Hurricane Isaac 2012 Steers Clear Of Direct Blow To New Orleans (PHOTOS)

NEW ORLEANS — Isaac hovered over Louisiana for a third day Thursday, shedding more than a foot of additional rain that forced authorities to hurriedly evacuate areas ahead of the storm and rescue hundreds of people who could not escape as the rapidly rising waters swallowed entire neighborhoods.

The huge spiral weather system weakened to a tropical depression as it crawled inland, but it caught many places off guard by following a meandering, unpredictable path. The storm's excruciatingly slow movement meant that Isaac practically parked over low-lying towns and threw off great sheets of water for hours.

"I was blindsided. Nobody expected this," said Richard Musatchia, who fled his water-filled home in LaPlace, northwest of New Orleans.

Inside the fortified levees that protected New Orleans, bursts of sunshine streamed through the thick clouds, and life began to return to normal. But beyond the city, people got their first good look at Isaac's damage: Hundreds of homes were underwater. Half the state was without power at the one point. Thousands were staying at shelters.

And the damage may not be done. Even more rain was expected in Louisiana before the storm finally drifts into Arkansas and Missouri.

Isaac dumped as much as 16 inches in some areas, and about 500 people had to be rescued by boat or high-water vehicles. At least two deaths were reported.

Five feet of water poured into Musatchia's home before a neighbor passed by with a boat and evacuated him and his 6-year-old boxer, Renny.

He piled two suitcases, a backpack and a few smaller bags onto the boat and said that was all he had left. He abandoned a brand-new Cadillac and a Harley-Davidson.

"People have their generators, because they thought the power would go out, but no one expected" so much water, Musatchia said.

Other evacuees were picked up by National Guard vehicles, school buses and pickup trucks.

Daphine and David Newman fled their newly decorated home with two trash bags of clothing. They have lived in their subdivision since 1992 and never had water in their home from previous storms, not even Hurricane Katrina.

The comparison was common since Isaac hit on the seventh anniversary of the devastating 2005 storm, though the differences were stark.

Katrina was more powerful, coming ashore as a Category 3 storm. Isaac was a Category 1 at its peak. Katrina barreled into the state and quickly moved through. Isaac creeped across the landscape at less than 10 mph and wobbled constantly.

David Newman was frustrated that the government spent billions of dollars reinforcing New Orleans levees after Katrina, only to see the water inundating surrounding regions.

"The water's got to go somewhere," he said. "It's going to find the weakest link."

The sudden call for evacuations so long after the storm made landfall provoked a debate about whether anyone was to blame.

Jefferson Parish Council President Chris Roberts said forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami needed a new way of measuring the danger that goes beyond wind speed.

"The risk that a public official has is, people say, `Aw, it's a Category 1 storm, and you guys are out there calling for mandatory evacuations,'" Roberts said.

Hundreds of people in lower Jefferson chose to ride out the storm – and many of them had to be rescued, he said.

Eric Blake, a specialist at the hurricane center, said that although Isaac's cone shifted west as it zigzagged toward the Gulf Coast, forecasters accurately predicted its path, intensity and rainfall. He did say the storm came ashore somewhat slower than anticipated.

Blake cautioned against using Katrina as a benchmark for flooding during other storms.

"Every hurricane is different," Blake said. "If you're trying to use the last hurricane to gauge your storm surge risk, it's very dangerous."

Along the shores of Lake Ponchartrain near New Orleans, officials sent scores of buses and dozens of high-water vehicles to help evacuate about 3,000 people as floodwaters lapped against houses and stranded cars.

The water rose waist-high in some neighborhoods, and the Louisiana National Guard worked with sheriff's deputies to rescue people stuck in their homes.

In LaPlace, a Coast Guard helicopter plucked a couple and their dogs from a home after storm surge gushed into their neighborhood and washed many houses away.

"They used a flashlight inside the house as a signaling device, which made all the difference in locating them effectively," Lt. Cmdr. Jorge Porto said.

Crews intentionally breached a levee that was strained by Isaac's floodwaters in southeast Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish, which is outside the federal levee system. At the same time, water at a dam farther north in Mississippi was released in an effort to prevent flooding there.

Since the storm arrived in the U.S., the first two fatalities were a tow truck driver hit by a tree that fell on his vehicle in Picayune, Miss., and a man who fell from a tree while helping friends move a vehicle. Deputies did not know why he climbed the tree.

Although New Orleans' bigger, stronger levee system easily handled the deluge from Isaac, rural areas beyond the city's fortifications had few defenses.

Isaac "has reinforced for us once again just how vulnerable these critical areas are," said Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu. "We must re-engage the Corps of Engineers on this."

More than 900,000 homes and businesses around the state – about 47 percent of all customers – were without power Thursday. Utility company Entergy said that included about 157,000 in New Orleans.

New Orleans' biggest problems seemed to be downed power lines, scattered tree limbs and minor flooding.

In Mississippi, several coastal communities struggled with all the extra water, including Pascagoula, where a large portion of the city flooded and water blocked downtown intersections.

High water also prevented more than 800 people from returning to their homes in Bay St. Louis, a small town that lost most of its business district to Katrina's storm surge.

Even though Isaac was weaker, Mayor Les Fillingame said, "every storm is somebody's Katrina, regardless of the intensity."

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Brian Schwaner and Stacey Plaisance in New Orleans; Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge; Kevin McGill in Houma; Vicki Smith in LaPlace; Holbrook Mohr in Waveland and Pass Christian, Miss.; and Jeff Amy in Pascagoula and Bay St. Louis, Miss.

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• People rescue cows from floodwaters after Isaac passed through the region, in Plaquemines Parish, La., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac staggered toward central Louisiana early Thursday, its weakening winds still potent enough to drive storm surge into portions of the coast and the River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Angela Serpas, Lainy Serpas

  Angela Serpas cries as she sees her flooded home for the first time since Hurricane Isaac pushed a 10-foot storm surge into Braithwaite, La., Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012. At right is her daughter Lainy Serpas, 11. While New Orleans streets were bustling again and workers were returning to offshore oil rigs, thousands of evacuees couldn't return home to flooded low-lying areas of Louisiana and more than 400,000 sweltering electricity customers in the state remained without power. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• A tree falls against a home after Hurricane Isaac passed the area in Braithwaite, La., Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012. While New Orleans streets were bustling again and workers were returning to offshore oil rigs, thousands of evacuees couldn't return home to flooded low-lying areas of Louisiana and more than 400,000 sweltering electricity customers in the state remained without power. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• US-VOTE-REPUBLICANS-ROMNEY-WEATHER

  Storm-affected residents make their way out of their flooded neighborhood following Hurricane Isaac in Crown Point, off the road to LaFitte, outside of New Orleans, on August 31, 2012 in Louisiana, where Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney rushed to visit in a bid to burnish his presidential credentials ahead of his November battle with President Barack Obama. Coming off the back of a rousing Republican convention, Romney sought to build momentum by taking his new campaign plane to New Orleans, where rescue crews are clearing up after Hurricane Isaac unleashed a torrential downpour. AFP PHOTO / Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/GettyImages)

• US Gulf Coast Copes With Aftermath Of Hurricane Isaac

  PLAQUEMINES PARISH, LA - AUGUST 31: Cattle are stuck in a mixture of mud debris washed in by Hurricane Isaac's storm surge on August 31, 2012 in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Officials are attempting to conduct a cattle roundup in Plaquemines in an attempt to save around 200 cattle stranded by the storm. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

• US Gulf Coast Copes With Aftermath Of Hurricane Isaac

  BRAITHWAITE, LA - AUGUST 31: Tombs dislodged by a levee breach from Hurricane Isaac's flood waters sit by a roadway amongst debris on August 31, 2012 in Braithwaite, Louisiana. Louisiana residents continue to cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac with ongoing flooding, destroyed property and many still without electricity. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

• Peter Roccaforte

  Peter Roccaforte walks through floodwaters from Hurricane Isaac at his home in Reserve, La., as some of his clothing hangs out to dry Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012. Floodwaters cover many streets and power remains out in some areas. Louisiana's Public Service Commission said more than 443,000 customers remained without electricity around Louisiana on Saturday morning, days after Hurricane Isaac crept across the state. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

• The exits off of I-10 in Slidell, La. are flooded in the aftermath of Isaac on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac hovered over Louisiana for a third day Thursday, shedding more than a foot of additional rain that forced authorities to hurriedly evacuate areas ahead of the storm and rescue hundreds of people who could not escape as the rapidly rising waters swallowed entire neighborhoods. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael Democker) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT

• Hurricane Isaac Hits New Orleans, Gulf Coast

  SLIDELL, LA - AUGUST 30: Residents travel through their neighborhood by jetski during flooding from Hurricane Isaac's storm surge on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain on August 30, 2012 in Slidell, Louisiana. The large Category 1 hurricane had slowly moved across southeast Louisiana, dumping huge amounts of rain and knocking out power to Louisianans in scattered parts of the state. The weather system has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but is still producing heavy rains and flooding as it moves north. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

• Anthony Segrave rides in his boat as he leaves his son's flooded home in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac in Slidell, La., Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. Isaac is now a tropical depression and the center was on track to cross Arkansas on Friday and southern Missouri on Friday night, spreading rain as it goes. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

• Homes in LaPlace, La., west of US 51 and south of I-10, are covered in floodwaters in the aftermath of Isaac on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac hovered over Louisiana for a third day Thursday, shedding more than a foot of additional rain that forced authorities to hurriedly evacuate areas ahead of the storm and rescue hundreds of people who could not escape as the rapidly rising waters swallowed entire neighborhoods. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael Democker) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT

• An intentional levy breach that was created to alleviate trapped floodwater is seen in the community of Braithwaite, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Tony Rodriguez, right, carries his baby daughter Nicole as they and his wife Jodi Clelland leave their flooded home in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac in Slidell, La., Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. Isaac is now a tropical depression and the center was on track to cross Arkansas on Friday and southern Missouri on Friday night, spreading rain as it goes. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

• The city of New Orleans lies under a heavy band of storms in the aftermath of Isaac on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac hovered over Louisiana for a third day Thursday, shedding more than a foot of additional rain that forced authorities to hurriedly evacuate areas ahead of the storm and rescue hundreds of people who could not escape as the rapidly rising waters swallowed entire neighborhoods. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael Democker) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT

• Interstate 10 in LaPLace, La. at the approach of the Twelve Mile Bridge is underwater because of Hurricane Isaac Thursday, August 30, 2012. Isaac soaked Louisiana for yet another day and pushed more water into neighborhoods all around the city, flooding homes and forcing last-minute evacuations and rescues. New Orleans itself was spared, thanks in large part to a levee system built after Katrina. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, John McCusker) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT

• This aerial photo shows the pumping station at the 17th Street Canal, built after Hurricane Katrina breached the wall and flooded New Orleans, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac soaked Louisiana for yet another day and pushed more water into neighborhoods all around the city, flooding homes and forcing last-minute evacuations and rescues. New Orleans itself was spared, thanks in large part to a levee system built after Katrina. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• A car sits submerged after Isaac passed through the region, in Plaquemines Parish, La., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac staggered toward central Louisiana early Thursday, its weakening winds still potent enough to drive storm surge into portions of the coast and the River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Buster stands behind sand bags as he stares at the flood waters around his home, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in LaPlace, La. Isaac has caused major flooding in the region. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

• Lonney Sciortino

  Lonney Sciortino prepares to cut down a tree which fell on top of his tamale stand during Isaac in Arabi, La.,Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac's maximum sustained winds had decreased to 45 mph and the National Hurricane Center said it was expected to become a tropical depression by Thursday night. The storm's center was on track to cross Arkansas on Friday and southern Missouri on Friday night, spreading rain as it goes. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

• Homes are surrounded by flooded water after Isaac passed through the region, in Plaquemines Parish, La., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac staggered toward central Louisiana early Thursday, its weakening winds still potent enough to drive storm surge into portions of the coast and the River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• A submerged cow is stranded amid debris in floodwaters after Isaac passed through the region, in Plaquemines Parish, La., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac staggered toward central Louisiana early Thursday, its weakening winds still potent enough to drive storm surge into portions of the coast and the River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Isaac Fields, Victor Jones

  Isaac Fields, left, and Victor Jones use street signs to paddle a boat out of their flooded neighbor, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in LaPlace, La. Isaac has caused major flooding in the region. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

• The St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church is seen flooded after Isaac passed through the region, in Plaquemines Parish, La., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac staggered toward central Louisiana early Thursday, its weakening winds still potent enough to drive storm surge into portions of the coast and the River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Flooded water surrounds homes after Isaac passed through the region, in Plaquemines Parish, La., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac staggered toward central Louisiana early Thursday, its weakening winds still potent enough to drive storm surge into portions of the coast and the River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Hurricane Isaac Hits New Orleans, Gulf Coast

  SLIDELL, LA - AUGUST 30: A resident evacuates from flooding from Hurricane Isaac's storm surge on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain on August 30, 2012 in Slidell, Louisiana. The large Category 1 hurricane had slowly moved across southeast Louisiana, dumping huge amounts of rain and knocking out power to Louisianans in scattered parts of the state. The weather system has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but is still producing heavy rains and flooding as it moves north. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

• Hurricane Isaac Hits New Orleans, Gulf Coast

  LAPLACE, LA - AUGUST 30: A man heads to check on his house through flood water that came on shore from Lake Pontratrain during Hurricane Isaac near the Indigo Lakes subdivsion on August 30, 2012 in LaPlace, Louisiana.The large Category 1 hurricane had slowly moved across southeast Louisiana, dumping huge amounts of rain and knocking out power to Louisianans in scattered parts of the state. The weather system has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but is still producing heavy rains and flooding as it moves north. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

• Chuck Cropp, center, his son Piers, left, and wife Liz, right, wade through floodwaters from Hurricane Isaac Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, in New Orleans. As Isaac made landfall, it was expected to dump as much as 20 inches of rain in several parts of Louisiana. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

• Homes are flooded as Hurricane Isaac hits Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, in Braithwaite, La. As Isaac made landfall, it was expected to dump as much as 20 inches of rain in several parts of Louisiana. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

• Kneaka Griffin, Ra-Maaz Williams

  Kneaka Griffin, of Davant, La., holds Ra-Maaz Williams, 5 months, at an evacuation shelter after Isaac made landfall as a hurricane, in Belle Chasse, La., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Law enforcement officers and first responders help a family to reach dry land after they were rescued from floodwaters caused by Isaac in Pearlington, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, during a nonstop rain. A number of residents of the small community were trapped by the rising waters and had be rescued or waited until the low tide when waters receded so they could walk out. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

• The waters of the Mississippi Sound surround a traffic sign along Coden Belt Road, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 in Coden, Ala. as Isaac makes landfall along the Gulf Coast. Isaac, downgraded to a tropical storm, has top sustained winds of 70 mph (112 kph), just below the hurricane threshold of 74 mph (119 kph). The storm is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west-southwest of New Orleans, where it is bringing drenching rains and fierce winds. (AP Photo/Mobile Register, G.M. Andrews MAGS OUT

• Hurricane Isaac Hits New Orleans, Gulf Coast

  NEW ORLEANS, LA - AUGUST 29: A downed streetlight lies in the rain from Hurricane Isaac in the Central Business District on August 29, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The large Level 1 hurricane is slowly moving across southeast Louisiana, dumping large amounts of rain and knocking out power to Louisianans in scattered parts of the state. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

• Lights are reflected on Canal Street as a police officer patrolling the area passes a pedestrian as storm bands from Hurricane Isaac hit, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Isaac, a massive storm spanning nearly 200 miles from its center, made landfall Tuesday evening near the mouth of the Mississippi River. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

• David Stefano

  Bay St. Louis, Miss., fireman David Stefano reacts as he and other first responders use an airboat to reach a house fire Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Isaac's rainfall flooded a number of streets in this Bay St. Louis subdivision, preventing firemen from responding quickly to the fire that destroyed a house. (AP Photo/Holbrook Mohr)

• Ronnie Willis

  Ronnie Willis makes his way across Canal Street through the wind and rain from Hurricane Isaac Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

• Hurricane Isaac Hits New Orleans, Gulf Coast

  NEW ORLEANS, LA - AUGUST 29: Heavy rain from Hurricane Isaac obsures the view of the Crescent City Connection Bridge over the Mississiippi River early on August 29, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The large Level 1 hurricane slowly moved across southeast Louisiana, dumping huge amounts of rain and knocking out power to Louisianans in scattered parts of the state. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

• Timbers smolder after a fire gutted a house on stilts in a Bay St. Louis, Miss., neighborhood after rising storm waters from Isaac prevented firemen from responding quickly with their trucks Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. First responders used an airboat to reach the house in order to make sure the flames did not affect any neighboring homes. (AP Photo/Holbrook Mohr)

• Waves tear apart a pier along the Mobile Bay near Dauphin Island on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Alabama took a glancing blow from Hurricane Isaac on Tuesday as it headed toward landfall in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, but the storm still threatened the coast with high winds, torrential rain and pounding surf. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

• Bay St. Louis, Miss., first responders brave a driving rain storm as they use an airboat to reach a house fire in a flooded subdivision, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. After several attempts to reach the house fire, flooded streets forced the fire fighters to use the airboat. (AP Photo/Holbrook Mohr)

• A woman stands on a partially submerged picnic bench in the storm surge from Isaac, on Lakeshore Drive along Lake Pontchartrain, as the storm approaches landfall, in New Orleans, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• Waves tear apart a pier along Mobile Bay near Dauphin Island on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 in Coden, Ala. Alabama took a glancing blow from Hurricane Isaac on Tuesday as it headed toward landfall in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, but the storm still threatened the coast with high winds, torrential rain and pounding surf. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

• First responders seek the assistance of a City of Bay St. Louis, Miss., dump truck to tow their airboat back to their launch site after running aground Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Isaac's rainfall flooded a number of streets in this Bay St. Louis, Miss., neighborhood preventing firemen from using their fire trucks. First responders used an airboat to reach a burning house in order to make sure the flames did not affect any neighboring homes. (AP Photo/Holbrook Mohr)

• Alex, left, and Adam ,three-month-old Chihuahua puppies, play in their new kennel at the Houston SPCA on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, in Houston. These two were among 70 cats and dogs that were evacuated from St. Bernard Parish Animal Control in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, J. Patric Schneider)

• Debris from crashing waves lies strewn over the parkway going to Dauphin Island forcing a closure to the island on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 in Coden, Ala. Alabama took a glancing blow from Hurricane Isaac on Tuesday as it headed toward landfall in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, but the storm still threatened the coast with high winds, torrential rain and pounding surf. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

• Debris lies strewn over the parkway going to Dauphin Island forcing a closure to the island on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 in Coden, Ala. Alabama took a glancing blow from Hurricane Isaac on Tuesday as it headed toward landfall in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, but the storm still threatened the coast with high winds, torrential rain and pounding surf. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

• Dillard University students stay at the shelter in the gym of Centenary Colleges as they evacuated from New Orleans because of hurricane Isaac Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 28, 2012 in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/The Times, Henrietta Wildsmith)

• The Waterfront Seafood company is flooded as water covers Shell Belt Road in Bayou La Batre, Ala. on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Isaac became a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday with winds of 75 mph. It could get stronger by the time it's expected to reach the swampy coast of southeast Louisiana. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

• Teresa Ragas, left, and her husband Bertrand Ragas, of Port Sulphur, La., lie side-by-side in cots at an evacuation shelter in Belle Chasse, La., due to the impending landfall of Isaac, which is expected reach the region as a hurricane this evening, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Isaac became a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday with winds of 75 mph. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

• A concerned neighbor checks on a car as a storm surge from Isaac pushes into Panama City, Fla. on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/The News Herald/Panama City, Fla., Andrew Wardlow) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Senior hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart updates Isaac to a category one hurricane at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warned that Isaac, especially if it strikes at high tide, could cause storm surges of up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) along the coasts of southeast Louisiana and Mississippi and up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) as far away as the Florida Panhandle. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

• Michelle Hice, Tommy Leonard

  Animal control officer Michelle Hice puts a temporary identification collar on "Snuggles,' as evacuee Tommy Leonard hands him over for safe keeping, at an evacuation shelter in Belle Chasse, La., due to the impending landfall of Isaac, which is expected reach the region as a hurricane this evening, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Isaac became a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday with winds of 75 mph. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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Miss. River Flowed Backwards

According to BBC News, the U.S. Geological Survey found that "The storm surge ahead of Hurricane Isaac made the Mississippi River run backwards for 24 hours."

Read the full story here.

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Threat Of Flash Flooding

National Hurricane Center issued the following advisory at 4 p.m. CDT:

...TROPICAL DEPRESSION ISAAC BRINGING HEAVY RAINFALL AND THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING TO THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY...

More here.

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PHOTO: Romney Examines Relief Efforts

With Gov. Romney & Gen. Curtis to inspect relief efforts in Lafitte. twitter.com/BobbyJindal/st…

— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) August 31, 2012

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Water Boil Advisory

@ The_Gambit : The city just announced a water boil advisory for Venetian Isles, in effect until further notice.

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Major Flooding In Arkansas

@ jimwxgator : More MAJOR flooding from Isaac today in Pine Bluff, AR. via @KATV_Weather: http://t.co/9SWtF75p

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St. Tammany Parish Floodwaters Expected To Recede

@ NOLAnews : Isaac's floodwaters should start to recede in St. Tammany Parish http://t.co/IvG0v4UY

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St. John Parish Evacuees Database Available

@ NOLAnews : Isaac evacuees database available for St. John Parish families http://t.co/BegMKyc4

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Isaac Has Been Downgraded To A Tropical Depression

@ chadmyerscnn : #Isaac is now a trop. depression. Winds to 35mph. Lingering storms coming in from the Gulf may have higher gusts or tornadoes.

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Over 1 Million Powerless

@ wunderground : Over 1 million people without power in LA/MS due to #Isaac.

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Deliberate Breach Of Plaquemines Parish Levee Begins

@ AP : BREAKING: Crews begin breaching levee stressed by Isaac flooding in La.'s hard-hit Plaquemines Parish: http://t.co/Z53F2Omf

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Tangipahoa Lake Controlled Water Release Begins

@ NOLAnews : Controlled release of water from Tangipahoa Lake in Miss. begins http://t.co/Cxrzf6h7

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Curfew Lifted

Curfew has been lifted in New Orleans.

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More Tornado Warnings

@ twc_hurricane : Tornado warning: southeast Kemper, northeast Lauderdale counties in eastern MS until 2:30pm. Details: http://t.co/yaxQlZkQ #Isaac

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PHOTO: Flooding In Mobile

#Isaac Photo Flooding at Turner Marine in Mobile, Alabama twitter.com/MarnieTWC/stat…

— Marnie Williams (@MarnieTWC) August 30, 2012

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Plaquemines Sheriff Nearly Swept Away

@ NOLAnews : Plaquemines sheriff swept away, saved in dramatic Hurricane #Isaac rescue - http://t.co/7dzVpP51

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PHOTO: National Guard In Mississippi

The Mississippi Nat'l Guard watching over & protecting homes during #Isaac. Credit: Tonya Watson. twitter.com/MarnieTWC/stat…

— Marnie Williams (@MarnieTWC) August 30, 2012

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Flash Flood Warning For St. John's The Baptist Parish

@ twc_hurricane : Flash flood warning: St Charles & St John The Baptist parishes in Louisiana until 4:15pm CDT. Details: http://t.co/4wheT4cj

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Mississippi Officials To Breach Dam

@ NOLAnews : Miss. officials to breach Isaac-damaged dam on Tangipahoa River - http://t.co/uG8ir7xK

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Isaac Now With 40MPH Winds

@ twc_hurricane : Tropical Storm Isaac: 1 PM CT, 40 mph winds, 992 mb, moving NNW at 9 mph. http://t.co/yJDeDChu

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LSU Classes To Commence On Friday

@ Jmoon901 : RT @NOLAnews: LSU officials decide to reopen Baton Rouge campus for classes on Friday http://t.co/OR01ZGlv

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Emergency Evacuation Update

From Tangipahoa.org:

MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS NOTIFIED GOHSEP AND TANGIPAHOA PARISH GOVERNMENT THAT THE DAM AT LAKE TANGIPAHOA AT PERCY QUINN STATE PARK IS DAMAGED BUT HAS NOT FAILED. OUT OF CAUTION, TANGIPAHOA PARISH PRESIDENT GORDON BURGESS CONTINUES TO CALL FOR A MANDATORY EVACUATION OF ALL AREAS ALONG THE TANGIPAHOA RIVER.

Shelter locations are as follows: Hammond West Side Elementary Montessori School, Hammond Junior High Magnet School, Natalbany Elementary School, Nesom Middle School, Amite High School, and Kentwood High Magnet School.

GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL AND PARISH PRESIDENT GORDON BURGESS HAVE CALLED A 2PM PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE TANGIPAHOA PARISH COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 206 EAST MULBERRY ST IN AMTE, LOUISIANA.

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Emergency Evacuation Announcement

From Tangipahoa.org:

MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HAS NOTIFIED GOHSEP AND TANGIPAHOA PARISH GOVERNMENT THAT THE DAM AT LAKE TANGIPAHOA AT PERCY QUINN STATE PARK IS FAILING. TANGIPAHOA PARISH PRESIDENT GORDON BURGESS IS CALLING FOR A MANDATORY EVACUATION OF ALL AREAS ALONG THE TANGIPAHOA RIVER.

Shelter locations are as follows: Hammond West Side Elementary Montessori School, Hammond Junior High Magnet School, Natalbany Elementary School, Nesom Middle School, Amite High School, and Kentwood High Magnet School.

Click here for more information.

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New Orleans Has Largest Police Presence Since Katrina

@ MikePerlstein : Landrieu: NOLA has largest police presence on the street since Katrina: 2,900 cops, troopers and Nat'l Guard troops.

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Tornado Warnings For Alabama

@ twc_hurricane : Tornado warning: northeastern Choctaw County in southwest Alabama until 12:45pm CDT. Details: http://t.co/rgwzMMXX #Isaac

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Flash Flood Warning For Mobile

@ twc_hurricane : Flash flood warning: Mobile and Washington counties in AL until 5:45pm CDT. This includes the city of Mobile. #Isaac

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Jindal: Levees Are Doing What They Are Supposed To Do

"But levees alone won't protect our people."

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Jindal: Dam Not Yet Breeched

@ The_Gambit : Jindal: Tangipahoa levee has not been breached, despite earlier reports. If breached, 90 minutes to flooding in Kentwood, La.

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Jindal: This Storm Was Different

Jindal: "Every storm is different. Just because your house didn't flood last time doesn't mean it won't flood this time."

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Jindal says nearly 60,000 to be evacuated

Jindal: Up to 60,000 in evacuation zone

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PHOTO: Dam In Pike County, MS

@ WAFB : Here is a pic of the dam in Pike County, MS. http://t.co/BNO8mQHB http://t.co/FEZaDAMl

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Comments

[lilkitten22]

07:15 PM on 08/30/2012

Very sad for them, losing your home, it being flooded, etc is still tragic, and not small to the people affected

[HipMarye]

07:00 PM on 08/30/2012

Interestingly enough, the land mass between NOLA and Mobile has experienced some flooding and had a number of tornadoes from Isaac. Check out WDAM and WLOX's websites to see the extent of what we here in what many call Mississippi have experienced.

[zardoz248]

05:04 PM on 08/30/2012

I don't want anyone to think I am an unfeeling jerk for saying Isaac was a wimp--some probably do think that, if my comments were posted--I am not even going to look.

ANYWAY: I am not a mean person--NO storm is wimpish to those whose home or lives with themselves or friends and families and neighbors are affected:

MY only point is, that as such storms, go, Isaac was, IMO, hyped by the media..

Hope that cleared up my views, and thank God and nature that so few were people were killed, at least so far; bad flooding inland, as I said, could still come.

Having lived in Texas for many years before back home to Oregon, I can tell you that even these dying storms can sit over one place and wreck it with flooding--see"Tropical Storm Alison" in Houston, 2001, I think--SEE WIKI-- "she" never became a hurricane even, but got stuck over Houston, put down almost FORTY inches of rain, believe it or not, and caused BILLIONS of $ in damage to places I knew and loved. These things are never over until they completely disintegrate; they are never over even as "'just tropical depressions." Greg

[JoAnn Kennedy]

04:16 PM on 08/30/2012

I have been in this situation and the thought of it gives me that fear anxiety emotion. Hope is well going forward for these people.

[Closetothesun]

02:19 PM on 08/30/2012

The power of nature like this makes us mere mortals very small and humble in stature. God speed in the help for those in need right now.

[FlipFlopMitt]

11:50 AM on 08/30/2012

Police: Hurricane Isaac is coming, leave now.
Morons: Nah, we can hold out, it will be fine.
ISAAC CAUSES DEVASTATION!
Morons: SAVE US!!!

[GraphicMatt]

11:32 AM on 08/30/2012

It is sad that I have to say this EVERY time there is a natural disaster, but the suffering of fellow Americans, fellow human beings from any country actually, is not the time for partisan politics.

[DaPhantom]

11:28 AM on 08/30/2012

Where's Obama at?

Remeber, Bush didn't care about black pople during Katrina. So I guess Barack Obama doesn't care about black people too.

[reggieb]

11:34 AM on 08/30/2012

Is your Doom Bunker water proof?

[FlipFlopMitt]

11:53 AM on 08/30/2012

One death compared to hundreds for Katrina. No mass flooding. No people camped out in stadium for weeks. Do you even watch or read the news? Do you need to be reminded when to breathe?

[1differentdrummer]

11:22 AM on 08/30/2012

Where's Brownie when we need him? Chuckle. Let's see how this works.

[datenutloaf]

11:27 AM on 08/30/2012

He's checking with wardrobe to see if he needs to roll his sleeves up............

[tinarm]

11:16 AM on 08/30/2012

Well here's the republicans chance to actually build something.....hey, Republican governors you don't need any federal help, come on you can build it all by yourselves right?

[maxfax]

04:06 PM on 08/30/2012

There's a backstory as the dam under repair may be causing overwhelming flooding, it is a state project and state run. If monies were offered by this administration to the governor of Miss. And he didn't take it, they'll have some serious questions to answer. We're talking about over 40,000 people below the dam.

[tinarm]

11:38 PM on 08/30/2012

Oh, geez, why am I not surprised.

[bdh291]

11:14 AM on 08/30/2012

This is all Bush's fault.

[reggieb]

11:35 AM on 08/30/2012

Jindal's crying for more Federal Money.

[maxfax]

04:07 PM on 08/30/2012

Isaac made him stay home all week.

[TimtheEnchanted]

11:38 PM on 08/30/2012

on twitter no less.

[Raccoon1]

10:41 AM on 08/30/2012

I haven't heard of any Wall Street banks or major international corporations jumping in to help the people in the disaster area. Where are they Republicans? I thought they were the answer to everything. "Get rid of government and let private enterprise do it!". WHERE ARE THEY?

The next time something like this happens to you, just sit back and wait for Goldman-Sachs to come rescue you, rebuild your communities, and put your businesses back in business.

[Moxo]

10:38 AM on 08/30/2012

President Barack Obama declared federal emergencies in Louisiana and Mississippi late Wednesday, allowing federal aid to be freed up for affected areas.
---------------
Won't that upset Republican Governor Bobby Jindal? I eagerly await his denial of any need for help during this "annual monsoon".

[maxfax]

04:09 PM on 08/30/2012

Too late Fugate and FEMA on the job assisting with state and local officials.

[TimtheEnchanted]

11:40 PM on 08/30/2012

BJ's been letting the world know via twitter that his hands are stretched out waiting for Uncle Sam to come to his rescue.

[NOV42008]

10:31 AM on 08/30/2012

Obama should not give Jindal a dime, until he gets on his knees begging for government help, and a photo of him doing this is posted on billboard across the nation, stating "YOU DIDN'T BUILD THAT"

[GraphicMatt]

11:17 AM on 08/30/2012

Yeah, screw the people that were affected by this storm. As long as we can teach Bobby Jindal a lesson, who really cares about the people that were actually hurt by this.

[Gail Robinson]

02:29 PM on 08/30/2012

I think your know that won't do that.. I hope you were just being funny. Just makes the governor look like an idiot.

[NOV42008]

05:59 PM on 08/30/2012

He can go around in his helicopter and get the money he got before back from the churches.  I am sure if he gets a dime, he will give it away again, that doesn't help the actual people who are hurt by this.

[maxfax]

04:10 PM on 08/30/2012

Too late. Besides POTUS realizes these are Americans, not Jindal's voters.

[Mike Clark II]

10:24 AM on 08/30/2012

Remember folks: this is Obama's fault. All of it.

At least that is what Republicans say.

[HarleyOpenRoad]

10:32 AM on 08/30/2012

Well, you guys said that Bush owned Katrina. No worries, probably just slipped your mind.

[Raccoon1]

10:35 AM on 08/30/2012

At least Obama recognized the problems ahead of time and prepare.

I guess those red states are ready for their free government money handouts now, aren't they?

[tinarm]

11:07 AM on 08/30/2012

He does own Katrina and his total lack of concern and input he owns Katrina because of "Heck of a job Brownie." Good grief.