Thousands Evacuate and Many Without Power as Tropical Storm Lee Enters Gulf Coast and New Orleans
- Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:31pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Bands of heavy rain and strong wind gusts from Tropical Storm Lee knocked out power to thousands in south Louisiana and Mississippi on Saturday and prompted evacuations of around 6,000 people. NBC News video on the Gulf’s preparation for the storm:
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The National Hurricane Center says the that the storm is expected to bring up to 20 inches of rain to southeast Louisiana over the next few days, including the low-lying New Orleans. With the memory of devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005 not too far away, the Big Easy and other Gulf Coast cities are taking every preparation necessary for the incoming storm.
“Prepare for the worst, let’s hope for the best,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said as he declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon. NBC reports that the governors of Louisiana and Mississippi also declared emergencies.
The sluggish storm stalled just before making landfall, and threatened to dump more than a foot of rain across the northern Gulf Coast and into the Southeast in coming days. No injuries were reported and there were only scattered reports of water entering low-lying homes and businesses as of Saturday afternoon.
The Entergy utility company reported more than 37,000 customer outages at one point Saturday morning but that was down to below 29,000 by midday as the utility restored electricity. Cleco Corp., another major utility, reported 3,400 outages.
Water was a foot deep under the house of 76-year-old Eva Alexie, whose home is raised about eight feet off the flat ground.
“I should be used to this,” said Alexie, a storm veteran who lost a home to Hurricane Ike in 2008. “It happens pretty often. I just thank God it won’t be getting in my house this time.”
She clutched an umbrella and a pair of blue rubber gloves as she walked down Louisiana Highway 45, on her way to her husband’s shrimp boat to clean a recent catch.
The center of the slow-moving storm was about 45 miles (72 kilometers) southwest of Morgan City, La., Saturday afternoon, spinning intermittent bands of stormy weather, alternating with light rain and occasional sunshine. Its maximum sustained winds were 60 mph (97 kph).
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said 10 parishes have issued emergency declarations. CNN reports that Gov. Jindal urged residents to pay attention to the weather and flash flooding warnings.
In New Orleans, sporadic downpours caused some street flooding in low-lying areas early Saturday, but pumps were sucking up the water and sending it into Lake Pontchartrain. Lee’s surge so far had not penetrated levees along the coast, said National Weather Service forecaster Robert Ricks in Slidell, La.
Tornado warnings were issued overnight in Louisiana and south Mississippi but Ricks said there were no confirmed touchdowns. So far, damage appeared confined to downed power lines and trees.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement said 237 oil and gas production platforms and 23 drilling rigs have been evacuated by Lee. The agency estimates that estimated about 60 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf and almost 55 percent of the natural gas production has been shut in.
Coastal Mississippi officials expected their worst from the storm around the time it made landfall later Saturday afternoon or evening.
“We’ve been getting some pretty good onshore rains,” said Jackson County emergency director Donald Langham. “We should see the winds pick up later this evening. We’ve had no tropical force winds yet, but once the storm takes that hook to the right we will be getting into that wind and rain.”
Harrison County officials said travel on U.S. Highway 90 had become hazardous because winds from Lee have pushed sand from beach onto the eastbound lanes and the rain has created a situation where drivers cannot see the roadway.
“This layer of sand has gotten up on the highway and you can‘t determine if you’re on the road, up on the median or the curb,” emergency director Rupert Lacy. “We’re asking folks not to get on Highway 90 but if they do be extra careful.”
Flooding in Hancock County left several roadways impassable, and the rain on parts of Interstate 10 at times has been so heavy that visibility was down to only a few feet.
Casinos along the coast remained open and reported brisk business despite the storm.
At the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, which was hosting an IBF welterweight title bout Saturday night, resort spokeswoman Mary Cracchiolo-Spain said business was going on as usual.
“We’re open for business and we are safe and secure,” she said. “We are watching the storm closely like everybody else.” she said.
In Alabama, rough seas forced the Alabama State Port Authority to close the Port of Mobile. Pockets of heavy rain pounded the beaches Saturday, and strong winds whipped up the surf and bowed palm trees. But just a couple miles inland, wind and rain dropped significantly.
Wet and windy conditions hovered over Dauphin Island, a barrier island three miles south of the mouth of Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico, but conditions weren’t too threatening, Mayor Jeff Collier said. High surf caused some roads to flood with water, but all were still passable Saturday afternoon.
Precautions were taken to secure anything that could be swept away by wind or waves on the island’s vulnerable west end public beach and Labor Day concerts and other festivities were canceled.
“The weekend is literally a wash,” Collier said. “It’s really a shame that it happened on a holiday weekend, but on the other hand it’s good because we really do need the rain.”
Beaches that would normally be packed with Labor Day tourists were nearly empty. Melinda Fondren, who moved to Gulf Shores from Birmingham about three months ago, visited the beach to experience her first tropical storm.
“I’m excited but a little afraid of the storm surge,” she said, adding that her middle name is Lee. “I’ve been telling my family that I hit Gulf Shores twice.”
At the Hangout, a beachside bar and restaurant, a healthy crowd gathered to watch the University of Alabama and Auburn University football season openers. Manager Matt Dagen said there should be more people on a holiday weekend.
“Obviously, it’s not as good as we want because of the weather,” he said, but added that rough weather sometimes gives his business a boost because people can’t go to the beach.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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Comments (62)
Cat
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 8:19amWhy do the big, bad rainstorms get a name just before they make landfall?
And, why do the ‘officials’ declare the area a disaster area, just hours before the big, bad rainstorm?
Read the small print in your home insurance policy closely.
Report Post »Jamestownrd
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 8:47amAre the blacks on the roof yet..“come save me”
Report Post »Cat
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 9:05am@JAMESTOWNRD
Nope … Can’t see’um … Water’s too high.
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 6:38amI think I will evacuate the next time there is a thunderstorm in KY. Evacuate seems to be the NEXT LIBERAL THING. What they need is to have their minds EVACUATED. LOL.
Report Post »georgeisn6
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 1:18amJust have to flush out the rats ever couple of years.
Report Post »Danola
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 12:22amWho says New Orleans has a competent mayor? Did anyone notice the name? Mitch Landrieu…that‘s Mary Landrieu’s brother. Yes, the Marxist family of Louisiana. Mitch declared New Orleans a disaster area just this past week because the fire department did not want to put out a marsh fire. The entire region has been suffering because of Landrieu’s lack of leadership. He is chasing businesses out of the city because he can’t suck any more taxes out of us. And to all of you idiots that think everyone in N.O. is looking for a handout, you are wrong! There are a million stories to be told and everyone is different. To condemn all the people of N.O. for the way the Democrat incompetents handled Katrina and for the disgusting incompetence of the Army Corp of Idiots is just ignorant in itself. And the biggest story never told is how disasters like these are welcome by big government so they can hand out more of your money. Should everyone on the eastern seaboard be moved because of what could happen? I recall massive flooding in Vermont last week. I recall tornadoes in MO. I recall earthquakes all over. Should everyone move to a safe place? And who decides where that safe place is?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 8:24amWho do we blame for the Idiot DEMOCRATS, that YOU NO VOTERS have put in for the past umpteen years??? The rest of the country sent enough money to you panhandlers to build levees to the moon.When cold cash is found in legislators freezers , where do you think the Cold Cash came from??My state of Konnecticut is the same as your city. Putting DEMOCRAT thieves in to fleece Taxpaying citizens and Business’s, so that the DEMOCRAT TAKING CLASS can flourish
Report Post »texan-n-nola
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 12:06amLet me get this straight. Everyone in the New Orleans area should move because of the hurricanes. So I guess everyone in Alaska, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc should move because of the earth quakes. Everyone in the mid U.S. should move because of the tornados, and now everyone in the northeast should move because of the hurricanes and flooding. Everyone along the Mississippi River should move because of the flooding, and everyone in Texas should move because of the fires. So where do we all go? Just wondering??
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 12:13amJoplin.
Report Post »rightwinger76
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:13pmWhen the storms come my way, I have all I need to survive. I’ve got my friends, AR, AK, BAR, 1911, M4, etc…
Report Post »oriondma05
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:18pmMother Nature doesn’t care about black people.
Kanye West
Chocolate City!
Ray Nagin
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:13pmI live in central Louisiana and we needed this rain.The grass was turning brown during the drought. I hope this thing goes to Texas where they need it too.
Report Post »ASTEHR
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:48pmYea…But probably not this much
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 12:48amIt is not that bad.It could have been worse.The rain is not heavy and the fish are happy that they don’t have to take turns getting wet in the pond anymore.
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:57pmI see the General Lee is heading my way. If you all don’t see me post so much after tomorrow morning, you will know why. :)
Report Post »nptden
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:55pmIf the levees break this time. Maybe it’s time for these a-holes to move.
Report Post »scarebear83
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:57pmFeeling the winds here in TN already.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:02pmIt’s raining in New Orleans!! Where’s Obama?????? He must hate black people…
I think I saw Eric Holder in his scuba gear trying to blow the leeves too!!!
Report Post »Quagmir
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 4:09amonly half of Obama hates blacks. That is why this wasn’t a full blown hurricane. The Messiah has spared them from 6 more years of FEMA handouts.
Report Post »The Bushmaster
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:43pmI think it would be a blessing if God for once and all washed that cesspool called New Orleans out to sea!!! What a waste of money that place has been since Katrina!!! I say screw ‘em. Anyone dumb enough to live below sea level on the coast in a hurricane prone region needs to be washed away…
Report Post »Better Dead Than Red
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:20pmgo crawl back to the sh|thole where you came from!
Report Post »Time_To_Stand
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:34pmYou are one sick puppy!!!
Report Post »bolsen00
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:41pmBetter Dead– You know it’s the truth! Another hurricane or storm and the people of New Orleans and surrounding areas are helpless once again! I hope this storm washes the whole area away or buries it several hundred feet deep! Hello Atlantis! It needs to be a permanent part of the ocean! An act of nature is the only way these numbskulls will ever wise up and go somewhere else! This nation should not have to CONTINUALLY bail out these helpless people in that swamp land! There is no more money for them! They needed to be smart last time and rebuild somewhere better or else they’re out of luck!
Report Post »bolsen00
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:49pmTime to Stand– A lot of posters obviously don’t agree with you! Not very many in this nation are looking at New Orleans with pity at this point. We’re fed up with their stupidity and dependency! Call me a racist…I don’t care…the new meaning of racist is “I don’t agree with you”! The old meaning is gone! I‘m right on this situation and I’ll repeat it all year long!
Report Post »ASTEHR
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:50pmWhy anyone would be stupid enough to build back on the same spot has to have rocks in their heads
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:45pmTusker, WRONG!
Report Post »Like a mayor actually can do something about a city “below sea level on the coast in a hurricane prone region”!!
That same logic would dictate that Obama can affect sea levels and “industrial” man causes global warming.
Think about the implications of what some of you people are are believing about a doomed city.
Msgt Ret
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 7:36amAgreed, why should WE have to pay for someone to live below sea level?
Report Post »Better Dead Than Red
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 9:58amShould people in Joplin, MS leave and relocate because they live in tornado alley?! I don’t want to pay for these people because they live on flat plains.
Ridiculous.
Report Post »Better Dead Than Red
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 2:03pmoops Joplin, MO!!
Report Post »cabnetdude
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:15pmOh Goody…another emergency and…once again the nazi SS war lords will go house to house confiscating guns and foodstuffs from the little people ..all the the while herding them to CONTROL CAMPS. Is it just to convenient these damn storms coupled with a Marxist regime. And yes this goes for the last regime as well.
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:59pmI hope the people leave this time.. honestly WHY do people live in a bowl on the cost of the gulf?
FEMA will go help the helpless because they cant do for themselves. they didnt KNOW this was coming.. they didnt KNOW they live in a bowl.. we will give them money again that we again have to borrow form CHINA..
do i sound bitter? we dang it i am
Report Post »MontanaRob
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:36pmBut hey, the “Casinos along the coast remained open and reported brisk business despite the storm”!
Report Post »There’s prioritizing for ya!
Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:52pmActually, I believe it would be termed nearly unbridled capitalism.
Report Post »ARIZONA VETERAN
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:36pmAhahhaha flush flush
Report Post »rightwinger76
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:09pmIt may take ONE BIG PLUNGER to get all of those turds down the toilet.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:20pmI can imagine our troops from Louisiana and Mississippi sitting in Iraqi desert watching news over the Internet from their laptops. Even though their every click is monitored by military security watchdog, it is hard for soldiers not to think how much money we waist for blowing and re-building infrastructure in Iraq when the money could be spent better at home. Especially if we have to borrow from Chinese or tax through inflation.
Report Post »Nevertheless, monopolies and trade unions at Boeing think otherwise – print more, borrow more, bail out more, send more FEMA.
Bernard
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:08pmFirst of all I have been commenting till my fingers are exhausted that the 19th century technology of “power lines” should be history by now. The scourge of so many black outs during what is a annual storm season in which it is invariable that these age old power lines will get knocked down and the expense of replacing them being handed down to the consumer should have been history decades ago. When we did have the money we as a nation, should have pushed to bury these lines and avoid the power black outs that always come with a storm. I can only come to the conclusion that these 19th century technology is kept alive is because someone or some company is making a good profit from it.
Report Post »As for the “Big Sleazy” or as the former ***** Mayor called that city “the chocolate city” and got away with that racist statement, the levies built by the army corp of engineers did such a lousy job that some parts of these newly refurbished levies are already giving away to a category one storm, even after 10 billion dollars were spent on them. The problem is not the storms but the poorly built infrastructure and the interference of the Government under agencies like FEMA. Waite till the victims of Irene face FEMA for the first time. They will be facing a well oiled bureaucracy with so much red tape and and equal amount of corruption that Irene will look like a blessing in comparison.
flyoverbob
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:29pmI think a lot of organizations dont want to change these power lines.Just think of all the overtime
Report Post »paid to these workers,and the companies are billing with profit on top of that.So remember this when the media starts making heroes out of these guys.
Profx72
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:47pmI guess that FEMA will have to stop all relief efforts in the Northeast as a result of Hurricane Irene (as they did in Joplin, Mo) or Kanye West will claim that President Obama “hates Black People.”
Report Post »http://www.maverickvoice.com
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:55pmNo they will just place all the blame on Bush, even though he has been out of office for some three years or so.
Report Post »CrazyTexan
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 1:02amCentral Texas is so dry I have some trees that are 20 yrs old that are now dead, the grass is long gone. Can’t water, because the well may go dry. I think we were still at about 96 today. We really could have used that storm up this way.
Report Post »Profx72
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:45pmI guess FEMA will have to stop any relief efforts in the Northeast as a result of Hurricane Irene (as it did in Joplin, Mo) or else Kanye West will claim that President Obama “hates Black People.”
Report Post »http://www.maverickvoice.com
Gh0stWrit3r
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:45pmHere we go again… Better to heed the warnings though than lose your life or property. Prayers going out for those impacted by LEE.
Report Post »daveposh
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:44pmDarn. Texas really needs this!
Report Post »bobbyjoe
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:51pmA little to the west please!
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:27pmThe wind began late last night and has only gotten worse down around Houston.
Report Post »It’s been a real show here. Brown outs and limbs all over the yard.
Airb0rne4325
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:19pmYep, ya”ll need it more than we do. It’s a good steady rain here in central LA. Rained 3 inches since this morn, with light winds. For you Yankees out there this is a blessing. Slow steady rain for 3 days is exactly what we have been needing here. Hate it happened on the opening of dove season though. Kids are disappointed.
For those who flooded after this little rain should move or elevate. Heck this is just a Tropical Storm.
Report Post »FEMALL
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:23pm@TIFOSA Yes. FEMA rules changed after Katrina. The FEDS no longer need a request from the governor of the state to enter the state and provide assistance. At the time of Katrina governors where required to request federal assistance due to that pesky 10th amendment. And, so, the DEMOCRAT Governor of Louisiana ,Kathleen Blanco, chose not to request federal assistance for a CAT 4 hurricane aimed at her state. Why would a governor do that?
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:06pmBut all we got here in the Houston area was some of the wind. I wish we could relieve them of some of the rain.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:13pmI was thinking the same thing.
Report Post »Was yesterday the 1st time in months that Dallas was below a 100 degrees???
Rayblue
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 8:13amAt last, it rained a few inches during the night after the high winds on Saturday.
Report Post »Maybe life’s worth living after all. Maybe the yardfull of hay will bloom.
Marci
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:43pmThis is the huge difference–an official in LA declares a statre of emergency instead of sitting on his hands and refusing aid from the federal government which is what Nagan DID do.
Report Post »Tusker
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:17pmThank You Marci! Finally, someone who gets it!
It’s a TROPICAL STORM people, not a CAT 3 hurricane! Good grief. I’m happy that NO has a competent mayor! And yes, it’s been a nice steady rain since late yesterday afternoon (here in Mobile) and I’m grateful for it too. Been lots of brush fires in the area lately. Also, it’s been a GREAT DAY FOR FOOTBALL AND NAPS! :-)
Report Post »republapig
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:42pmBush got blamed for Katrina. I wonder who will get blamed for this.
Report Post »Jamesjim
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:55pmBush! Hey, it worked the first time.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:06pmBush got blamed for his inadequate response to Katrina. Remember he was eating birthday cake with McCain, then his heckuvajobbrownie? btw, a tidbit, Obama’s response to getting help to Katrina victims: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389×3394202
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 8:54amTime for another Vacation, Barry. You worked hard for three or four days, you must be exausted. Which BARRY will show up ?? He has the ability to change his mind, 180 degrees, at the tip of your hat. Debt Ceiling come to mind?Guantanamo Bay??, Iraq?? , Afghanistan??
Report Post »He’s voting PRESENT again.