Comments
Three US Gulf Coast states declared states of emergency as Tropical Storm Isaac barreled toward land, threatening to slam into Louisiana as a damaging hurricane.
The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama issued their declarations yesterday as Florida, which declared a state of emergency a day earlier, was drenched by heavy rains and strong winds from the storm.
The declarations make funds available to respond to the storm and order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans.
A hurricane warning was in effect east of Morgan City Louisiana to Destin, Florida, including metropolitan New Orleans, which is marking the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city and killed around 1,800 people.
The storm is forecast to hit as a category two hurricane on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale — with top winds swirling at 83-95 kilometres per hour — when it makes landfall.
“We are encouraging everyone to get prepared now to ensure that you have an evacuation plan in place, plenty of water, non—perishable food items, hygiene supplies, sufficient clothing and any prescription medications you or your family may need in the event of the storm,” Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said in a statement.
“As with every storm, we always hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”
He recommended voluntary evacuations within the hurricane watch area, which includes low-lying areas, those zones outside of levee protection and areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said he was mobilising the resources that his community needed as the storm approached.
“I am urging everyone to take precautions now, monitor weather warnings and be prepared for whatever Isaac may bring,” he said.
Bentley ordered mandatory evacuations in parts of Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner urged residents to “make preparations now for the potential impact of strong winds and heavy rains.”
The National Hurricane Centre has also issued both a tropical storm warning and a hurricane warning for multiple counties in Mississippi.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.