million

The disaster, which has also affected acres of farmland, has prompted officials to recruit prisoners to unload and distribute sand bags in the area.

And the flooding is not over yet - with the damage expected to spread as water continues to overwhelm the river.

The total number of flooded buildings and farm acreage was unclear on Wednesday.

About 15 of the flooded houses are in a subdivision where property prices range from an estimated $400,000 to nearly $1 million.

Both Bossier and Caddo Parish officials are asking residents to report damage to their homes or businesses.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator is among those fighting to keep floodwater out of their homes, with thigh-deep water already covering his first floor.

Speaking to the Shreveport Times on Wednesday, he said he had lost family antiques and some of his granddaughter's favorite toys in the flooding.

'I'm OK with losing material things, but there's some things that are going to hurt to lose,' he said.

Overflowing: The flooding is not over yet - with the damage expected to spread as water continues to overwhelm the river (pictured)

Protective measures: Floodwaters from the Red River engulf a home surrounded by sandbags in the Buckhall Road area, Bossier City

Swallowed up: Bossier and Caddo Parish officials are asking residents to report damage to their homes. Above, a Shreveport house

Line of defense: Spencer Sinclair checks on sandbags and a water pump built to protect a friend's home from water on Wednesday

Observing the damage: Flood victim Mr Hollingsworth steers past a submerged home caused by the flooding of the Red River on Wednesday

Marina; The Red River marina in Bossier City, Louisiana, is engulfed by water in this photo released by the Bossier Parish Sheriff

Power outages: An estimated 300 buildings have had power cut off, are threatened by water or have water inside, a Caddo Parish sheriff's spokeswoman said. Above, a distant shot of Bossier Sheriff's Office's substation, which was left surrounded by floodwater

He added that two burros he had kept as pets since 2003 had drowned in the floodwater after they became frightened and bolted from the property.

'It made me sick to my stomach to know that's how they went,' Mr Prator said.

'I could get over losing them, but knowing that they died scared and panicked really kills me. I love animals so much, and they were my friends.'

An estimated 300 buildings have had their power cut off, are threatened by water or have water inside, a Caddo Parish sheriff's spokeswoman said.

In neighboring Bossier Parish, Lt. Bill Davis said two or three dozen houses, and about the same number of mobile homes, are flooded.

Meanwhile, at least 2,000 farm animals have been moved to higher ground. A farmland assessment may be ready by Friday, officials said.

In the subdivision where house prices go up to $1million, residents pushed through chest-high water on Tuesday in a bid to save their home.

Sandbags: Floodwaters from the Red River surround a home in the Buckhall Road area, which has been protected with sandbags

Extreme weather: At least 2,000 farm animals have been moved to higher ground. A farmland assessment may be ready by Friday

Stuck: The Cash Point RV Park in Bossier City, Louisiana, is engulfed by water following storms in neighboring Oklahoma and Texas

Mansions: The city of Natchitoches - a popular tourist destination, Louisiana's oldest permanent settlement (four years before New Orleans) and the place ;Steel Magnolias' was filmed - is not threatened by the floods, officials said. Above, the River Bluff subdivison

Stunned: Steve Dooley, an officer with the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, drives past submerged houses in Bossier City Wednesday

Aftermath: A home in Shreveport, Louisiana is surrounded by brown floodwater (left), while cars travel along one lane of the I-220 in Bossier City (right). The other lane has been closed off as floodwater is covering a portion of it (as seen in the top of the image)

They gritted their teeth as they piled more sandbags onto the sandbag wall around their property.

The 144 residents of a Bossier City veterans home were able to stay in place but a sheriff's office substation across the street didn't fare as well.

'We sandbagged that for about 36 feet, back when we were told the crest would get to 34 feet. We got to 37 feet,' Lt Davis told the Associated Press.

Downriver in Natchitoches (NAK-uh-tesh) Parish, Mary Jones of the homeland security office said about 50 houses are flooded, but some are unoccupied. Another 200 houses and camps are threatened, she said.

'A lot of farmland is under,' Jones said. 'The sheriff is out helping one of the farmers get his cattle out.' The city of Natchitoches - a popular tourist destination, Louisiana's oldest permanent settlement (four years before New Orleans) and the place ;Steel Magnolias' was filmed - is not threatened.

No post today: A partially submerged mailbox caused by flooding from the Red River is visible in Bossier City, Louisiana, Wednesday

Warning: A sign reads 'high water' near a submerged home in Bossier City following storms in neighboring Oklahoma and Texas

Officials: Bill Davis, left, and Steve Dooley, officers with the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, survey a home protected by sandbags

Work: Davis, left, and Jake Little, who also works for the the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, work out of a mobile command center

Aerial view: This photo shows flooding from the Red River at the Shreveport-Barksdale Boulevard bridge over the Bossier City river

Red River Parish Sheriff Glen Edwards said a half-dozen rural houses are threatened, and fields and pastures are flooded.

'As long as the levees hold ... we're good,' he said.

Less than two weeks ago, President Barack Obama was forced to declare a disaster in Texas after severe weather killed dozens of people.

Texas endured record rainfall in May, with streets turned into rivers, homes ripped off foundations, and residents trapped in cars and houses.

In one instance, a vacation home being used by two families, both with young children, was swept away in the town of Wimberley.