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| Tropical Storm Isaac: New warning for Louisiana | Tropical Storm Isaac: New warning for Louisiana |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A strengthening Tropical Storm Isaac is likely to hit the US Gulf Coast with hurricane force, forecasters say. | A strengthening Tropical Storm Isaac is likely to hit the US Gulf Coast with hurricane force, forecasters say. |
| After lashing southern Florida, Isaac is heading towards the northern Gulf Coast, threatening New Orleans seven years after Hurricane Katrina hit. | After lashing southern Florida, Isaac is heading towards the northern Gulf Coast, threatening New Orleans seven years after Hurricane Katrina hit. |
| Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama have declared emergencies. | Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama have declared emergencies. |
| The Republican Party has delayed the start of its national convention in Tampa, which is to formally nominate Mitt Romney for president, by a day. | The Republican Party has delayed the start of its national convention in Tampa, which is to formally nominate Mitt Romney for president, by a day. |
| But concerns about severe weather remain, with organisers keeping a nervous eye on Isaacs progress north-west. | But concerns about severe weather remain, with organisers keeping a nervous eye on Isaacs progress north-west. |
| The Republican governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have cancelled their trips to the convention to focus on disaster prevention efforts. | |
| Wide path | Wide path |
| Isaac is already a large storm and could bring significant damage to areas within hundreds of miles of its centre. | Isaac is already a large storm and could bring significant damage to areas within hundreds of miles of its centre. |
| The National Hurricane Center (NHC) href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATCPAT4.shtml" >said that at 14:00 EST (18:00 GMT) on Monday, Isaac was centred about 280 miles (450km) south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi river, with wind speeds of 65 mph (100km/h). It could reach hurricane force in the following 24 hours, the NHC said. | |
| Fed by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to strengthen to a category one hurricane with winds of 74 mph (119km/h), and make landfall on Tuesday or early Wednesday, somewhere between Florida and Louisiana. | Fed by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to strengthen to a category one hurricane with winds of 74 mph (119km/h), and make landfall on Tuesday or early Wednesday, somewhere between Florida and Louisiana. |
| Wednesday is the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans as a category three storm after quickly strengthening in the Gulf to a category five. | Wednesday is the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans as a category three storm after quickly strengthening in the Gulf to a category five. |
| 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. | |
| Mr Fugate also said that the storm 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. | |
| New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said it was "quite ironic that we have a hurricane that is threatening us on the seventh anniversary of Katrina", but said the city was prepared. | |
| "The people of New Orleans have been incredibly resilient," he said. | |
| Caribbean havoc | |
| A hurricane warning is already effect for some 300 miles of the Gulf Coast in four states from Louisiana to Florida, with lower-level warnings in effect for many areas along Florida's west coast. | A hurricane warning is already effect for some 300 miles of the Gulf Coast in four states from Louisiana to Florida, with lower-level warnings in effect for many areas along Florida's west coast. |
| Forecasters say it has been difficult to forecast the storm's path, as different computer models put Isaac at opposite sides of a broad cone. | Forecasters say it has been difficult to forecast the storm's path, as different computer models put Isaac at opposite sides of a broad cone. |
| 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. |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott told reporters on Monday that 60,000 people are already without power as a result of the storm. | |
| Earlier predictions said Isaac would be a category two hurricane on landfall, but despite the downgrade, National Hurricane Center director Rick Knabb told ABC News residents should not change their preparations because such storms often do not stick to predictions. | Earlier predictions said Isaac would be a category two hurricane on landfall, but despite the downgrade, National Hurricane Center director Rick Knabb told ABC News residents should not change their preparations because such storms often do not stick to predictions. |
| Officials are also concerned the storm could threaten serious flooding. Mr Knabb said "storm surges" of 6-12ft (1.83-3.66m) were possible along the Gulf coast, with the biggest dangers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. | Officials are also concerned the storm could threaten serious flooding. Mr Knabb said "storm surges" of 6-12ft (1.83-3.66m) were possible along the Gulf coast, with the biggest dangers 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. |
| BP and Chevron have shut down oil production in the Gulf, and BP is evacuating its platform there. | |
| The storm has already caused havoc in the Caribbean, bringing death and considerable damage to Haiti, where at least eight people have been killed; floods and downed power lines affected Cuba. | The storm has already caused havoc in the Caribbean, bringing death and considerable damage to Haiti, where at least eight people have been killed; floods and downed power lines affected Cuba. |
| Three people were missing in the Dominican Republic, officials said, including the mayor of a town near Santo Domingo who was later confirmed dead. | Three people were missing in the Dominican Republic, officials said, including the mayor of a town near Santo Domingo who was later confirmed dead. |
| 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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