Page 6 - aruba-today-20190713

A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 13 July 2019

'It's powerful': Tropical storm starts lashing Louisiana

single weather event to the
changing climate.
Late Friday afternoon, Bar-
ry was about 70 miles (115
kilometers) southeast of
Morgan City, with winds of
65 mph (100 kph). Tracking
forecasts showed the storm
moving toward Chicago,
swelling the Mississippi Riv-
er basin with water that
must eventually flow south
again.
President Donald Trump
declared a federal emer-
gency for Louisiana, autho-
rizing the Department of
Homeland Security and the
Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency to coor-
dinate relief efforts.
In Baton Rouge, Kaci Doug-
las and her 15-year-old son,
Juan Causey, were among
dozens filling sandbags at
a fire station. She planned
to sandbag the door of her
townhouse.
"I told my son, it's better to
An SUV travels down Breakwater Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, near the Orleans Marina as water moves in from be safe than sorry," she said.
Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico. In New Orleans, a group of
Associated Press neighbors cleaned out the
By KEVIN McGILL and JA- bucket trucks moved into rive as a weak hurricane, gy because of an 8-inch storm drains on their street.
NET McCONNAUGHEY position. "This is happening. just barely over the 74 (20-centimeter) torrent ear- Working as a team to lift
Associated Press ... Your preparedness win- mph (119 kph) wind speed lier this week. the heavy metal covers off,
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hom- dow is shrinking," National threshold. But authorities The Mississippi is expected they discovered that most
eowners sandbagged their Hurricane Center Director warned people not to be to crest Saturday at about of the drains were full of
doors and tourists trying to Ken Graham warned. He fooled. 19 feet (5.8 meters) in New dirt, leaves and garbage.
get out of town jammed added: "It's powerful. It's "Nobody should take this Orleans, where the levees All over town, people
the airport Friday as Tropi- strengthening. And water is storm lightly just because protecting the city range parked their cars on the
cal Storm Barry began roll- going to be a big issue." it's supposed to be a Cate- from about 20 to 25 feet city's medians — referred
ing in, threatening an epic While 10,000 people or gory 1 when it makes land- (6 to 7.5 meters) in height. to around here as "neutral
drenching that could test more in exposed, low-lying fall," Gov. John Bel Edwards That could leave only a grounds" — in hopes their
how well New Orleans has areas along the Gulf Coast said. "The real danger in this small margin of safety in vehicles would be safe on
strengthened its flood pro- were told to leave, no storm was never about the some places, particularly if the slightly elevated strips.
tections in the 14 years evacuations were ordered wind anyway. It's always the storm were to change Tourists converged on the
since Hurricane Katrina. in New Orleans, where of- been about the rain." direction or intensity. airport in hopes of catch-
With the storm expected to ficials instead urged resi- Authorities took unprec- "The river should be taken ing an early flight and get-
blow ashore early Saturday dents to "shelter in place" edented precautions: The seriously. It's a really power- ting out of town ahead of
near Morgan City as the starting at 8 p.m. governor said it was the first ful river," said Nadia Jenkins the storm. At least one con-
first hurricane of the sea- "My concerns are just hop- time all floodgates were of New Orleans. She hadn't vention — that of the Delta
son, authorities rushed to ing it's not going to be an- sealed in the New Orleans- yet decided whether to Sigma Theta sorority — was
close floodgates and raise other Katrina," said Donald area Hurricane Risk Reduc- leave but wasn't taking any cut short by a day. A Roll-
the barriers around the Wells, a restaurant cook in tion System. Still, he said he chances: "We're prepared. ing Stones concert was
New Orleans metropolitan New Orleans. didn't expect the river to We've got stuff stocked up. postponed from Sunday to
area of 1.3 million people Forecasters said slow-mov- spill over the levees. Car is gassed." Monday. Katrina caused
for fear of disastrous flood- ing Barry could unload 10 Workers also shored up and Employees at a Costco in catastrophic flooding in
ing. to 20 inches (25 to 50 centi- raised the levee system in New Orleans said bottled New Orleans 14 years ago
The storm was expected to meters) of rain through Sun- places with beams, sheet water was selling quickly. and was blamed for more
inflict the most damage on day across a swath of Loui- metal and other barriers. Lifelong resident Terrence than 1,800 deaths in Loui-
Louisiana and parts of Mis- siana that includes New Barry's downpours could Williams was getting sup- siana and other states, by
sissippi, with wind and rain Orleans and Baton Rouge, prove to be a severe test plies and said he has a few some estimates.
affecting more than 3 mil- as well as southwestern Mis- of the improvements made simple rules for big storms. In its aftermath, the Army
lion people. sissippi, with pockets in Loui- to New Orleans' flood de- "Stock up on water. Stock Corps of Engineers began
About 3,000 National siana getting 25 inches (63 fenses since Katrina devas- up food. Get ready for the a multibillion-dollar hurri-
Guard troops, along with centimeters). tated the city in 2005. The storm — ride it out," he said. cane-protection system
other rescue crews, were The storm's leading edges Mississippi River is already Scientists say global warm- that isn't complete. The
posted around Louisiana lashed the state with bands running abnormally high ing is responsible for more work included repairs and
with boats, high-water of rain for most of the day, because of heavy spring intense and more frequent improvements to some 350
vehicles and helicopters. and some coastal roads rains and snowmelt up- storms and flooding, but miles (560 kilometers) of
Drinking water was lined were already underwater. stream, and the ground without extensive study, levees and more than 70
up, and utility crews with Barry was expected to ar- around New Orleans is sog- they cannot directly link a pumping stations.q