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Isaac News: Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Rescued

UPDATED 3:15 PM CDT, August 30, 2012

By WeatherBug Meteorologists

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A weakening Tropical Storm Isaac is crawling across southern Louisiana. Tropical storm force winds will hang around another 12-to-18 hours for those along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Mississippi and Alabama border, spreading deeper into lower Mississippi Valley today. Life-threatening flooding and significant storm surge will be Isaac`s calling card for the remainder of its life cycle through the end of the week. Here is the most up-to-date Isaac news from various media sources, weather service offices, the National Hurricane Center and observations from Isaac:

Isaac`s Fury and Aftermath

  • Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Lonnie Greco had to be rescued Wednesday when he became trapped helping parish residents who became trapped in the floodwaters. Remember, Turn Around, Don't Drown!
  • Saturday`s Tulane-Rutgers college football game will go on as scheduled at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The dome survived Isaac with only minor damage to a few signs.
  • Possible dam breach in southern Mississippi is forcing evacuation downstream along Tangipahoa River in eastern La. 50,000 people affected
  • WWL-TV reporter sees alligator swimming in Louisiana flood water.
  • Lulling Destrehan I-310 Bridge closed due to lose barge on the Mississippi River; the Huey Long Bridge is also closed
  • National Guard picks up evacuees in LaPlace, La.
  • 50 people rescued by boat and high water vehicles in Indian Village, La.
  • 75 people rescued from flooded homes and rooftops in Braithwaite, La., after Levee breach
  • From WWL-TV: Isaac could become the sixth billion dollar tropical system to affect Louisiana in some way since 2000. It would follow in the path of Tropical Storms Allison ($5 billion) and Lee ($1.3 billion) along with Hurricanes Katrina ($100-plus billion), Rita ($8-plus billion) and Gustav ($5 billion).
  • A levee in Plaquemines Parish south of New Orleans has been breached or overtopped by storm surge, causing widespread flooding
  • Rescues underway in Plaquemines Parish after levee breach floods communities.
  • New Orleans mayor says levee system is holding; street flooding reported from rainfall
  • AP reports Isaac death toll in Haiti has risen to 19

Wednesday`s Wind Gusts from WeatherBug Live Tracking Stations

  • Saint Bernard, La.: 97.1 mph
  • Fort Fourchon, La.: 95.1 mph
  • Chalmette, La.: 91 mph
  • Metaire, La.: 89.9 mph
  • New Orleans (Magnolia School), La.: 80 mph
  • New Orleans Lakefront Airport: 75.8 mph
  • New Orleans International Airport: 74.8 mph
  • Arabi, La.: 75.6 mph
  • Marrero, La.: 74.5 mph
  • Kenner, La.: 73 mph

Power Outages

Entergy Louisiana is now reporting more than 654,000 customers without power in southern Louisiana, including greater New Orleans. This number is climbing, and will likely rise today.

Entergy Louisiana spokesman reports more than 172,000 customers without power in Jefferson Parish and more than 159,000 in Orleans Parish. The hope is to get crews out to assess power-line damage on Thursday once winds drop below 30 mph..

Entergy Mississippi is reporting more than 7,200 power outages along the southern Mississippi tonight.

Latest Weather Information

  • Pasagoula, Miss., WeatherBug Live Tracking station reports more than 13 inches of rain.
  • Mandeville, La., recorded a 5 to 6 foot storm surge
  • Baton Rouge and New Orleans National Weather Service office confirms a damaging tornado in Gulfport, Miss., Wednesday afternoon. Structural damage was reported in the Orange Grove, Ala., area and a roof was blown off a grocery store in McHenry, Miss.
  • Isaac slow movement means more flooding from storm surge and torrential downpours
  • Storm surge has reached 11 feet at Shell Beach, La., and 8.8 feet at Waveland, Miss. A wind gust was measured at 85 mph in Grand Isle, La.
  • Hurricane Isaac made landfall in Plaquemines Parish in southeastern Louisiana at 6:45 p.m. CDT with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.
  • Tornado Watch posted for southern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. New Orleans, Hattiesburg, Miss., and Mobile, Ala., are included.

Evacuations and State of Emergencies

  • Greater New Orleans sets a strict 8 p.m. CDT until 6 a.m. CDT curfew. Local police issue stern warning, if caught out after 8 p.m. CDT, "there better be a good reason!"
  • The New Orleans Saints are leaving town as Isaac bears down on the Gulf Coast.
  • Over 58 percent of the 596 manned production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were shut down and evacuated before Isaac.
  • Pensacola Naval Air Station evacuated 45 planes to other bases
  • Evacuations ordered in Escambia County, Fla., including Pensacola and Pensacola Beach.
  • Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declares State of emergency
  • Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley declares state of emergency; issues mandatory evacuations for south Mobile and Baldwin counties and around Mobile Bay
  • New Orleans declared State of Emergency Sunday; no evacuations called yet, update coming at 1 p.m. EDT (Source: WeatherBug Partner WWL-TV)
  • St. Charles Parish, southeastern La., ordered evacuations Sunday for parish`s 53,000 residents.
  • Town of Jean Lafitte, La., orders evacuations.
  • Plaquemines Parish, La., is under mandatory evacuation.

Cancellations and Travel Issues

  • Many roads closed around New Orleans, including major interstates due to flooding. (Source: La. DOT)
  • Mississippi State Route 603 and other major nearby roads still remain impassible due to flooding rains and wind from Isaac.
  • Amtrak shut down all passenger rail service into and out of New Orleans.
  • All airports in New Orleans and coastal southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are closed.
  • Airlines are waiving change fees for passengers affected by Isaac.
  • Schools across the central and eastern Gulf Coast are closed today with more likely closed on Wednesday.

Sources: Associated Press contributed to this story

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Story image: A church is flooded as Hurricane Isaac hits Braithwaite, La. AP Photo/David J. Phillip

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