TAMPA, the United States, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The southern U.S. states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are on high alert on Monday against the threat of the approaching Tropical Storm Issac, which has already curtailed the 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC) that just began in Tampa, Florida.
Issac, which was about 600 kilometers southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River on Monday morning, was expected to become a hurricane in about one day, according to the forecasts by the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
It has caused heavy rains and strong gust of winds in Key West, Florida, from Sunday, but inflicted no major damage. It was heading along the Gulf of Mexico to the coasts of Louisiana and Alabama, wheeling off the western coast of Florida, including Tampa which only experienced occasional strong winds and rains on Monday morning.
Issac is expected to land in the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico late Tuesday or Wednesday. The states of Florida, Louisiana and Alabama have all declared a state of emergency to prepare for the threat of Issac, for fear that it might repeat the disaster that Hurricane Katrina brought to the Gulf coast just seven years ago.
Thousands of residents living in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Monday were told to evacuate their coastal homes, U.S. media reported.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley on Sunday issued an order for mandatory evacuations of residents living both along the Gulf coast and in low-lying inland areas that were facing dangers of flooding.
"I am urging everyone to take precautions now, monitor weather warnings, and be prepared for whatever Isaac may bring," Bentley said.
Residents in Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish and parts of Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana were ordered to evacuate as of Monday morning, while Governor Bobby Jindal also called on residents in the coastal areas prone to flooding to voluntarily evacuate.
Along its way, Issac has already killed at least six people in Haiti before hitting southern Florida on Sunday and then continuing its violent thrust to the U.S. Gulf coast.
For fears of a massive disruption of transportation, power supply and communications, the 2012 Republican National Convention, scheduled to be held in Tampa from Monday to Thursday, was forced to cancel all planned activities on its first day. The convention went immediately to recess after a brief opening ceremony on Monday afternoon, and will reconvene on Tuesday.
The much-watched RNC is slated to formally nominate former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and U.S. Representative Paul Ryan as the party's candidates to challenge President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the November presidential election.
HOUSTON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency Sunday as Tropical Storm Isaac moved into the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Monday.Full Story
The Emergency Operation Center informed that the pass of this tropical storm has left at least two people dead, one missing and about 13,000 relocated.Full Story
BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Tropical Storm Isaac has hit south Florida with winds and heavy rain, after battering the Caribbean. It’s disrupted plans for the Republican National Convention in Tampa and threatens to interrupt about half of U.S. offshore oil output.Full Story
|
