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Louisiana in state of emergency bracing for Tropical Storm Barry Louisiana braces for Tropical Storm Barry as state of emergency declared
(about 2 hours later)
Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana with Tropical Storm Barry poised to make landfall as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019. Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency for Louisiana, with Tropical Storm Barry poised to make landfall as the first Atlantic hurricane of 2019.
Nearly 50,000 people are without power as Tropical Storm Barry nears landfall on Louisiana’s south-central coast. According to Energy Louisiana’s outages map, more than 29,000 customers had been affected by power outages as of 2.11am, local time, on Saturday. Nearly 50,000 people are without power as the storm nears landfall on the state’s south-central coast. According to Entergy Louisiana’s outages map, more than 29,000 customers had been affected by power outages as of 2.11am local time on Saturday.
City officials warned New Orleans residents to secure their homes, stock up on supplies and prepare to huddle indoors. City officials warned New Orleans residents to secure their homes, stock up on supplies and prepare to stay indoors.
Barry’s maximum sustained winds were clocked at 65mph as it churned through the northern Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana. Meteorologists warned that torrential rains – as much as 2ft in some places – are likely to cause severe flooding. Barry’s maximum sustained winds were clocked at 65mph (104km/h) as it churned through the northern Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana. Meteorologists warned torrential rains – as much as 0.6 metres (2ft) in some places – were likely to cause severe flooding.
While New Orleans authorities refrained from ordering evacuations and advised residents to shelter in place instead, tourism officials reported an exodus of hotel guests checking out early on Friday. Some airlines, including British Airways, have cancelled outbound flights from the city through Saturday. While New Orleans authorities refrained from ordering evacuations and advised residents to take shelter instead, tourism officials reported an exodus of hotel guests checking out early on Friday. Some airlines, including British Airways, cancelled outbound flights from the city on Saturday.
Mandatory evacuations were imposed in flood-prone coastal areas of two neighbouring parishes south of the city.Mandatory evacuations were imposed in flood-prone coastal areas of two neighbouring parishes south of the city.
A performance scheduled for Sunday by the Rolling Stones at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, which served as an emergency shelter during the Hurricane Katrina flood of 2005, was postponed until Monday. A performance scheduled for Sunday by the Rolling Stones at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, which served as an emergency shelter during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was postponed until Monday.
The impending storm was widely seen as a key test of the fortified flood defences put in place following Katrina, which inundated much of the city and killed about 1,800 people.The impending storm was widely seen as a key test of the fortified flood defences put in place following Katrina, which inundated much of the city and killed about 1,800 people.
Barry is expected to cross the coastline southwest of New Orleans on Saturday morning. It is forecast to reach category 1 hurricane strength by then, with winds of at least 74 mph, the National Weather Service said. Barry is expected to cross the coastline south-west of New Orleans on Saturday morning. It is forecast to reach category one hurricane strength by then, with winds of at least 74mph, the National Weather Service said.
The storm’s flood potential, rather than its high winds, posed the greatest danger to low-lying New Orleans, a city virtually surrounded on all sides by rising waters.The storm’s flood potential, rather than its high winds, posed the greatest danger to low-lying New Orleans, a city virtually surrounded on all sides by rising waters.
“Tropical Storm Barry is a dangerous and life-threatening storm,” meteorologist Benjamin Schott said at a news conference. Benjamin Schott, a meteorologist, said: “Tropical Storm Barry is a dangerous and life-threatening storm.”
Authorities were keeping a particularly watchful eye on the levee system built to contain the lower Mississippi River, which winds through the heart of New Orleans and was already well above flood stage from months of heavy upstream rainfall over the Midwest. Authorities were keeping a particularly watchful eye on the levee system built to contain the lower Mississippi River, which winds through the heart of New Orleans and was already well above flood stage from months of heavy upstream rainfall over the midwest.
A coastal storm surge into the mouth of the Mississippi is expected to push its crest to 19ft in New Orleans, the highest level since 1950 and dangerously close to the top of the city’s levees. A coastal storm surge into the mouth of the Mississippi is expected to push its crest to 5.8 metres in New Orleans, the highest level since 1950 and dangerously close to the top of the city’s levees.
The brunt of Barry was expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans, avoiding a direct hit. But Mayor LaToya Cantrell said 48 hours of heavy downpours could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water. The brunt of Barry was expected to skirt the western edge of New Orleans, avoiding a direct hit. But LaToya Cantrell, the city’s mayor, said 48 hours of heavy downpours could overwhelm pumps designed to purge streets and storm drains of excess water.
“There is no system in the world that can handle that amount of rainfall in such a short period,” Cantrell said on Twitter.“There is no system in the world that can handle that amount of rainfall in such a short period,” Cantrell said on Twitter.
New Orleans was already saturated after thunderstorms drenched the city with a foot of rain on Wednesday.New Orleans was already saturated after thunderstorms drenched the city with a foot of rain on Wednesday.
“If it’s worse than the other day, it’d be the worst week since Katrina,” said musician Robert Harris, 61, polishing his trombone while sitting on a sidewalk. Robert Harris, sitting on a sidewalk and polishing his trombone, said: “If it’s worse than the other day, it’d be the worst week since Katrina.”
Louisiana
US weatherUS weather
New OrleansNew Orleans
Louisiana Extreme weather
Donald Trump Natural disasters and extreme weather
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