This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.guardian.co.uk/world/us-news-blog/2012/aug/30/hurricane-isaac-new-orleans-defences

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
New Orleans defences hold up to Hurricane Isaac New Orleans defences hold up to Hurricane Isaac
(7 days later)
Heavy rain continued to drench Louisiana and Mississippi as tropical storm Isaac trudged slowly northwards, but fortified levees and an elaborate flood containment plan appeared to have spared New Orleans from disaster.Heavy rain continued to drench Louisiana and Mississippi as tropical storm Isaac trudged slowly northwards, but fortified levees and an elaborate flood containment plan appeared to have spared New Orleans from disaster.
Isaac, which was downgraded from hurricane status on Wednesday night, was expected to weaken further throughout the day, to become a tropical depression as it heads west towards Arkansas and Missouri. The National Hurricane Center said that Isaac is likely to be reclassified as a tropical depression on Thursday, but heavy rains and flooding could persist over the next few days.Isaac, which was downgraded from hurricane status on Wednesday night, was expected to weaken further throughout the day, to become a tropical depression as it heads west towards Arkansas and Missouri. The National Hurricane Center said that Isaac is likely to be reclassified as a tropical depression on Thursday, but heavy rains and flooding could persist over the next few days.
Winds – which had reached speeds of 70mph (112kph), just below the hurricane threshold of 74mph – are expected to drop below 39mph.Winds – which had reached speeds of 70mph (112kph), just below the hurricane threshold of 74mph – are expected to drop below 39mph.
The mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, said the $14.5bn system – an array of walls, floodgates, levees and pumps built for the city by the Army Corps of Engineers – had performed exactly as it should.The mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, said the $14.5bn system – an array of walls, floodgates, levees and pumps built for the city by the Army Corps of Engineers – had performed exactly as it should.
In New Orleans, rescuers picked up dozens of residents who had ignored warnings to leave low-lying areas, seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.In New Orleans, rescuers picked up dozens of residents who had ignored warnings to leave low-lying areas, seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.
Power lines were cut and debris littered the streets, prompting city authorities to declare a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Louisiana officials said they would intentionally breach a levee in Placquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, as Isaac lumbered inland from the Gulf of Mexico.Power lines were cut and debris littered the streets, prompting city authorities to declare a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Louisiana officials said they would intentionally breach a levee in Placquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, as Isaac lumbered inland from the Gulf of Mexico.
Authorities feared many residents would need help after a night of torrential rain and harsh winds knocked out power to more than 700,000 households and businesses.Authorities feared many residents would need help after a night of torrential rain and harsh winds knocked out power to more than 700,000 households and businesses.
Rescuers in boats and trucks plucked a handful of people who became stranded by floodwaters in thinly populated areas of south-east Louisiana. Emergency officials in Plaquemines Parish said floodwaters had flowed over an 8ft levee between Braithwaite and White Ditch districts.Rescuers in boats and trucks plucked a handful of people who became stranded by floodwaters in thinly populated areas of south-east Louisiana. Emergency officials in Plaquemines Parish said floodwaters had flowed over an 8ft levee between Braithwaite and White Ditch districts.
Authorities evacuated hundreds of families from Plaquemines on Wednesday afternoon amid fears of fresh flooding.Authorities evacuated hundreds of families from Plaquemines on Wednesday afternoon amid fears of fresh flooding.
Convoys of people clutching children, pets and bags streamed in driving rain down state highway 23 while a fleet of ambulances with blaring sirens headed in the opposite direction towards the Mississippi to aid people still in danger.Convoys of people clutching children, pets and bags streamed in driving rain down state highway 23 while a fleet of ambulances with blaring sirens headed in the opposite direction towards the Mississippi to aid people still in danger.
A YMCA centre in Belle Chase, just south of New Orleans, became an improvised refugee station for 125 people after two other nearby shelters filled up.A YMCA centre in Belle Chase, just south of New Orleans, became an improvised refugee station for 125 people after two other nearby shelters filled up.
"The waters had reached the seventh step of my porch and the lawmen told us we had to evacuate the premises," said Veraldine Garrison, 72, who arrived with four adult children."The waters had reached the seventh step of my porch and the lawmen told us we had to evacuate the premises," said Veraldine Garrison, 72, who arrived with four adult children.
"All we had was the wind and the rain. The wind and the rain." Like others, she feared for her home. "There ain't nothing you can do with mother nature. You can't control that water.""All we had was the wind and the rain. The wind and the rain." Like others, she feared for her home. "There ain't nothing you can do with mother nature. You can't control that water."
Beside her, huddled in a blanket, sat a woman rescued from her rooftop, too exhausted or traumatised to speak.Beside her, huddled in a blanket, sat a woman rescued from her rooftop, too exhausted or traumatised to speak.
Some evacuees complained they were forced to leave pets and valuables behind. "My chihuahuas, Tiki and Tutu, are still in my trailer home," said Thomas Wyman, 80, slumped in a plastic chair. "And my money, my medicine, it's all there."Some evacuees complained they were forced to leave pets and valuables behind. "My chihuahuas, Tiki and Tutu, are still in my trailer home," said Thomas Wyman, 80, slumped in a plastic chair. "And my money, my medicine, it's all there."
Jim Gabour, who lives in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, just next to the French Quarter, said that with electricity knocked out, trees downed and the wind still up, residents were in survivalist mode and did not expect relief until the weekend.Jim Gabour, who lives in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, just next to the French Quarter, said that with electricity knocked out, trees downed and the wind still up, residents were in survivalist mode and did not expect relief until the weekend.
"No electricity, no running water and 80mph gusts," Gabour wrote in an email on Wednesday. "Right now, cutting trees off house in high winds and stinging rains. Cell batteries gone soon. Land lines not working.""No electricity, no running water and 80mph gusts," Gabour wrote in an email on Wednesday. "Right now, cutting trees off house in high winds and stinging rains. Cell batteries gone soon. Land lines not working."
He added later: "Generator too erratic for computer. No electricity, cable or land lines until weekend. Will have to turn off generator soon, and be in dark again, as we have to ration gas and no stations open. And it is suffocatingly hot."He added later: "Generator too erratic for computer. No electricity, cable or land lines until weekend. Will have to turn off generator soon, and be in dark again, as we have to ration gas and no stations open. And it is suffocatingly hot."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.