NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency says President Barack Obama has declared a flood disaster in 22 Louisiana parishes, authorizing FEMA to coordinate disaster relief and making federal money and aid available. Most of the parishes are along the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers.

Earlier this week, the Army Corps of Engineers opened gates at the Old River Control Structure near Marksville to send more of the Mississippi’s water down the Atchafalaya.

The parishes in Friday’s declaration are Avoyelles, Ascension, Assumption, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Iberia, Iberville, LaSalle, Madison, Pointe Coupee, East Baton Rouge, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Tensas, Terrebonne, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.