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U.S. NEWS Monday 15 July 2019

Barry’s flood threat lingers as storm slowly sweeps inland

By REBECCA SANTANA and “This rainfall is expected east of Lafayette, said
JONATHAN DREW to lead to dangerous, life- crews were out working
Associated Press threatening flooding,” fore- to remove trees that fell
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — casters wrote in an advisory on power lines. Forecast-
Tropical Depression Barry Sunday. In Mississippi, fore- ers say the area, where
dumped rain as it slowly casters said 8 inches (20 several parishes were un-
swept inland through Gulf centimeters) of rain had der a flash flood warning,
Coast states Sunday, spar- fallen in parts of Jasper and could see 2 inches (5 cen-
ing New Orleans from a Jones counties, with several timeters) of additional rain
direct hit but stoking fears more inches possible. With on Sunday. Though some
elsewhere of flooding, tor- torrential rain pounding the yards had pooling water,
nadoes, and prolonged state’s Interstate 59 corri- Cuchens didn’t think her
power outages. dor, only the headlights of or her neighbors’ homes
Though the system was oncoming cars were visible would flood.
downgraded to a tropical on the highway, and water “There’s certainly water,
depression Sunday after- flowed like a creek in the certainly a lot of water,
noon and its winds were median. and as it continues to rain A man stands in floodwaters at Don’z On the Lake as Tropical
steadily weakening since Barry’s center continued there’s always that con- Storm Barry’s winds push water over the Lake Pontchartrain
it made landfall Saturday to move through northern cern,” she said.q seawall Saturday, July 13, 2019.
in Louisiana, Barry’s rain Louisiana into Arkansas. Associated Press
bands created a flooding The system, which had
and tornado threat stretch- briefly become a Category
ing from central Louisiana 1 hurricane, had its maxi-
to eastern Mississippi and mum winds fall to 35 mph
beyond. Several parishes (56 kph).
or counties in both states New Orleans Mayor LaToya
were under flash flood Cantrell said Sunday the
warnings. Far from the city was “beyond lucky”
storm’s center, tornado that rainfall there fell well
warnings were issued Sun- short of early predictions of
day morning in both states, a deluge that could over-
though no serious damage whelm the city’s pumping
or injuries were reported. systems.
President Donald Trump “We were spared,” she
asked people across the said at a news conference,
region to keep their guard while noting the city was
up, saying on Twitter Sun- ready to help nearby par-
day: “A big risk of major ishes hit harder.
flooding in large parts of In a sign that the city was
Louisiana and all across the returning to normal, flights
Gulf Coast. Please be very were resuming Sunday at
careful!” its airport. Restaurants re-
Forecasters warned of opened, and people were
a continued threat of retrieving their cars from
heavy rains into Monday medians and other high
as the center of the storm ground.
trudged inland. The U.S. About 112,000 customers
National Hurricane Center in Louisiana and another
said Sunday parts of south- 5,000 customers in Missis-
central Louisiana could still sippi were without power
have rainfall totals of up to Sunday afternoon, accord-
12 inches (30 centimeters), ing to poweroutage.us.
with isolated pockets of 15 Carrie Cuchens, who lost
inches (38 centimeters). power at her home south-