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| Evacuations Set in Louisiana as Rising Water Traps Dozens | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana officials on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of some 3,000 people in a parish outside New Orleans and are continuing to rescue dozens of others in the same area trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters caused by Hurricane Isaac. | NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana officials on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of some 3,000 people in a parish outside New Orleans and are continuing to rescue dozens of others in the same area trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters caused by Hurricane Isaac. |
| Plaquemines Parish has emerged so far as the area of southeastern Louisiana that has received the most significant damage from the storm, which continues to crawl over the coastal area, carrying with it 75 mile per hour winds and driving rain that has led to calamitous flooding. | Plaquemines Parish has emerged so far as the area of southeastern Louisiana that has received the most significant damage from the storm, which continues to crawl over the coastal area, carrying with it 75 mile per hour winds and driving rain that has led to calamitous flooding. |
| “We haven’t seen anything like this, not even with Katrina,” said Billy Nungesser, president of Plaquemines Parish, located about 95 miles from New Orleans. “Those areas that didn’t flood for Katrina were flooded for this storm. If this is a Category 1 storm, I don’t want to see anything stronger.” | “We haven’t seen anything like this, not even with Katrina,” said Billy Nungesser, president of Plaquemines Parish, located about 95 miles from New Orleans. “Those areas that didn’t flood for Katrina were flooded for this storm. If this is a Category 1 storm, I don’t want to see anything stronger.” |
| Mr. Nungesser said that officials had concluded that a levee protecting a portion of the parish was not tall enough to hold back quickly accumulating water. “We don’t believe we have enough height,” he said, “to keep the water back.” Gov. Bobby Jindal said officials had been mulling intentionally causing a breach in the levee to keep it from being overtopped. | Mr. Nungesser said that officials had concluded that a levee protecting a portion of the parish was not tall enough to hold back quickly accumulating water. “We don’t believe we have enough height,” he said, “to keep the water back.” Gov. Bobby Jindal said officials had been mulling intentionally causing a breach in the levee to keep it from being overtopped. |
| The fire department is going door to door in the area, and evacuees, including some of those in a nursing home, will be transported to higher ground in school buses, officials said. | The fire department is going door to door in the area, and evacuees, including some of those in a nursing home, will be transported to higher ground in school buses, officials said. |
| On Wednesday morning, another levee in the parish was overtopped, causing extensive flooding and stranding more than 100 people who ignored evacuation orders. Dozens of people are still awaiting rescue on rooftops and in attics. | On Wednesday morning, another levee in the parish was overtopped, causing extensive flooding and stranding more than 100 people who ignored evacuation orders. Dozens of people are still awaiting rescue on rooftops and in attics. |
| The levee is not one of the large, federally maintained earthworks lining the Mississippi River, but a locally maintained levee some 8 feet high, and lower than the 12-foot surge that hit it, according to officials from the Army Corps of Engineers. The water threatened people living along the east bank of the parish, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. | The levee is not one of the large, federally maintained earthworks lining the Mississippi River, but a locally maintained levee some 8 feet high, and lower than the 12-foot surge that hit it, according to officials from the Army Corps of Engineers. The water threatened people living along the east bank of the parish, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. |
| Mr. Jindal said that he planned to visit the parish later Wednesday afternoon, and that search-and-rescue teams had also been called into the area to help. | Mr. Jindal said that he planned to visit the parish later Wednesday afternoon, and that search-and-rescue teams had also been called into the area to help. |
| New Orleans so far appears to have avoided major damage, but the city is littered with fallen trees and downed power lines, and few traffic lights are working. Some streets were under several feet of water as rain continued to fall. More than 600,000 residents of Louisiana were without power, nearly a third of them in New Orleans. | New Orleans so far appears to have avoided major damage, but the city is littered with fallen trees and downed power lines, and few traffic lights are working. Some streets were under several feet of water as rain continued to fall. More than 600,000 residents of Louisiana were without power, nearly a third of them in New Orleans. |
| On Wednesday, New Orleans declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew, following the lead of neighboring parishes. | On Wednesday, New Orleans declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew, following the lead of neighboring parishes. |
| The longer the storm lingers, the more pressure it is putting on the levees and other flood-protection systems along the coast. | The longer the storm lingers, the more pressure it is putting on the levees and other flood-protection systems along the coast. |
| On Wednesday afternoon, the hurricane, which made its second landfall early Wednesday, was moving very slowly, at about 6 miles per hour near Houma, La., according to the National Weather Service, bringing with it the heightened risk of tornadoes and flash flooding hundreds of miles inland from Louisiana, and across Mississippi and Alabama to Florida. | On Wednesday afternoon, the hurricane, which made its second landfall early Wednesday, was moving very slowly, at about 6 miles per hour near Houma, La., according to the National Weather Service, bringing with it the heightened risk of tornadoes and flash flooding hundreds of miles inland from Louisiana, and across Mississippi and Alabama to Florida. |
| Hurricane Isaac’s maximum sustained wind speeds have slowed from 80 miles per hour during the morning and are expected to weaken further as the system moves inland. | Hurricane Isaac’s maximum sustained wind speeds have slowed from 80 miles per hour during the morning and are expected to weaken further as the system moves inland. |
| In Jefferson Parish, there was anxiety about two communities not protected by levees — Grand Isle and Lafitte. | In Jefferson Parish, there was anxiety about two communities not protected by levees — Grand Isle and Lafitte. |
| Mandatory evacuations had been ordered in both places, but while only about 30 residents remained in Grand Isle as Hurricane Isaac bore down on them, far fewer had heeded the warning in Lafitte. | Mandatory evacuations had been ordered in both places, but while only about 30 residents remained in Grand Isle as Hurricane Isaac bore down on them, far fewer had heeded the warning in Lafitte. |
| “Initially, the storm only being a tropical storm instead of a hurricane, many people, especially the people who live down there, didn’t have a whole lot of concern,” said Deano Bonano, an aide to a parish councilman. “Then it ramped up pretty quickly.” | “Initially, the storm only being a tropical storm instead of a hurricane, many people, especially the people who live down there, didn’t have a whole lot of concern,” said Deano Bonano, an aide to a parish councilman. “Then it ramped up pretty quickly.” |
| By late Tuesday night, two feet of water had inundated parts of Grand Isle, a barrier island. There was significantly less flooding in Lafitte. Though the storm’s direction had helped by pushing water out, that direction may change later Wednesday, and flooding there was likely. | By late Tuesday night, two feet of water had inundated parts of Grand Isle, a barrier island. There was significantly less flooding in Lafitte. Though the storm’s direction had helped by pushing water out, that direction may change later Wednesday, and flooding there was likely. |
| Hurricane Isaac is the first test of a $14.5 billion, 133-mile ring of levees, flood walls, gates and pumps installed after Hurricane Katrina by the Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that built the defenses that failed New Orleans catastrophically in 2005. | Hurricane Isaac is the first test of a $14.5 billion, 133-mile ring of levees, flood walls, gates and pumps installed after Hurricane Katrina by the Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that built the defenses that failed New Orleans catastrophically in 2005. |
| While the current storm is nowhere near as powerful as Hurricane Katrina — which struck seven years ago Wednesday — its pounding, driving rains and surging waves are lashing towns from east of Morgan City, La., to the Mississippi-Alabama border. | While the current storm is nowhere near as powerful as Hurricane Katrina — which struck seven years ago Wednesday — its pounding, driving rains and surging waves are lashing towns from east of Morgan City, La., to the Mississippi-Alabama border. |
| Waters from the gulf pushed onto the coast through the night in Mississippi and Alabama, where thousands had lost power and 60 m.p.h. winds knocked out transformers and stripped palm trees. Several inches of rain had fallen overnight, flooding parts of the small cities along the coast. The Mississippi Gaming Commission ordered the 12 casinos along the coast to close. | Waters from the gulf pushed onto the coast through the night in Mississippi and Alabama, where thousands had lost power and 60 m.p.h. winds knocked out transformers and stripped palm trees. Several inches of rain had fallen overnight, flooding parts of the small cities along the coast. The Mississippi Gaming Commission ordered the 12 casinos along the coast to close. |
| The authorities in Mississippi have reported making a number of rescues, including a family with a 6-month-old baby and a dog that had been living on a houseboat on the Pearl River near the Mississippi-Louisiana border. | The authorities in Mississippi have reported making a number of rescues, including a family with a 6-month-old baby and a dog that had been living on a houseboat on the Pearl River near the Mississippi-Louisiana border. |
| On Wednesday, Biloxi, Miss., was being hammered by bands of wind and rain. | On Wednesday, Biloxi, Miss., was being hammered by bands of wind and rain. |
| A curfew had been extended to noon, and the city’s streets were virtually empty. The police were stopping what few drivers took to the streets. | A curfew had been extended to noon, and the city’s streets were virtually empty. The police were stopping what few drivers took to the streets. |
| The coast itself was a study of gray on gray: It was impossible to determine where the gulf’s waters ended and the overcast skies began. | The coast itself was a study of gray on gray: It was impossible to determine where the gulf’s waters ended and the overcast skies began. |
| Paul and Kim Punzo, who live just across the street from the banks of the Biloxi River, had water up to their driveway. Mr. Punzo expected another three feet. | Paul and Kim Punzo, who live just across the street from the banks of the Biloxi River, had water up to their driveway. Mr. Punzo expected another three feet. |
| “It’s all in the timing with the storm surge and the high tide, so we’ll keep watching it,” said Mr. Punzo, 44. “We’ve got our kayaks tied to the porch, and we’re ready to go.” | “It’s all in the timing with the storm surge and the high tide, so we’ll keep watching it,” said Mr. Punzo, 44. “We’ve got our kayaks tied to the porch, and we’re ready to go.” |
| Their house is a couple of feet off the ground. The only time it flooded was during Hurricane Katrina, when three feet of river water filled the floor of his two-bedroom house, he said. | Their house is a couple of feet off the ground. The only time it flooded was during Hurricane Katrina, when three feet of river water filled the floor of his two-bedroom house, he said. |
| The couple sent three of their children who live with them to relatives who are either on higher ground or who have brick homes. But they stayed, waking up happy that the storm had not done major damage through the night. | The couple sent three of their children who live with them to relatives who are either on higher ground or who have brick homes. But they stayed, waking up happy that the storm had not done major damage through the night. |
| “If it was a Category 3 we would have probably done left, but this isn’t going to be as bad as some we’ve seen,” he said. “If you wasn’t from here you’d be scared, but for those of us who have been through it time and time and time again this is like a doubled up summer thunderstorm.” | “If it was a Category 3 we would have probably done left, but this isn’t going to be as bad as some we’ve seen,” he said. “If you wasn’t from here you’d be scared, but for those of us who have been through it time and time and time again this is like a doubled up summer thunderstorm.” |
| Before the storm’s arrival on Tuesday, mandatory evacuations had been imposed in parts of eight parishes in Louisiana and in low-lying areas of Mississippi. The Red Cross had opened 19 shelters in Mississippi and Alabama and 18 in Louisiana. | Before the storm’s arrival on Tuesday, mandatory evacuations had been imposed in parts of eight parishes in Louisiana and in low-lying areas of Mississippi. The Red Cross had opened 19 shelters in Mississippi and Alabama and 18 in Louisiana. |
| In Alabama, extensive flooding is likely in Bayou La Batre, a town in Mobile County, as well as parts of downtown Mobile according to the National Weather Service. Several of the rivers flowing into Mobile Bay are also expected to flood. | In Alabama, extensive flooding is likely in Bayou La Batre, a town in Mobile County, as well as parts of downtown Mobile according to the National Weather Service. Several of the rivers flowing into Mobile Bay are also expected to flood. |
| The storm’s center is likely to stall over Louisiana through Thursday, said Rick Knabb, the director of the National Hurricane Center. | The storm’s center is likely to stall over Louisiana through Thursday, said Rick Knabb, the director of the National Hurricane Center. |
| Forecasters continued to predict a potentially life-threatening coastal storm surge, already reported in some spots in Louisiana to be over 10 feet. | Forecasters continued to predict a potentially life-threatening coastal storm surge, already reported in some spots in Louisiana to be over 10 feet. |
| In the early hours of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers was watching a potentially serious issue at the 17th Street Canal, a drainage canal into Lake Pontchartrain that reaches deep into the city and that was breached catastrophically after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. | In the early hours of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers was watching a potentially serious issue at the 17th Street Canal, a drainage canal into Lake Pontchartrain that reaches deep into the city and that was breached catastrophically after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. |
| At the 6 a.m. briefing at corps district headquarters, Chris Accardo, chief of operations for the district, said that gauges on the canal show the water has risen to levels as high as six and a half feet — at or beyond the margin of safety for the flood walls. | At the 6 a.m. briefing at corps district headquarters, Chris Accardo, chief of operations for the district, said that gauges on the canal show the water has risen to levels as high as six and a half feet — at or beyond the margin of safety for the flood walls. |
| Corps officials however, said the storm had caused many gauges to misbehave, so they were not certain that the water had risen that high. | Corps officials however, said the storm had caused many gauges to misbehave, so they were not certain that the water had risen that high. |
| Tim Doody, president of the levee board that oversees the canal, agreed. | Tim Doody, president of the levee board that oversees the canal, agreed. |
| In a rapid-fire text message interview, he wrote, “Some think that reading inside the canal is reading too high based on eyes on.” | In a rapid-fire text message interview, he wrote, “Some think that reading inside the canal is reading too high based on eyes on.” |
| By 10 a.m., Mr. Doody said, the potential crisis appeared to have passed. | By 10 a.m., Mr. Doody said, the potential crisis appeared to have passed. |
| “All of the pumps are now up and running,” he said, pushing 8,800 cubic feet of water out of the canal every second. The water level in the canal had already dropped to five feet, well within the margin of safety for the canals, he said. | “All of the pumps are now up and running,” he said, pushing 8,800 cubic feet of water out of the canal every second. The water level in the canal had already dropped to five feet, well within the margin of safety for the canals, he said. |
| After the storm made its first landfall on Tuesday just southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River at about 6:45 p.m., it then wobbled westward and back out over water. Around 11 p.m., it was about 75 miles southeast of New Orleans with the same sustained winds and it remained stalled for hours, with bands of wind and rain continuing to churn over an area stretching several hundred miles. | After the storm made its first landfall on Tuesday just southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River at about 6:45 p.m., it then wobbled westward and back out over water. Around 11 p.m., it was about 75 miles southeast of New Orleans with the same sustained winds and it remained stalled for hours, with bands of wind and rain continuing to churn over an area stretching several hundred miles. |
| Around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the storm began to move slowly north again, making a second landfall west of Port Fourchon, La. But it continues to make slow progress and “surge heights of 6 to 10 feet are still occurring along portions of the coast of Southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi,” according to the National Hurricane Center. | Around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the storm began to move slowly north again, making a second landfall west of Port Fourchon, La. But it continues to make slow progress and “surge heights of 6 to 10 feet are still occurring along portions of the coast of Southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi,” according to the National Hurricane Center. |
| Federal officials have warned repeatedly 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. | Federal officials have warned repeatedly 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. |
John | John Schwartz, Campbell Robertson and David Thier reported from New Orleans, and Kim Severson from Biloxi, Miss. Timothy Williams and Christine Hauser contributed reporting from New York, Jackie Calmes from Charlottesville, Va., and John H. Cushman Jr. from Washington. |