More than 7000 people had to be rescued from flood waters in the southern US state of Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards says.

Three people have been confirmed dead and officials warned residents to remain cautious as rivers continued to crest despite improving weather conditions.

State police said they were still working to reach motorists stranded along a major highway and hundreds of roads remained closed.

But one driver and her dog can count themselves lucky after being pulled from her car submerged in floodwaters in Baton Rouge.

Watch the dramatic rescue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJkuX8dOf4

The state had requested federal disaster assistance, Edwards said.

“This is no time to let the guard down,” he told a press conference, asking residents not to “go out and sightsee.”

The flooding began on Friday after rainfall battered an area in the southern part of the state near the capital Baton Rouge.

The National Weather Service said flash floods were possible along the US Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana as well as further north in the central US.

https://twitter.com/B911Weather/status/764203665490120704