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Storm’s Winds Slow as It Exits Southern Louisiana Storm’s Winds Slow as It Exits Southern Louisiana
(35 minutes later)
NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Isaac’s once fierce winds slowed to 40 miles per hour on Thursday morning as it finally moved out of southern Louisiana and headed north while continuing to bring heavy rains and flooding along its path. NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Isaac’s once fierce winds slowed to 40 miles per hour on Thursday as it finally moved out of southern Louisiana and headed north while continuing to bring heavy rains and flooding along its path.
Early Thursday, the storm continued at its now familiar exceedingly slow pace — 8 m.p.h. — as it moved into central Louisiana and on toward Arkansas, which it may not reach until some time Friday, forecasters said. The storm continued at its now familiar exceedingly slow pace — 9 m.p.h. — as it moved into central Louisiana and on toward Arkansas, which it may not reach until some time Friday, forecasters said.
At 7 a.m., the vastly weakened system was 35 miles southeast of Alexandria, La. — and more than 100 miles northwest of a New Orleans glad to see it gone. At 10 a.m., the vastly weakened system was 50 miles south of Monroe, La. — and more than 165 miles northwest of a New Orleans glad to see it gone.
The storm however, continued to create major problems in a wide area of the Gulf Coast on Thursday.The storm however, continued to create major problems in a wide area of the Gulf Coast on Thursday.
Louisiana officials on Thursday morning ordered a mandatory evacuation for some communities along the rain-swollen Tangipahoa River after warning that the Tangipahoa Dam in Mississippi was in danger of failing. Louisiana officials ordered an evacuation for some 60,000 people living in communities along the rain-swollen Tangipahoa River after warning that the Tangipahoa Dam in Mississippi was in danger of failing.
There are some 60,000 people who might need to be evacuated, including residents of Amite, La., said Jerry Trabona, the town’s police chief. On the Tangipahoa Parish Web site, officials warned of “imminent failure” of the dam. While the Tangipahoa Parish Web site warned of “imminent failure” of the earthen dam upriver, Mississippi officials were circumspect.
In Pike County, Miss., officials called for a “precautionary evacuation.” Heavy rains had “badly damaged” the dam, they said, but it had not been breached. In Pike County, Miss., for instance, officials called only for a “precautionary evacuation” of the area of the county south of 700-acre Lake Tangipahoa.
And the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said that the dam was in no immediate danger. In a statement, Pike County said “the dam has been badly damaged by heavy rains,” but it had not been breached.
“There’s no water coming through it. There hasn’t been a breach,” said Greg Flynn, a spokesman for the agency. Mr. Flynn said that if the dam did fail, however, very few people would be in danger — about 12 homes would be threatened. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said that the dam was in no immediate danger.
“There’s no water coming through it. There hasn’t been a breach,” said Greg Flynn, a spokesman for the agency. Mr. Flynn said that even if the dam did fail, however, very few people would be in danger — only about 12 homes would be threatened by floodwaters.
“It’s a very sparsely populated area,” he said.“It’s a very sparsely populated area,” he said.
At a news conference, Gov. Bobby Jindal called the situation “very, very fluid.” At a news conference, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana said an evacuation had been ordered for one mile on either side of the Tangipahoa River in Louisiana.
The Twitter account of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said Mississippi was “considering a controlled breach of dam. If they do that, they don’t estimate a water impact” in Louisiana. He said if the dam failed that it would take 90 minutes for floodwaters to reach the town of Kentwood — hometown of Britney Spears — downstream.
“They are planning a planned breach of the dam to prevent the dam from breaking,” he said, adding that an unplanned breach could cause the kind of river flooding that occurred in 1983 and 1990.
The 1990 flood, Mr. Jindal said, “was actually bad enough to take out some bridges.”
“You would see that kind of impact again,” he said, adding, “there are many more people living in those areas” now.
But if a planned breach takes place, Mr. Jindal said, there would be no impact expected in Louisiana.
The governor said there are six nursing homes in the area, but only two would have to be evacuated and that the local hospitals and a prison would not have to be cleared.
It is, he said, “obviously, a fluid situation.”
Throughout Wednesday, the storm — which at the time was a Category 1 hurricane — pummeled much of the Gulf Coast, pinning portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama under a saturating rainfall and creating 12-foot storm surges.Throughout Wednesday, the storm — which at the time was a Category 1 hurricane — pummeled much of the Gulf Coast, pinning portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama under a saturating rainfall and creating 12-foot storm surges.
In Slidell, a city of about 30,000 people on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain, floodwaters from creeks flowing into the area’s bayous have begun to inundate Olde Towne, a residential area and tourist destination, and Mayor Freddy Drennan encouraged residents in several neighborhoods to evacuate.In Slidell, a city of about 30,000 people on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain, floodwaters from creeks flowing into the area’s bayous have begun to inundate Olde Towne, a residential area and tourist destination, and Mayor Freddy Drennan encouraged residents in several neighborhoods to evacuate.
“Water is currently backing up into the city through Bayou Pattasat,” Mayor Drennan said on the city’s Facebook page Thursday morning. “The water levels in Bayou Bonfouca got so high that it has gone around the pump stations into Bayou Bonfouca and back up into Slidell through that natural drain. The pumps are currently unable to pump the water out as fast as it’s coming in.”“Water is currently backing up into the city through Bayou Pattasat,” Mayor Drennan said on the city’s Facebook page Thursday morning. “The water levels in Bayou Bonfouca got so high that it has gone around the pump stations into Bayou Bonfouca and back up into Slidell through that natural drain. The pumps are currently unable to pump the water out as fast as it’s coming in.”
In Biloxi, Miss., on Thursday morning, residents had hoped that the day could be spent cleaning up and assessing damage. Instead, winds were still blowing strong and heavy rain was still falling.In Biloxi, Miss., on Thursday morning, residents had hoped that the day could be spent cleaning up and assessing damage. Instead, winds were still blowing strong and heavy rain was still falling.
Gale-force winds pushed water at the mouth of the Biloxi River, and prevented it from draining. In some sections, the river was overflowing its banks.Gale-force winds pushed water at the mouth of the Biloxi River, and prevented it from draining. In some sections, the river was overflowing its banks.
Schools and government offices remained closed. And after a couple days without electricity, some people’s food supplies were running low. Ice was nowhere to be found.Schools and government offices remained closed. And after a couple days without electricity, some people’s food supplies were running low. Ice was nowhere to be found.
Resort beach hotels that had been empty save for a few evacuees prepared for insurance adjusters, federal emergency workers and crews from retail stores like Home Depot, which was scheduled to send nearly 300 employees to the region to get stores open and ready for a booming business in plywood, sheet rock and tarps.Resort beach hotels that had been empty save for a few evacuees prepared for insurance adjusters, federal emergency workers and crews from retail stores like Home Depot, which was scheduled to send nearly 300 employees to the region to get stores open and ready for a booming business in plywood, sheet rock and tarps.
“The first thing you go after when a storm like this is over is food and repair material,” said Kent Wagner, a human resource manager for Home Depot.“The first thing you go after when a storm like this is over is food and repair material,” said Kent Wagner, a human resource manager for Home Depot.
The only confirmed fatality linked to the storm so far was the death of a tow truck driver in Pearl County, Miss., who was killed when a tree fell on his cab, said the county coroner, Derek Turnage.The only confirmed fatality linked to the storm so far was the death of a tow truck driver in Pearl County, Miss., who was killed when a tree fell on his cab, said the county coroner, Derek Turnage.
In New Orleans, the decision by most residents to stay did not turn out to be disastrous. On Thursday, despite pouring rain, people began to venture out after being cooped up for the better part of two days without electricity. Some had come outside to walk dogs, though many others were lining up at gas stations and corner stores.In New Orleans, the decision by most residents to stay did not turn out to be disastrous. On Thursday, despite pouring rain, people began to venture out after being cooped up for the better part of two days without electricity. Some had come outside to walk dogs, though many others were lining up at gas stations and corner stores.
The city’s wounds, however, appeared to be rather modest: street flooding, nonfunctional traffic lights, large, uprooted oak trees blocking roads. Cars in dealerships along Interstate 10 had floodwater halfway up their tires.The city’s wounds, however, appeared to be rather modest: street flooding, nonfunctional traffic lights, large, uprooted oak trees blocking roads. Cars in dealerships along Interstate 10 had floodwater halfway up their tires.
Some people, unsure of the availability of fuel and about the extent of road access, took to their bicycles.Some people, unsure of the availability of fuel and about the extent of road access, took to their bicycles.
Still, three-quarters of the city was without power, and will be for several days. In all, hundreds of thousands of people across the state do not have electricity, though in a sign that help is on the way, a convoy of utility vehicles was seen Thursday morning heading toward the city from Michigan — via Interstate 10 in Mississippi.Still, three-quarters of the city was without power, and will be for several days. In all, hundreds of thousands of people across the state do not have electricity, though in a sign that help is on the way, a convoy of utility vehicles was seen Thursday morning heading toward the city from Michigan — via Interstate 10 in Mississippi.
On its crawl up from the coast, Isaac dumped more than a foot of rain in some places and shoved before it a violent storm surge that would soon bring back the terrible old images of 2005: people marooned on rooftops, rescue workers breaking into attics with axes and the rescued clutching what little they had left.On its crawl up from the coast, Isaac dumped more than a foot of rain in some places and shoved before it a violent storm surge that would soon bring back the terrible old images of 2005: people marooned on rooftops, rescue workers breaking into attics with axes and the rescued clutching what little they had left.
The worst-hit part of the coast was Plaquemines Parish, La., the finger of land that follows the Mississippi River from Orleans Parish out into the Gulf of Mexico, and the place where both Isaac and Katrina first made landfall.The worst-hit part of the coast was Plaquemines Parish, La., the finger of land that follows the Mississippi River from Orleans Parish out into the Gulf of Mexico, and the place where both Isaac and Katrina first made landfall.
Fears that a locally built gulf-side levee would be overtopped by Isaac’s massive surge were well founded. Many of those on Plaquemines Parish’s east bank who ignored Monday’s order to leave were forced into their attics when the gulf poured in, filling up the bowl between the levees with up to 14 feet of water.Fears that a locally built gulf-side levee would be overtopped by Isaac’s massive surge were well founded. Many of those on Plaquemines Parish’s east bank who ignored Monday’s order to leave were forced into their attics when the gulf poured in, filling up the bowl between the levees with up to 14 feet of water.
Dozens of people had to be pulled to safety by rescue workers and neighbors. As of Wednesday evening, water was beginning to creep up the west bank of the parish as well, prompting officials to go door to door to evacuate what is effectively the bottom two-thirds of the parish.Dozens of people had to be pulled to safety by rescue workers and neighbors. As of Wednesday evening, water was beginning to creep up the west bank of the parish as well, prompting officials to go door to door to evacuate what is effectively the bottom two-thirds of the parish.
“We’ve never seen anything like this, not even Katrina,” said a visibly rattled Billy Nungesser, the parish president, in a briefing to reporters. “
Outside the city, severe flooding was widespread. The National Hurricane Center expected the storm to drop up to 25 inches of rain in some areas. Officials said Wednesday night that they were working to evacuate up to 3,000 people from floodwaters in St. John the Baptist Parish, about 30 miles west of New Orleans.
More than 4,000 people were in shelters across the state and 5,000 members of the National Guard had been deployed to help in response efforts.More than 4,000 people were in shelters across the state and 5,000 members of the National Guard had been deployed to help in response efforts.

Campbell Robertson reported from New Orleans, and Kim Severson from Biloxi, Miss. David Thier contributed reporting from Plaquemines Parish, La., and John Schwartz from New Orleans. Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.

Campbell Robertson reported from New Orleans, and Kim Severson from Biloxi, Miss. David Thier contributed reporting from Plaquemines Parish, La., John Schwartz from New Orleans, Timothy Williams, Christine Hauser and Lori Moore from New York. Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.