Isaac begins to flood southern Louisiana
Plaquemines Parish in the southeast region of Louisiana has confirmed a levee overflow in the wake of Hurricane Isaac, leaving 25 people stranded inside their homes awaiting emergency evacuation. Currently, there are 65 people on a rescue list in Plaquemines Parish after Isaac flooded the small parish south of New Orleans with 12 feet of water.
According to parish president Billy Nungesser, the devastation Plaquemines Parish has been facing from Isaac since early Wednesday is arguably worse than what the town faced in 2005 from Katrina.
Nungesser said the parish’s levee had overflowed, and part of the parish that had never flooded before during a hurricane is now under five feet of water. His accusations comparing the damage between Isaac and Katrina arose when Nungesser went home and found that part of his roof was missing and the back wall had moved.
“I don’t know who’s calling this a Category 1, but this is no Category 1,” Nungesser said.
In a press conference with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal it was revealed that the whole west side of Plaquemines Parish was under water after Isaac’s heavy rain flooded a non-federal, local levee. The east side of the parish is slightly better off, with an eight foot levee, but Isaac looks to reach above that height. At the rate that Isaac has been bearing down, it may only be a matter of time until the east side of Plaquemines begins to look like its west side.
People have been confined to their attics and roofs to combat the rising tide. The scene is eerily familiar with footage of Katrina refugees and Nungesser is currently in the process of ordering an emergency evacuation for Plaquemines Parish with help from the National Guard.
President Obama held a conference call Wednesday with governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and the mayor of New Orleans to discuss current conditions and the next steps response teams are taking.
