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| Tropical Storm Isaac: Obama declares Louisiana emergency | Tropical Storm Isaac: Obama declares Louisiana emergency |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, as Tropical Storm Isaac threatens to hit the US as a category two hurricane. | President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, as Tropical Storm Isaac threatens to hit the US as a category two hurricane. |
| Isaac is heading for New Orleans, possibly as early as Tuesday night, nearly seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. | Isaac is heading for New Orleans, possibly as early as Tuesday night, nearly seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. |
| The Republican Party delayed by a day the start of its national convention in Tampa, Florida. | The Republican Party delayed by a day the start of its national convention in Tampa, Florida. |
| Isaac killed at least 24 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. | Isaac killed at least 24 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. |
| The storm wrought significant flooding and damage in the Caribbean. | The storm wrought significant flooding and damage in the Caribbean. |
| Late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned Isaac could reach category two strength, with top winds of 100mph (160km/h). The forecast was revised up from category one. | Late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned Isaac could reach category two strength, with top winds of 100mph (160km/h). The forecast was revised up from category one. |
| President Obama approved Louisiana's request for a federal disaster declaration, making available federal funds for recovery activities such as clearing debris. | President Obama approved Louisiana's request for a federal disaster declaration, making available federal funds for recovery activities such as clearing debris. |
| Wide path | Wide path |
| Earlier, the governors of Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama declared emergencies in their states. | Earlier, the governors of Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama declared emergencies in their states. |
| The Republican governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have cancelled their trips to their party's convention to focus on disaster prevention efforts. | The Republican governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have cancelled their trips to their party's convention to focus on disaster prevention efforts. |
| Isaac is already a large storm and could bring significant damage to areas within hundreds of miles of its centre, officials warn. | Isaac is already a large storm and could bring significant damage to areas within hundreds of miles of its centre, officials warn. |
| The NHC href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/280254.shtml" >said that at 23:00 EDT on Monday (03:00 GMT on Tuesday), Isaac was centred about 189 miles (305km) south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi river, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 70mph (110km/h). | |
| The storm is moving forward at about 10mph and storm winds extend out about 205 miles (335km) from the centre. | |
| The NHC warned that wind speeds could reach between 96-110mph before the storm makes landfall. | The NHC warned that wind speeds could reach between 96-110mph before the storm makes landfall. |
| Evacuations have already been ordered for some low-lying Louisiana parishes and parts of coastal Alabama. | Evacuations have already been ordered for some low-lying Louisiana parishes and parts of coastal Alabama. |
| Wednesday is the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which strengthened in the Gulf to a category five storm, before weakening to category three by the time it reached New Orleans. | Wednesday is the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which strengthened in the Gulf to a category five storm, before weakening to category three by the time it reached New Orleans. |
| Federal officials said the levees around New Orleans are now equipped to handle storms stronger than Isaac. Levee failures led to the catastrophic flooding in the area after Katrina. | Federal officials said the levees around New Orleans are now equipped to handle storms stronger than Isaac. Levee failures led to the catastrophic flooding in the area after Katrina. |
| "It's a much more robust system than what it was when Katrina came ashore," Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate said in a conference call with reporters. | "It's a much more robust system than what it was when Katrina came ashore," Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate said in a conference call with reporters. |
| Mr Fugate also said that Isaac was not just a New Orleans storm. | Mr Fugate also said that Isaac was not just a New Orleans storm. |
| "This is a Gulf Coast storm. Some of the heaviest impact may be in Alabama and Mississippi," he said. | "This is a Gulf Coast storm. Some of the heaviest impact may be in Alabama and Mississippi," he said. |
| 'Nerve-wracking' | 'Nerve-wracking' |
| A stream of vehicles left New Orleans on the highway heading west for Baton Rouge on Monday, as people made their way to higher ground. | A stream of vehicles left New Orleans on the highway heading west for Baton Rouge on Monday, as people made their way to higher ground. |
| Linda Grandison, who fled her home in 2005 and waited on a bridge for three days before she was rescued by a helicopter, has also decided to leave early, the Associated Press reported. | Linda Grandison, who fled her home in 2005 and waited on a bridge for three days before she was rescued by a helicopter, has also decided to leave early, the Associated Press reported. |
| "You can't predict God's work," she said. "This is nerve-wracking. I hate leaving my house, worrying if it's going to flood or get looted. But I'm not going to stay in the city again." | "You can't predict God's work," she said. "This is nerve-wracking. I hate leaving my house, worrying if it's going to flood or get looted. But I'm not going to stay in the city again." |
| Evacuations have already been put in place for Louisiana's St Charles Parish, near New Orleans, and some areas of coastal Alabama. | Evacuations have already been put in place for Louisiana's St Charles Parish, near New Orleans, and some areas of coastal Alabama. |
| A hurricane warning is already in effect for some 300 miles of the Gulf Coast in four states from Louisiana to Florida, with lower-level warnings issued for many areas along Florida's west coast. | A hurricane warning is already in effect for some 300 miles of the Gulf Coast in four states from Louisiana to Florida, with lower-level warnings issued for many areas along Florida's west coast. |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott told reporters on Monday that 60,000 people were already without power as a result of the storm. | Florida Governor Rick Scott told reporters on Monday that 60,000 people were already without power as a result of the storm. |
| Mr Knabb said "storm surges" of 6-12ft (1.83-3.66m) were possible along the Gulf coast, with the biggest danger in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. | Mr Knabb said "storm surges" of 6-12ft (1.83-3.66m) were possible along the Gulf coast, with the biggest danger in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. |
| As much as 1ft of rain could fall, he added. | As much as 1ft of rain could fall, he added. |
| US offshore oil production is expected to be badly hit, as are refineries in lowland Louisiana. | US offshore oil production is expected to be badly hit, as are refineries in lowland Louisiana. |
| As much as 78% of the Gulf's crude oil production and 48% of its natural gas production had been closed ahead of the storm, government figures showed. | As much as 78% of the Gulf's crude oil production and 48% of its natural gas production had been closed ahead of the storm, government figures showed. |
| BP and Chevron have shut down oil production in the Gulf, and BP is evacuating its platform there. | BP and Chevron have shut down oil production in the Gulf, and BP is evacuating its platform there. |
| Are you preparing for Tropical Storm Isaac? Are you in Louisiana? Please get in touch using the form below. | Are you preparing for Tropical Storm Isaac? Are you in Louisiana? Please get in touch using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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