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Isaac effects linger as Obama plans visit to hurricane-hit areas Isaac effects linger as Obama plans visit to hurricane-hit areas
(about 4 hours later)
President Barack Obama will meet with local officials in Louisiana on Monday to assess the "ongoing response and recovery efforts" related to damage caused by hurricane Isaac. President Barack Obama will meet local officials in Louisiana on Monday to assess the "ongoing response and recovery efforts" after the damage caused by hurricane Isaac.
The trip, part of a four day cross-country tour leading up to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, comes as swathes of Louisiana continue to battle floodwater and power outages. The trip, part of a four day cross-country tour leading up to the Democratic national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, comes as Louisiana continues to battle floodwater and power outages.
As of late Sunday, it was estimated that some 200,000 people were still without electricity. Meanwhile, five days after the hurricane struck land, thousands of residents remained in evacuee shelters or were hunkering down with friends and relatives, waiting for the all clear to go home It was estimated that about 200,000 people were still without electricity.
At least seven people are thought to have died in the US as a result of the hurricane: five in Louisiana and two in Mississippi. Meanwhile, five days after the hurricane struck land, thousands of residents remained in evacuee shelters or were with friends and relatives, waiting for the all clear to go home.
Meanwhile, thousands were displaced. As of Sunday evening the number of people registered at Red Cross and community shelters was put at 2,800 people, down from an earlier estimate of 4,000. At least seven people are thought to have died in the US as a result of the hurricane – five in Louisiana and two in Mississippi – and thousands were displaced. The number of people registered at Red Cross and community shelters was put at 2,800 people, down from an earlier estimate of 4,000.
Many of those caught up in the latest evacuation remain fearful of what awaits them at home.Many of those caught up in the latest evacuation remain fearful of what awaits them at home.
"This is the second time we've lost our home. We lost it in Katrina," said Angela Serpas, from severely flooded Braithwaite in Plaquemines Parish. "This is the second time we've lost our home. We lost it in Katrina," said Angela Serpas, from severely flooded Braithwaite in Plaquemines parish.
Serpas and her daughter are currently staying with in-laws while waiting for the green light to go back home.Serpas and her daughter are currently staying with in-laws while waiting for the green light to go back home.
In other parts of the state affected by Isaac, life is beginning to return to normal. Offshore oil rig workers continued to return to platforms and drilling rigs over the weekend. In other parts of the state affected by Isaac, life is beginning to return to normal. Offshore oil rig workers returned to platforms and drilling rigs over the weekend.
And although large residential pockets remain without power, lines have been restored to hundreds of thousands of homes.And although large residential pockets remain without power, lines have been restored to hundreds of thousands of homes.
In New Orleans, the annual Southern Decadence Festival – a gay pride celebration – went ahead over the weekend as planned. Meanwhile in Baton Rouge, thousands of gamblers gathered for the opening of Louisiana's newest riverboat casino – delayed by three days by the hurricane In New Orleans, the annual Southern Decadence festival – a gay pride celebration – went ahead over the weekend as planned. In Baton Rouge, thousands of gamblers gathered for the opening of Louisiana's newest riverboat casino – delayed by three days by the hurricane.
But other parts of the flood-hit state remained under water. Much of Plaquemines Parish, a vulnerable finger of land that juts into the Gulf of Mexico, continued to struggled to disperse as much as five feet of floodwater. But other parts of the flood-hit state remained under water. Much of Plaquemines parish, a vulnerable finger of land that juts into the Gulf of Mexico, continued to struggled to disperse as much as five feet of floodwater.
"I've never seen water come up this quick this fast," Parish president Billy Nungesser said."I've never seen water come up this quick this fast," Parish president Billy Nungesser said.
Nonetheless, local business owners and residents will be allowed to return temporarily with police escorts on Monday.Nonetheless, local business owners and residents will be allowed to return temporarily with police escorts on Monday.
In Saint John the Baptist parish, authorities are still eyeing the threat from high river levels. Over the weekend evacuation buses and around 150 National Guard soldiers were sent to the parish in case stranded residents needed assistance. In Saint John the Baptist parish, authorities are still eyeing the threat from high river levels. Over the weekend, evacuation buses and about 150 national guard soldiers were sent to the parish in case stranded residents needed assistance.
President Obama will deliver remarks from Saint John the Baptist Parish later Monday after seeing first hand the post-hurricane clean-up operation. President Obama will deliver remarks from Saint John the Baptist Parish later on Monday after seeing firsthand the post-hurricane clean-up operation.
His challenger for the White House, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, visited the state Friday. In 2005, president George W Bush was fiercely criticised for his slow response to hurricane Katrina, a natural disaster that killed some 1,800 people. In the immediate aftermath of the destruction, he opted to observe the damage from Air Force One, rather than setting foot on the ground. Mitt Romney visited the state Friday. In 2005, president George Bush was fiercely criticised for his slow response to Katrina, a hurricane that killed 1,800 people. In the immediate aftermath of the destruction, Bush opted to observe the damage from Air Force One, rather than setting foot on the ground.
With an election just around the corner, neither Romney nor Obama were willing to make the same mistake.With an election just around the corner, neither Romney nor Obama were willing to make the same mistake.