Woman and Dog Rescued From Sinking Car in Louisiana Floods

— -- Swept up in the raging floodwaters around Baton Rouge, Louisiana, one woman and her dog found themselves rapidly sinking in her car with no way to escape. The small red convertible had the top up and they were trapped inside as it became engulfed in the fast-moving flood.

Just as the car was sucked under water, becoming submerged, a rescue worker reached the vehicle and dove into the water on the driver's side.

He shouted to the other rescuer, "Give me a knife, give me a knife," and quickly pried open the convertible as it sunk.

Only a few seconds later, he freed the driver and brought her to surface. As she gasped for air, the first words she said were, "Get my dog! Get my dog!"

And he did. With one more dive below the surface, the rescuer emerged with the woman's little white companion and calmly said, "I got your dog."

Emergency workers in Louisiana have rescued more than 20,000 stranded residents -- and, at last count, at least 500 pets -- from submerged homes and cars in the historic floods. At least three people have died.

The governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, asked the President to declare a state of emergency over the flooding, which was granted on Sunday evening. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be providing funds to at least four Louisiana parishes to help with rescues and recovery efforts. They will continue to survey the area, according to White House spokesperson Jen Friedman, to assess whether additional help will be needed.