This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/us/tropical-storm-gains-strength-moving-toward-coast.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Tropical Storm Gains Strength Moving Toward Coast Floods, Not Wind, Seen as Main Threat From Storm
(about 1 hour later)
NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Isaac churned toward the central Gulf Coast on Monday as the authorities issued hurricane warnings in cities along the shoreline and advised tens of thousands of residents to evacuate low-lying areas.NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Isaac churned toward the central Gulf Coast on Monday as the authorities issued hurricane warnings in cities along the shoreline and advised tens of thousands of residents to evacuate low-lying areas.
The most significant problem may not be devastating winds, officials said, but extensive flooding caused by storm surge. Issac is expected to reach hurricane-force winds Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. While Isaac is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, the most significant problems may not be devastating winds, officials said, but extensive flooding caused by storm surge.
Late Monday morning, Isaac was about 450 miles south of Mobile, Ala., but where it will make landfall remains a guess. The storm is moving northwest at about 14 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour, but it is expected to slow in pace during the next 24 hours while increasing its wind speeds. By Monday afternoon, Isaac was about 400 miles south of Mobile, Ala., but where it will make landfall remains a guess. The storm is moving northwest at about 14 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour, but it is expected to slow in pace during the next 24 hours while increasing its wind speeds.
Tropical Storm Isaac has killed 21 people — 19 in Haiti alone, The Associated Press reported — as it has traveled generally on a northwesterly trajectory during the past several days. As the storm has made its way northward across the Caribbean, it has killed 21 people — 19 in Haiti alone, The Associated Press reported.
On a call with reporters on Monday morning, Rick Knabb, the director of the National Hurricane Center, said his major concerns about Isaac were related to inland flooding. While it is looking likely that Isaac will arrive as a Category One hurricane or even a tropical storm, he said, it is a huge and slow-moving storm, meaning that it will carry with it significant storm surge. The storm could also dump up to a foot of rain on some spots, severely testing drainage systems and causing dangerous localized flooding. On a call with reporters Monday morning, Rick Knabb, the director of the National Hurricane Center, said his major concerns about Isaac were related to inland flooding.
The storm surge, he said, could range between 6 to 12 feet along the coastline in Alabama, Missisippi and southeastern Louisiana, a level he described as “life-threatening potentially.” Though it appears that Isaac will not grow as strong as had been initially feared, the storm is still likely to strike the coast as a Category One hurricane — with winds of up to 95 m.p.h. — and remains a huge and slow-moving storm, meaning that it will carry with it significant storm surge.
Dr. Knapp said the storm surge could range between 6 to 12 feet along the coastline in Alabama, Missisippi and southeastern Louisiana, a level he described as “life-threatening, potentially.”
The threat does not end at landfall, however, and as with Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene last year, the risks of inland flooding remain high.The threat does not end at landfall, however, and as with Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene last year, the risks of inland flooding remain high.
Additionally, Isaac could dump more than one foot of rain on some spots, severely testing drainage systems and causing dangerous localized flooding, officials said.
Beginning sometime Monday evening, hurricane forecasters said, Isaac’s winds and rain will lash an extensive area of southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western portion of the Florida Panhandle.Beginning sometime Monday evening, hurricane forecasters said, Isaac’s winds and rain will lash an extensive area of southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western portion of the Florida Panhandle.
The National Weather Service warned that for areas under a hurricane warning, “now is the time to rush to completion preparations for the protection of life and property.”The National Weather Service warned that for areas under a hurricane warning, “now is the time to rush to completion preparations for the protection of life and property.”
Many of the areas along the Gulf Coast, including New Orleans, which was ravaged seven years ago to the week by Hurricane Katrina, have received either tropical storm or hurricane warnings, and the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama declared states of emergency in anticipation of the storm. Many of the areas along the Gulf Coast, including New Orleans, which was ravaged seven years ago to the week by Hurricane Katrina, have received either tropical storm or hurricane warnings, and the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have declared states of emergency in anticipation of the storm.
In Louisiana, officials ordered additional mandatory evacuations early Monday. The residents of Lafitte, Barataria and Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish were ordered to leave on Monday morning, as were all 50,000 residents of St. Charles Parish, and much of the population of Plaquemines Parish. In Louisiana, officials ordered additional mandatory evacuations early Monday. The residents of Lafitte, Barataria and Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish were ordered to leave on Monday morning, as were all 50,000 residents of St. Charles Parish, and much of the population of Plaquemines Parish. Twenty-three parishes in Louisiana have declared local states of emergency, as has the city of New Orleans.
Though the uncertainty in the hurricane’s track “continues to be greater than usual,” according to the National Hurricane Center, earlier models that had it heading toward the Florida Panhandle have shifted westward, placing Isaac’s landfall somewhere on the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts.Though the uncertainty in the hurricane’s track “continues to be greater than usual,” according to the National Hurricane Center, earlier models that had it heading toward the Florida Panhandle have shifted westward, placing Isaac’s landfall somewhere on the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts.
A hurricane watch that had been in effect for parts of the Florida Panhandle east of Destin has been dropped, while a watch has been imposed for considerably more of Louisiana, from the industrial town of Morgan City at the mouth of the Atchafalaya River, westward along much of the coast.A hurricane watch that had been in effect for parts of the Florida Panhandle east of Destin has been dropped, while a watch has been imposed for considerably more of Louisiana, from the industrial town of Morgan City at the mouth of the Atchafalaya River, westward along much of the coast.
On a positive note, though one not terribly reassuring to those in its path, the latest advisories from the National Hurricane Center envision only a gradual strengthening, and forecast that Isaac is likely to be a Category One hurricane — with winds of up to 95 m.p.h. — when it hits land, as opposed to Category Two or higher as some models had predicted. “If anyone is thinking about evacuating, today is the day to do it,” Gov. Bobby Jindal said at a news conference in Baton Rouge on Monday.
Still, few were taking any chances, and the gas stations and drugstores in New Orleans were crowded on Sunday night — residents took to Twitter to highlight the stations that had run out of gas altogether as well as tips on which stations seemed to have been overlooked. Mr. Jindal also announced Monday that he would not attend Republican National Convention events in Tampa, Fla., while the storm threatened his state, let alone speak as scheduled at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The Florida Keys, which were the first land mass in the United States to feel the system’s impact, barely shuddered as the storm sideswiped them with rain and occasional bursts of sharp wind on Sunday; residents along the chain of islands, long accustomed to storms, were mostly unfazed, while government officials expressed relief. “Party conventions are interesting, but there’s no time for politics here in Louisiana,” Mr. Jindal said in a Twitter message.
“It’s not what it could have been,” said Irene Toner, the Monroe County director of emergency management. “I consider us pretty lucky so far.” Few were taking any chances, and gas stations and drugstores in New Orleans were crowded and residents took to Twitter to highlight the stations that had run out of gas altogether as well as tips on which stations seemed to have been overlooked.
Tampa, where most of the formal events on the first day of the Republican National Convention on Monday were canceled because of uncertainty over the storm, will most likely be spared. At the moment, Tampa Bay is expected to feel the sting of the storm’s wind and rain but should escape its most punishing weather, a reprieve to organizers. An estimated 65,000 people are expected here for the convention. City Hall and the city’s schools were closed beginning Monday, but airports remained open.
“Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ought to be fine,” Mayor Bob Buckhorn of Tampa said on Sunday. Shelters were being opened across the state and prison inmates were being evacuated from low-lying facilities. The Shell and BP oil companies have curtailed drilling and have withdrawn their oil workers in the gulf.
Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana said he would skip his scheduled speech in Tampa on Tuesday but might speak on Wednesday if the storm cooperates. The Republican governors in several other Gulf Coast states — Florida, Alabama and Mississippi — also announced that the storm had forced them to alter or drop their plans for the convention. “We are prepared for what this storm is going to bring us at this point in time,” Mitch Landrieu, the mayor of New Orleans, said Monday. “I want to reiterate: It’s going to be all right. It’s going to be all right.”
Mr. Jindal on Sunday had asked for voluntary evacuations in 15 low-lying parishes on or near the Gulf Coast and authorized the National Guard to mobilize 4,000 members if needed. The community of Grand Isle was placed under a mandatory evacuation order by its mayor. Over the weekend and into early Monday, Isaac caused minor disruptions in South Florida and along Florida’s west coast, but there was little major damage.
“We always have to hope for the best even as we prepare for the worst,” Mr. Jindal said at a news conference in Baton Rouge. Winds reached more than 60 m.p.h. overnight in parts of the Florida Keys and through South Florida, and rain continued to fall Monday afternoon, causing minor flooding.
The mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, said that he did not anticipate ordering an evacuation but that the city was monitoring the storm and urged residents to be prepared. If an evacuation were to happen, buses and trains would take residents to shelters far from the city; under this plan, the Superdome, convention center and airport would not be open as shelters of last resort. As the weather remained unstable, some airline flights were still being canceled Monday, but far fewer than Sunday. More than 60,000 customers have lost power in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida said in Tampa on Monday morning.
“We’ve walked through this many, many, many times,” he said. “You have to be prepared to evacuate in the event that an evacuation is called.” Naples and Fort Myers Beach, on the west coast, also saw heavy rain and wind, but little of it disrupted daily life. In most places, trash pickup, bus services and other services have resumed.
The Shell and BP oil companies curtailed drilling and withdrew their oil workers in the gulf. In Tampa, delegates and officials at the Republican National Convention, where events were canceled for Monday, expressed relief that Isaac had largely bypassed the city. People attended breakfasts and political roundtables in various hotels as they waited out the storm.
Several Florida beach communities between Tampa and Naples, including Fort Myers Beach, were ordered evacuated on Sunday as a precaution. In South Florida, officials had also taken precautions, closing schools and opening shelters. Airports remained open but hundreds of flights were canceled. Governor Scott said Pensacola and surrounding areas could be hit with 30 hours of storms and as much as 16 inches of rain. “That’s a problem,” he said.
Residents fueled up their cars and generators, took stock of batteries, moved potentially airborne objects inside and bought extra water. In the Keys, most businesses put up shutters and closed early on Sunday. But most people in South Florida took the storm in stride. Escambia County, where Pensacola is located, has ordered evacuations of barrier island beach communities and as well as inland neighborhoods, including parts of downtown and some beach hotels.
As the system shuffled toward the Florida Keys, residents, who tend to view a tropical storm as a trifle, greeted it nonchalantly and, in some quarters, as an excuse to party indoors. They took a few precautions and then met up in bars or with friends. Key West’s last brush with a hurricane was Wilma in 2005, which caused widespread flooding. Local officials were watching closely for possible surges – no matter how remote — that could affect the convention center, which abuts the bay. An estimated 65,000 people are expected in Tampa for the convention.
With so many people tucked under roofs, raucous Key West felt eerily still. “
“The streets are dead,” said Erin Kelly, owner of Bad Boy Burritos in Key West, who planned to stay open until the umpteenth hour. “It’s fabulous.”
Officials had urged tourists to leave ahead of the storm but many in Key West chose to stay put. “It’s a different way to visit Key West,” said Marcello Noccia, a visitor from Naples, Italy. “Everybody here is not nervous. On TV, they are a bit nervous but not here, not walking on the street.”
In Islamorada, farther east along the island chain, many residents were preoccupied with securing their boats. Residents sometimes steer the boats into the mangrove cuts, “then get off the boat and pray,” said Ted Opyr, 68. Mr. Opyr lives on a houseboat and was riding out the storm at the Hampton Inn.
The mangroves can reach about 20 feet in height and are so densely entwined that they provide the best shelter for boats.
As for the locals who did not so much as blink at the storm’s flirtation with the Keys, “You won’t see a local leave the area unless it’s a Category Three or higher,” Mr. Opyr said.

Lizette Alvarez reported from Tampa, Fla., and Campbell Robertson from New Orleans. Reporting was contributed by Nancy Klingener from Key West, Fla.; Lara Petusky Coger from Islamorada, Fla.; and Channing Joseph from New York.

Lizette Alvarez reported from Tampa, Fla., and Campbell Robertson from New Orleans. Reporting was contributed by Nancy Klingener from Key West, Fla.; Lara Petusky Coger from Islamorada, Fla.; and Channing Joseph from New York.