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| Floods, Not Wind, Seen as Main Threat From Storm | Floods, Not Wind, Seen as Main Threat From Storm |
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| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| As the storm has made its way northward across the Caribbean, it has killed 21 people — 19 in Haiti alone, The Associated Press reported. | 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 Monday morning, Rick Knabb, the director of the National Hurricane Center, said his major concerns about Isaac were related to inland 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. |
| 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. | 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.” | 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. | 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 have 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. Twenty-three parishes in Louisiana have declared local states of emergency, as has the city of New Orleans. | 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. |
| “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. | “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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “Party conventions are interesting, but there’s no time for politics here in Louisiana,” Mr. Jindal said in a Twitter message. | “Party conventions are interesting, but there’s no time for politics here in Louisiana,” Mr. Jindal said in a Twitter message. |
| 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. | 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. |
| City Hall and the city’s schools were closed beginning Monday, but airports remained open. | City Hall and the city’s schools were closed beginning Monday, but airports remained open. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
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Lizette | Reporting was contributed by Lizette Alvarez in Tampa, Fla., Nancy Klingener from Key West, Fla.; Lara Petusky Coger from Islamorada, Fla.; and Channing Joseph from New York. |