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Hurricane Isaac Makes Landfall Along Gulf Coast Hurricane Isaac Makes Landfall Along Gulf Coast
(40 minutes later)
NEW ORLEANS — On the eve of the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which brought widespread devastation after the colossal failure of the system built to protect the city, New Orleans on Tuesday night once again found itself facing the impending arrival of a huge and deadly storm.NEW ORLEANS — On the eve of the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which brought widespread devastation after the colossal failure of the system built to protect the city, New Orleans on Tuesday night once again found itself facing the impending arrival of a huge and deadly storm.
Isaac, which was upgraded Tuesday morning to a Category 1 hurricane from a tropical storm, churned slowly but with intensifying force toward the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm made landfall at 7:45 p.m. Eastern time just southwest of the river, about 95 miles from New Orleans. Isaac, which was upgraded Tuesday morning to a Category 1 hurricane from a tropical storm, churned slowly but with intensifying force toward the mouth of the Mississippi River. The storm made landfall at 7:45 p.m. Eastern time just southwest of the river, about 95 miles from New Orleans, with sustained winds of 80 miles per hour.
In a conference call shortly after the system was upgraded to hurricane status, federal officials warned again and again that the storm, which killed 29 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, would generate high seas, intense rain and serious flooding over coastal and inland areas for days to come. In a conference call shortly after the system was upgraded to hurricane status, federal officials warned again and again that the storm, which killed 29 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, would generate high seas, intense rain and serious flooding in coastal and inland areas for days.
The hurricane will be the first test of the new $14.5 billion, 133-mile ring of levees, flood walls, gates and pumps put in place after Hurricane Katrina by the Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that built the defenses that failed this city catastrophically in 2005. The hurricane will be the first test of the $14.5 billion, 133-mile ring of levees, flood walls, gates and pumps put in place after Hurricane Katrina by the Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that built the defenses that failed this city catastrophically in 2005.
On Tuesday morning, with the blare of a warning buzzer and the rumble of big motors moving tons of steel, two halves of a massive butterfly gate started moving toward each other to close off New Orleans from the anticipated 12-foot storm surge — making history. With the closing of the new gates, this corner of Lake Borgne, which allowed waters into the city that brought down flood walls and destroyed neighborhoods seven years ago, is now cut off with a barrier nearly two miles long, and the city’s first line of defense begins 13 miles farther out than when Katrina hit.On Tuesday morning, with the blare of a warning buzzer and the rumble of big motors moving tons of steel, two halves of a massive butterfly gate started moving toward each other to close off New Orleans from the anticipated 12-foot storm surge — making history. With the closing of the new gates, this corner of Lake Borgne, which allowed waters into the city that brought down flood walls and destroyed neighborhoods seven years ago, is now cut off with a barrier nearly two miles long, and the city’s first line of defense begins 13 miles farther out than when Katrina hit.
“We are ready for this,” said Tim Doody, the president of the regional levee board covering much of the New Orleans metropolitan area, which takes over the operation of the hurricane defenses once the corps has completed them.“We are ready for this,” said Tim Doody, the president of the regional levee board covering much of the New Orleans metropolitan area, which takes over the operation of the hurricane defenses once the corps has completed them.
By all accounts, this hurricane is nowhere near as powerful as Katrina was, but its breadth was potentially wider, with pounding rains and surging waves expected from east of Morgan City, La., to the Mississippi-Alabama border, including metropolitan New Orleans. By all accounts, this hurricane is nowhere near as powerful as Katrina was, but its breadth was potentially wider, with pounding rains and surging waves expected from east of Morgan City, La., to the Mississippi-Alabama border, including New Orleans.
After coming ashore on Tuesday night with 80-mile-per-hour winds, the center of the storm was predicted to linger over Louisiana through Thursday morning, said Rick Knabb, the director of the National Hurricane Center, possibly slowing further from the leisurely 8-m.p.h. pace of its advance. Forecasters continued to predict a coastal storm surge of 6 to 12 feet, meaning that vehicles, poorly built homes and roads may wash away, some coastal communities may be cut off for days and flooding may be “certain death” in areas outside the levees. After coming ashore on Tuesday, the storm’s center was predicted to linger over Louisiana through Thursday morning, said Rick Knabb, director of the National Hurricane Center, possibly slowing further from the leisurely 8-m.p.h. pace of its advance.
“The hazards are beginning — it is going to last a long time and affect a lot of people,” Dr. Knabb said. Forecasters continued to predict a potentially life-threatening coastal storm surge, already reported in some spots in Louisiana to be over 10 feet, a level that could wash away vehicles, poorly built homes and roads. Communities may be cut off for days, and flooding may be “certain death” in areas outside the levees.
President Obama declared states of emergency in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi as the storm approached. “America will be there to help folks recover no matter what this storm brings,” he said at a campaign event in Ames, Iowa, “because when disaster strikes we’re not Democrats or Republicans first, we are Americans first.” “The hazards are beginning,” Dr. Knabb said. “It is going to last a long time and affect a lot of people.”
In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced on Tuesday that around 4,200 members of the National Guard had been activated and that there were thousands of available beds in shelters and more than 1,000 evacuees in parish, state or Red Cross-run shelters across the state. Both the governor and Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu of New Orleans announced that teams and vehicles were ready for the poststorm duty of search and rescue. Camouflage-painted Humvees could be seen on the streets of New Orleans as the National Guard made its presence known. President Obama declared states of emergency in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi as the storm approached. “America will be there to help folks recover no matter what this storm brings,” he said at a campaign event in Ames, Iowa. “Because when disaster strikes, we’re not Democrats or Republicans first, we are Americans first.”
As Isaac’s target narrowed, mandatory evacuations were lifted in low-lying parts of Alabama but imposed in more places in Louisiana; eight parishes ordered evacuations in certain areas, while four others urged people to leave. People in the low-lying areas of Mississippi and Alabama had been ordered to evacuate, and both states had opened shelters. The Red Cross had opened 19 shelters in Mississippi and Alabama, and 18 in Louisiana. More than 1,000 people had taken advantage of them by 4 p.m., with more expected as night fell. In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced on Tuesday that about 4,200 members of the National Guard had been activated and that thousands of beds were available in shelters across the state. Both he and Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu of New Orleans said teams and vehicles were ready for search and rescue efforts. Camouflage-painted Humvees could be seen on the streets of New Orleans as the National Guard made its presence known.
Along the coast between Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., the storm surge was the immediate concern, though the rain would bring its own problems soon enough. However, residents toughened by Katrina, which tossed floating casinos across the highway and stripped the coastline, saw Isaac as more a curiosity and a nuisance than a major threat. As the storm’s target narrowed, mandatory evacuations were lifted in low-lying parts of Alabama but were imposed in more places in Louisiana. Eight parishes ordered evacuations in certain areas, while four others urged people to leave. People in the low-lying areas of Mississippi had been ordered to evacuate, and shelters were opened all along the northern gulf. The Red Cross had opened 19 shelters in Mississippi and Alabama and 18 in Louisiana. Along the coast between Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., the storm surge was the immediate concern, though the rain would bring its own problems soon enough. Officials reported dangerous storm surges in southeastern Louisiana, and as high as 14 feet in spots.
But residents toughened by Hurricane Katrina, which tossed floating casinos across the highway and stripped the coastline, saw Isaac as more a curiosity and a nuisance than a major threat.
“If it’s a 1 or a 2, most people don’t flip out,” said Claire Parker, 23, who was a teenager when Katrina tore through.“If it’s a 1 or a 2, most people don’t flip out,” said Claire Parker, 23, who was a teenager when Katrina tore through.
The Mississippi Gaming Commission ordered the 12 casinos along the coast to close. As the sun set, families turned out to enjoy the grandeur of the churning ocean in between the bands of rain that had begun to blow sideways. “We know it’s going to get so you can’t see your hand in front of you, but for now it’s just beautiful,” said Zachary Broussard, who was walking along the coast in Biloxi in the pelting rain with Brandi Hardin, 25. The Mississippi Gaming Commission ordered the 12 casinos along the coast to close. As the sun set, families turned out to enjoy the grandeur of the churning ocean between the bands of rain that had begun to blow sideways. “We know it’s going to get so you can’t see your hand in front of you, but for now it’s just beautiful,” said Zachary Broussard, who was walking along the coast in Biloxi in the pelting rain with Brandi Hardin, 25.
As the wind began to whistle past City Hall windows in New Orleans and several officials stood in their rain jackets, Mayor Landrieu said, “We are officially into the fight and the city of New Orleans is now on the front lines.” He urged residents to take the storm seriously, and singled out for criticism some who had gone to the shore of Lake Pontchartrain to watch the surf and otherwise enjoy themselves in a day of weather as erratic as Isaac itself. As the wind began to whistle past the windows of City Hall in New Orleans and several officials stood in their rain jackets, Mr. Landrieu said, “We are officially into the fight, and the city of New Orleans is now on the front lines.” He urged residents to take the storm seriously, and singled out for criticism some who had gone to the shore of Lake Pontchartrain to watch the surf and otherwise enjoy themselves in a day of weather as erratic as Isaac itself. By late Tuesday, officials reported that more than 150,000 were without power across Louisiana and predicted that 15 inches of rain would fall on areas west of New Orleans by Wednesday.
At the lakefront, Rene Hebert was practicing his golf swing. “It’s the best day to practice into wind — I can work on my power,” said “On a calm day, it’ll be no problem.” At the lakefront, Rene Hebert was practicing his golf swing. “It’s the best day to practice into wind — I can work on my power,” he said. “On a calm day, it’ll be no problem.”
Others at the lakefront said they were not worried about Isaac, or in any case that they had confidence that the city was in control of this. Others at the lakefront said they were not worried about Isaac, or that they had confidence the city was in control. “I’ve seen worse,” said Marlin Cummings, who lives in eastern New Orleans, which seven years ago saw as worse as it gets.
“I’ve seen worse,” said Marlin Cummings, who lives in eastern New Orleans, which seven years ago saw as worse as it gets. And the streets gradually cleared, and people parked their cars on the raised “neutral ground” dividing larger streets to keep them out of the floodwaters that can swamp the city in any heavy rainfall. The streets gradually cleared, and people parked their cars on the raised “neutral ground” dividing larger streets to keep them out of the floodwaters that can swamp the city in any heavy rainfall.
Across the greater New Orleans area, preparations for the storm moved forward. Corps leadership monitored the preparations from an emergency operations center in its district headquarters, a long white building that sits hard by the bank of the Mississippi River. Had the storm been much stronger, the district leadership would have moved into a special stormproof bunker that sits inside a warehouse at the Army Corps’ district headquarters, as it did in Hurricane Katrina and Gustav in 2008. Across the greater New Orleans area, preparations for the storm moved forward. Army Corps leaders monitored the preparations from an emergency operations center at district headquarters, a long white building that sits hard by the bank of the Mississippi River. Had the storm been much stronger, they would have moved into a special stormproof bunker in a warehouse at the headquarters, as it did during Hurricane Katrina and for Hurricane Gustav in 2008.
The city’s sewerage and water board readied the pumps at the city’s major drainage canals; flood walls on two of the canals failed catastrophically in 2005. With Isaac on its way, gates were closed at the mouths of the canals to block storm surge, and pumps were readied to push rainwater out of the canals, said Marcia St. Martin, executive director of the board. “We’re ready for whatever Hurricane Isaac brings us.” The pumps have been watched closely by critics of the corps, who argue that they are faulty. Ms. St. Martin said that while a small number of pumps were out of service, “these pump stations are built with redundancy” and the stations have plenty of capacity to do the job. The city’s sewerage and water board readied the pumps at the city’s major drainage canals; flood walls on two of the canals failed in 2005. With Isaac on its way, gates were closed at the mouths of the canals to block storm surge, and pumps were primed to push rainwater out of the canals, said Marcia St. Martin, the executive director of the board. “We’re ready for whatever Hurricane Isaac brings us,” she said.
As for the weak flood walls lining the canals that collapsed in Katrina, those are now secondary defenses against gates that have been built since the storm. “I’m so thankful that we have those closures at the mouths of the canals,” Mr. Doody said, “if not for that the flood walls inside of the canals would be tested again — by the entire volume of the lake, not just the water pumped from inside of the city.” The pumps have been watched closely by critics of the corps, who argue that they are faulty. Ms. St. Martin said that although a small number of pumps were out of service, “these pump stations are built with redundancy” and the stations have plenty of capacity to do the job.
He said that the surge associated with the storm is smaller than the one the system is designed to withstand, but he said his board would be watching more than 20 miles of flood wall that line St. Bernard Parish east and southeast of the city — not for signs of collapse, but for damage they might have to deal with down the road. “Smaller events will cause much greater flood-side erosion of the levees,” he said. As for the weak flood walls lining the canals that collapsed in Katrina, those are now secondary defenses against gates that have been built since the storm. “I’m so thankful that we have those closures at the mouths of the canals,” Mr. Doody said. “If not for that, the flood walls inside of the canals would be tested again — by the entire volume of the lake, not just the water pumped from inside of the city.”
Mr. Doody joked that the storm now appears to be so much less a threat than early projections had suggested, saying, “This will be more like a quiz than a test.” He said that the surge associated with the storm was smaller than the one the system was designed to withstand, but that his board would be watching more than 20 miles of flood walls that line St. Bernard Parish east and southeast of the city — not for signs of collapse, but for damage they might have to deal with down the road. “Smaller events will cause much greater flood-side erosion of the levees,” he said.
Mr. Doody joked that the storm now appeared to be so much less a threat than early projections had suggested, saying, “This will be more like a quiz than a test.”

Kim Severson contributed reporting from Mobile, Ala., and David Thier from New Orleans.

Kim Severson contributed reporting from Mobile, Ala., and David Thier from New Orleans.