( CNN ) -- Record floodwaters inundated parts of southern Louisiana early Tuesday after intense rains caused flash flooding and prompted hundreds of rescues . Estimates by the National Weather Service put total rainfall at 12 to 18 inches across the region , with possible amounts of 20 or more inches in some areas . A flood warning has been issued until late Tuesday . Are you there ? Share your story with iReport . Floodwaters were cresting overnight for Bayou Vermilion at Carencro at 5.5 feet over flood stage and 12 inches above the record set in May 2004 . `` We 're still conducting rescues , '' Lafayette Parish Sheriff 's Office spokesman Kip Judice said Monday evening . `` We 've done over 150 rescues throughout the day today . '' One of those involved 16 middle school students whose bus became stuck after more than 4 feet of water covered the road . `` It was really scary because we could n't get out of the bus ... the water was closing it in , '' said student Cory McCall . `` It was thundering and lightning . '' Boats and dump trucks were used to reach the children and bring them to safety , Judice said . The town of Carencro was among the hardest hit communities in Lafayette Parish , according to Capt . Craig Stansbury , who is also from the Parish Sheriff 's Office . He noted there were reports of water as high as 8 feet on some roadways . Stansbury said fire department vehicles , tractors and conventional boats and airboats were being used to reach those stranded in homes and cars . `` A lot of things that we have at our disposal , we 're just going to go ahead and utilize , '' he said . `` Whatever it takes to get to the people . '' The parish declared a state of emergency in the midst of the high water . `` We are working with local officials to ensure they get the resources and support they need to respond to the flooding , '' said Kevin Davis , director of the Governor 's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness . `` We urge residents to be mindful ... and to take precautionary measures . '' A state of emergency was also declared in St. Landry Parish , where Government Administrative Director Jessie Bellard estimated that some 2,000 people had been affected . People were driving dump trucks to rescue residents who have flooding in their homes and ca n't get out . Bellard said several minor and major roads , including part of U.S. Highway 190 , have experienced significant flooding . `` It 's just a terrible situation , '' Bellard said . Maj. Ginny Higgins of the St. Martin Parish Sheriff 's Office said flooding affected at least 15 to 20 roads Monday in that parish . Several people were safely rescued after being trapped in their vehicles , she said . A state of emergency has been declared for that parish , Higgins said . Stansbury , from Lafayette Parish , said residents knew Monday would be wet but did n't foresee the volume or intensity . `` There was a forecast of some heavy rains , but I do n't think anybody could have predicted that amount of rain , '' he said . And while the worst precipitation is over , the headaches are not . Intermittent rain continued to fall . Judice , from Lafayette Parish , said water levels were continuing to rise in his area . `` It 's still a very crazy situation , '' he said . CNN 's Joe Sutton and Barbara Hall contributed to this report .
More than 20 inches of rain possibly fall in some areas , the weather service says . A St. Landry Parish official estimates 2,000 people affected by the floods . A flood warning is in effect until late Tuesday . Floodwaters surround a bus filled with middle school students .