New Orleans Left Unhurt By Barry, But Stokes Alarms For Tornadoes & Floods

Tropical storm Barry dumped rain as it gradually brushed away inland all the way through Gulf coast states on Sunday, leaving New Orleans unhurt a direct hit but stirring up panics elsewhere of extended power outages, tornadoes, and flooding.

Despite the fact that winds have grown weaker progressively after the storm made landfall on Saturday n Louisiana, rain bands crafted a tornado and flooding risk from central Louisiana to eastern Mississippi and beyond. More than a few rural communities and counties in both states were under flash flood cautions.

On Sunday morning, tornado cautions were issues in both states, despite the fact that no severe injuries or damage were reported.

The officials even warned that the storm could still result in severe catastrophic flooding across a wide stretch of the Gulf Coast. “This is just the beginning,” said Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. “It is going to be a long several days for our state.”

More than a dozen people were rescued by the US Coast Guard from the remote Isle de Jean Charles, south of New Orleans, where water rose so high that some clung to rooftops.

Donald Trump asked people across the area to keep their guard up, saying on Twitter: “A big possibility of major flooding in large parts of Louisiana and all across the Gulf Coast. Please be very cautious!”

Forecasters warned of a continued danger of heavy rains into Monday as the center of the storm lumbered inland. The National Hurricane Center said parts of south-central Louisiana could still have rainfall totals of up to 12in, with isolated pockets of 15in.

Forecasters wrote in an advisory, “This rainfall is anticipated to result in hazardous, life-threatening flooding.”

In Mississippi, forecasters said 8in of rain had fallen in parts of Jasper and Jones counties, with quite a few more inches likely. With pouring rain hitting the Interstate 59 corridor, just the headlights of approaching cars were able to be seen on the highway and water flowed like a stream in the middle.

Barry was projected to grow weaker to a tropical depression as its center moved from northern Louisiana into Arkansas. The system, which had momentarily turned out to be a category one hurricane, was clutching to tropical storm status with maximum continuing winds falling to 40mph.

LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, said the city was “beyond fortunate” that rainfall fell well short of early on forecasts of a flood that could overpower the pumping systems of the city.

“We were left unhurt,” she said at a news conference, noting the city was all set to lend a hand tp surrounding townships hit harder.

In a sign that the city was getting back to regular, flights were taking up again at its airport. Restaurants opened once again and people were getting their cars back from medians and other high ground.

About 112,000 customers in Louisiana and an additional 5,000 customers in Mississippi were with no power, as per poweroutage.us.