Post date: Aug 29, 2012 8:38:56 PM
IN SPACE (NASA TV) - Isaac was downgraded to a tropical storm Wednesday afternoon (August 29) and a gradual weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours as it continues to move farther inland, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in its latest bulletin.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announces a dusk to dawn curfew as Isaac weakens to a tropical storm, but continues to drench Louisiana.
The center of the storm was located about 50 miles (80 km) west-southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, packing winds of about 70 miles per hour (110 km per hour), the NHC said.
But the slow moving storm continued to pound Louisiana with heavy rains and damaging winds.
Widespread flooding was reported in New Orleans and other coastal cities. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued a curfew for the city, set to start Wednesday night and last until further notice.
"Let me be clear, we are going to have a zero tolerance for lawlessness during this emergency and to make sure that this city is secure... we have to make sure that the streets are clear and safe and so, today, its going to begin, it will be a curfew from dusk to dawn and will stay in effect until otherwise notified," Landrieu announced.
One of the worst hit areas was Plaquemines Parish, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of New Orleans, where water spilled over the levee in a 12-foot (3.6 m) storm surge late Tuesday that also flooded homes and stranded some residents.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said at a news conference in Baton Rouge that officials may cut a hole in a levee on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish to relieve pressure on the structure.
Jindal said that about 4,130 residents have sought refuge from Isaac at shelters across the state. And, he warned, that because the storm was slow moving, it made it more dangerous.
"This is a very slow moving storm and so it is a dangerous storm. We ask people to use their common sense and exercise caution. If you are somewhere in impacted Parish where you are safe we recommend you stay there, if you don't need to, do not travel on these roads especially wit these gusts, these strong winds as well as the chance for localized flooding," he said.