Torrential rainfall are causing flash flooding across portions of Mississippi and Louisiana leaving schools canceled and dozens of high-water rescues in flooded areas.

Louisiana authorities have rescued 72 people and seven pets out of neighborhoods after flooding in southeast Tangipahoa Parish.

Numerous rivers in southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi are spreading beyond of their banks, threatening widespread flooding after extreme rainfall.

Flooding is also affecting areas of southwest Mississippi just north of the Louisiana state line.

Parish President Robby Miller says shelters have been open in the town of Amite and Hammond city for those who were rescued. Residents will be allowed to return home once the water starts to recede.

Carlene Statham, the deputy director of the Pike County Emergency Management Agency, says waters began rising before dawn Friday in Osyka, leading the county to send out rescue teams. She says one woman was rescued from a car, while three people were rescued from a house surrounded by water. Statham says a handful of houses in the Osyka area appear to have flooded.

Numerous roads are flooded and at least one county road has washed out. No one was injured.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation reports hazardous conditions on Mississippi 24 between Centreville and Gloster and Gloster and Liberty in Amite County and on Mississippi 48 between Liberty and Centreville.

In Pike County, Mississippi 575 between Mississippi 48 and Osyka Progress Road has also been impacted by flooding.

In Wilkinson County, flooding has created hazardous conditions on Mississippi 33 between Centreville and the Louisiana state line.

MDOT is coordinating with officials to assess potential road closures in all areas that could be affected.

The Comite River near Baton Rouge and Amite River near Denham Springs in Louisiana are predicted to set record crests over the weekend. National Weather Service forecaster Alek Krautmann says both could flood many houses in suburban areas near Baton Rouge. He also says that flooding downstream in Ascension Parish is a threat, as those swollen rivers will be slow to drain into Lake Maurepas.

The Tickfaw River, just south of the Mississippi state line in Liverpool, Louisiana, was already at the highest level ever recorded at 9 a.m. Friday.

Krautmann says flooding is “quickly becoming widespread” as heavy rains continue. Officials are considering evacuation orders. Krautmann says one observer near Livingston reported 13.75 inches of rain from midnight to Friday morning.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the entire state as a result of heavy rain and widespread flooding.

Mike Steele of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says requests are coming for high-water vehicle, boats and sandbags.

Steele said Tangipahoa Parish alone has requested tens of thousands of sandbags.

Heavy rain and flooding has caused Louisiana officials to closed state offices in 14 parishes.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne said offices in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Lafayette, Livingston, St. Helena, St. James, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and West Baton Rouge are closed Friday.

Dardenne said officials are monitoring weather conditions across the state.

Heavy rain is expected to continue Friday and begin tapering off early Saturday.

Meteorologist Alek Krautmann at the weather service office in Slidell, Louisiana, said the Mississippi town of Gloster, in Amite County has received nearly 10 inches of rain since Thursday night.

Forecasters in Alabama say a flash flood watch is in effect Friday along the Alabama Gulf coast.

National Weather Service meteorologists say they expect an additional 2.2 inches of rain to fall on Friday in areas near Mobile, Alabama, with higher amounts possible in some areas.

On Friday morning, forecasters said the potential for heavier rainfall increases toward the Alabama coast.