Volunteers use a boat to recover sound equipment from a flooded church in the aftermath of Isaac, in Reserve, Louisiana, August 31, 2012.
Rains of one-time Hurricane Isaac are drenching the parched central U.S., even as residents of the Gulf Coast region cope with the vast flooding left in the storm's wake.
The National Hurricane Center said Friday that Isaac is now a tropical depression, moving north with diminished winds. But its toll was significant, with five deaths reported in the U.S., after it earlier killed 24 in Haiti and five in the Dominican Republic.
The storm, at its peak, cut power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses in the southern state of Louisiana and left numerous communities in murky floodwaters that may take days to recede. But the major city of New Orleans, its flood barriers reinforced after Hurricane Katrina devastated it in 2005, escaped major damage even as areas near it were inundated.
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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U.S. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney visited Lafitte, near New Orleans, to talk to residents about the damage there.
One Louisiana storm victim, Rich Musacchia, was rescued by the National Guard, but said he lost most of his possessions.
"I lost my vehicle, my home, my motorbike. I lost everything. What I have with me now is actually what I own," said Musacchia.
Hurricane forecasters also are watching two other storms in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie, but said both are expected to stay out over open waters and pose no immediate threat to any islands.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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