Hurricane Isaac soaks Gulf Coast

  • 12 years ago
EDITORS NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Hurricane Isaac continues to sweep the Gulf, flooding this coastal highway in Mississippi after taking its toll on store fronts in New Orleans the night before.

The Category 1 storm has been slowly working its way to the west at a mere six miles per hour, splashing water over a levee on the outskirts of New Orleans, but so far showing the strength of the city's multibillion-dollar flood defenses.

But Alabama and Louisiana could see storm surges up to 12 feet and continued winds up to 80 miles per hour.

Rainfall accumulations could total 20 inches in some areas and is expected to trigger widespread flooding.

While not nearly as strong as Katrina, which was a Category 3 hurricane in 2005, authorities warn that Isaac should not be underestimated.