This August 28, 2012 NOAA GOES East 16:15 GMT colorized satellite image shows Hurricane Isaac over the Gulf of Mexico, heading on track towards the US state of Louisiana. (AFP/HANDOUT/NOAA)
Isaac, which reached hurricane strength earlier in the day and was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles (130 kilometres) per hour, was on course to hit New Orleans, seven years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.
The US National Hurricane Center said in a bulletin at 2300 GMT, shortly before the category one Isaac made landfall, that storm surges of up to eight feet (2.4 metres) had been reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
The US National Hurricane Center said in an earlier advisory that in some Gulf Coast areas -- such as the Mississippi-Alabama border east to Florida -- a hurricane warning has been replaced with a tropical storm warning.
But a full-blown hurricane warning remained in effect for metropolitan New Orleans, a city known as the Big Easy for its jazz and easy-going life-style.
The streets of New Orleans were eerily empty Monday as smatterings of rain and stiff winds forewarned Isaac's arrival.
Most residents had already boarded up their windows and stocked up on essentials as they prepared to either evacuate or hunker down.
Earlier, US President Barack Obama urged people take the threat seriously, warning of the possibility of major flooding and damage.
"I want to encourage all residents of the Gulf Coast to listen to your local officials and follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate," Obama said in a televised statement at the White House.
"Now is not the time to tempt fate. Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously," Obama said.
Obama said he had managed a wide-ranging effort by federal and local governments to make preparations.
His appearance was a reminder of the power of an incumbent president to intervene at politically advantageous moments, as he sought to project an image of strength and competence, just as Republicans met for their National Convention to nominate Mitt Romney as their candidate for the November presidential election.
Obama, no doubt mindful of the bungled handling of Katrina by his predecessor George W. Bush, on Monday declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, allowing federal funds and aid to flow to local authorities.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent extra staff to two nuclear power plants in Louisiana. They are about 20 and 25 miles from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, respectively.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who has recommended voluntary evacuations, urged people to prepare for the worst.
"If you are in low-lying areas and are thinking about evacuating, today is the day to do that," he said Monday.
"If you plan on hunkering down at home, today is the day to get supplies. I strongly encourage people not to wait," added Jindal, who stayed away from the weather-delayed Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
- AFP/wm
Hurricane Isaac makes landfall in Louisiana: forecasters
Hurricane Isaac on Tuesday made landfall in extreme southeastern Louisiana, generating a "dangerous storm surge" that was striking the northern Gulf Coast, US forecasters said.
This August 28, 2012 NOAA GOES East 16:15 GMT colorized satellite image shows Hurricane Isaac over the Gulf of Mexico, heading on track towards the US state of Louisiana. (AFP/HANDOUT/NOAA)
Isaac, which reached hurricane strength earlier in the day and was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles (130 kilometres) per hour, was on course to hit New Orleans, seven years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.
The US National Hurricane Center said in a bulletin at 2300 GMT, shortly before the category one Isaac made landfall, that storm surges of up to eight feet (2.4 metres) had been reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
The US National Hurricane Center said in an earlier advisory that in some Gulf Coast areas -- such as the Mississippi-Alabama border east to Florida -- a hurricane warning has been replaced with a tropical storm warning.
But a full-blown hurricane warning remained in effect for metropolitan New Orleans, a city known as the Big Easy for its jazz and easy-going life-style.
The streets of New Orleans were eerily empty Monday as smatterings of rain and stiff winds forewarned Isaac's arrival.
Most residents had already boarded up their windows and stocked up on essentials as they prepared to either evacuate or hunker down.
Earlier, US President Barack Obama urged people take the threat seriously, warning of the possibility of major flooding and damage.
"I want to encourage all residents of the Gulf Coast to listen to your local officials and follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate," Obama said in a televised statement at the White House.
"Now is not the time to tempt fate. Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously," Obama said.
Obama said he had managed a wide-ranging effort by federal and local governments to make preparations.
His appearance was a reminder of the power of an incumbent president to intervene at politically advantageous moments, as he sought to project an image of strength and competence, just as Republicans met for their National Convention to nominate Mitt Romney as their candidate for the November presidential election.
Obama, no doubt mindful of the bungled handling of Katrina by his predecessor George W. Bush, on Monday declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, allowing federal funds and aid to flow to local authorities.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent extra staff to two nuclear power plants in Louisiana. They are about 20 and 25 miles from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, respectively.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who has recommended voluntary evacuations, urged people to prepare for the worst.
"If you are in low-lying areas and are thinking about evacuating, today is the day to do that," he said Monday.
"If you plan on hunkering down at home, today is the day to get supplies. I strongly encourage people not to wait," added Jindal, who stayed away from the weather-delayed Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
- AFP/wm
This August 28, 2012 NOAA GOES East 16:15 GMT colorized satellite image shows Hurricane Isaac over the Gulf of Mexico, heading on track towards the US state of Louisiana. (AFP/HANDOUT/NOAA)
Isaac, which reached hurricane strength earlier in the day and was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles (130 kilometres) per hour, was on course to hit New Orleans, seven years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.
The US National Hurricane Center said in a bulletin at 2300 GMT, shortly before the category one Isaac made landfall, that storm surges of up to eight feet (2.4 metres) had been reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
The US National Hurricane Center said in an earlier advisory that in some Gulf Coast areas -- such as the Mississippi-Alabama border east to Florida -- a hurricane warning has been replaced with a tropical storm warning.
But a full-blown hurricane warning remained in effect for metropolitan New Orleans, a city known as the Big Easy for its jazz and easy-going life-style.
The streets of New Orleans were eerily empty Monday as smatterings of rain and stiff winds forewarned Isaac's arrival.
Most residents had already boarded up their windows and stocked up on essentials as they prepared to either evacuate or hunker down.
Earlier, US President Barack Obama urged people take the threat seriously, warning of the possibility of major flooding and damage.
"I want to encourage all residents of the Gulf Coast to listen to your local officials and follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate," Obama said in a televised statement at the White House.
"Now is not the time to tempt fate. Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously," Obama said.
Obama said he had managed a wide-ranging effort by federal and local governments to make preparations.
His appearance was a reminder of the power of an incumbent president to intervene at politically advantageous moments, as he sought to project an image of strength and competence, just as Republicans met for their National Convention to nominate Mitt Romney as their candidate for the November presidential election.
Obama, no doubt mindful of the bungled handling of Katrina by his predecessor George W. Bush, on Monday declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, allowing federal funds and aid to flow to local authorities.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent extra staff to two nuclear power plants in Louisiana. They are about 20 and 25 miles from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, respectively.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who has recommended voluntary evacuations, urged people to prepare for the worst.
"If you are in low-lying areas and are thinking about evacuating, today is the day to do that," he said Monday.
"If you plan on hunkering down at home, today is the day to get supplies. I strongly encourage people not to wait," added Jindal, who stayed away from the weather-delayed Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
- AFP/wm
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