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Tropical Storm Isaac: Obama declares Louisiana emergency | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, as a strengthening Tropical Storm Isaac threatens to make landfall in the US. | |
Isaac is expected to strengthen to a category two hurricane before making landfall between Louisiana and Florida. | |
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. |
Isaac killed at least 20 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. | |
The storm wrought significant flooding and damage in the Caribbean. | |
After lashing southern Florida, Isaac is heading towards the northern Gulf Coast, threatening New Orleans seven years after Hurricane Katrina hit. | |
Earlier, the governors of Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama had declared emergencies in their states. | |
The Republican governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have cancelled their trips to the convention to focus on disaster prevention efforts. | 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/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/272049.shtml" >said that at 17:00 EDT (20:00 GMT) on Monday, Isaac was centred about 255 miles (415km) south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi river, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 70mph (110km/h). | |
It could reach hurricane force in the following 24 hours, the NHC said. | |
Evacuations have already been ordered for some low-lying Louisiana parishes and parts of coastal Alabama. | |
Fed by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to strengthen to a category one hurricane with winds of 74mph (119km/h), and make landfall on Tuesday or early Wednesday, somewhere between Florida and Louisiana. | |
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 the storm was not just a New Orleans storm. | 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. | "This is a Gulf Coast storm. Some of the heaviest impact may be in Alabama and Mississippi," he said. |
Stephen Schmitz, who lives in New Orleans, told the BBC the atmosphere in the city was calm for now, but there were shortages of petrol and bottled water. | |
"I'm trying to get some petrol so I can leave early tomorrow morning to stay with friends in Baton Rouge," he said. | |
Storm-surge warning | |
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. | |
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. | Florida Governor Rick Scott told reporters on Monday that 60,000 people are already without power as a result of the storm. |
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. | 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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