Rescue, Evacuation Efforts Continue as Storm Pounds US Gulf Coast
A vehicle is submerged in flood waters in Jourdan River Shores neighborhood as Hurricane Isaac passes through Kiln, Mississippi, August 29, 2012.
Tropical Storm Isaac continues to pose grave danger to areas around New Orleans, Louisiana, as officials scramble to evacuate and rescue people amid rising floodwaters. The storm also has claimed its first fatality.
A tow truck driver was killed early Thursday when a tree fell on his truck in Picayune, Mississippi, just across the state border with Louisiana. Isaac is bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Mississippi as the storm moves northward.
Isaac made landfall as a hurricane on Tuesday, exactly seven years after Hurricane Katrina caused widespread death and destruction in New Orleans and elsewhere along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast. Experts say the newly-fortified and extended system of levees, canals and pumps built after Katrina passed its first major test, sparing the city extensive damage.
But at a news conference Thursday, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu warned that the storm is ravaging areas outside the city.
Hurricane Isaac Thrashes Louisiana, Mississippi
1/10(from L to R) Lessie Lewis, Devin Lewis, Kodi Lewis and Cindy Lewis stand on the front porch as flood waters surround their home on St. Roch ave. as Hurricane Isaac makes land fall in New Orleans, Louisiana August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
2/10A man and a woman walk through flood waters on St. Roch ave. as Hurricane Isaac makes land fall in New Orleans, Louisiana August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
3/10Residents of Plaquemines Parish who were rescued from their flooded homes sit in the back of a pickup truck during Hurricane Isaac in Braithwaite, Louisiana August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
4/10A resident of Plaquemines Parish who was rescued from his flooded home sits in the back of a pickup truck during Hurricane Isaac in Braithwaite, Louisiana August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
5/10A blown over tree sits on power lines amidst strong wind and rain during Hurricane Isaac in New Orleans, Louisiana August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
6/10Downed trees and power lines are seen on top of a pickup truck as Hurricane Isaac passes through New Orleans, Louisiana, August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
7/10A man stands in front of an uprooted oak tree on Louisiana Avenue as Hurricane Isaac makes land fall in New Orleans, Louisiana August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
8/10People gather in a French Quarter bar as Tropical Storm Isaac passes through New Orleans, Louisiana, August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
9/10Owners Hank and Lori Plauche use a jet-ski to survey the damage to the Jourdan River Steamer, Seafood Restaurant as Hurricane Isaac passes through Kiln, Mississippi, August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
10/10The surf washes over the West Side Pier as Hurricane Isaac passes through Gulfport, Mississippi, August 29, 2012.
Isaac struck Louisiana and neighboring Gulf Coast states of Mississippi, Alabama Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, massive flooding.
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"Hopefully, as far as the city of New Orleans is concerned, the worst is behind us. Unfortunately, some of our very, very close neighbors are getting hit very hard, and there are reports on that in the papers," Landrieu said. "So our thoughts and prayers go out to them."
Landrieu cautioned that electricity is out throughout most of New Orleans, and that downed trees and power lines pose a danger to residents, asking them to be patient and stay in their homes.
"So I am going to say it to you again. I am going to urge you to stay off the roads as much as possible," Landrieu said. "That really means unless there is an emergency."
Officials say some 730,000 residents of Louisiana and Mississippi are without power, and that they are working to first restore power to hospitals. New Orleans officials announced a dawn-to-dusk curfew on Wednesday. Mayor Landrieu sad it would continue only as long as needed.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpal said there were incidents of looting Wednesday night.
"In the last 36 hours of the operation, there have been 16 looting events," Serpal said. "Thirteen of those looting events, we have made arrests on the scene."
Serpal warned that anyone convicted of looting would face a mandatory three-year prison sentence with hard labor.
On Thursday, officials sent buses and high-water vehicles to the shores of Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans to help evacuate thousands of people from rising floodwaters. President Barack Obama has declared major federal emergencies in Louisiana and Mississippi, freeing up federal aid and dispatching emergency assistance teams to the region.
