Isaac Following Track of Katrina; Gulf Coast Evacuations Ordered

By Newsroom America Staff at 27 Aug 2012

(Newsroom America) -- Authorities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have ordered residents of each state who live along the Gulf Coast to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Isaac, as it appears to be following a similar track as Hurricane Katrina nearly seven years ago.

"I am urging everyone to take precautions now, monitor weather warnings, and be prepared for whatever Isaac may bring," said Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, in ordering the mandatory evacuations to begin at 8 a.m. Monday morning.

CNN reported that a hurricane warning was issued by the National Hurricane Center for the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from Morgan City, La., east to Destin, Fla.

Forecasters said the hurricane was expected to make landfall around Tuesday or Wednesday, the anniversary of Katrina, as a Category 1 hurricane with winds around 74 miles per hour.

Reports said Isaac was holding steady early Monday and was moving through the warm waters of the Gulf at around 14 miles per hour, where it was some 140 miles southwest of Fort Myers, Fla.

So far there are some ominous similarities between Isaac and Katrina, said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen.

"Hurricane Katrina went on to become a dangerous Category 5 hurricane in the central Gulf of Mexico," he said.

Katrina slammed ashore near New Orleans Aug. 29, 2005, killing nearly 1,800 people.

"We are just on high alert. I know the anxiety level is high," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu told CNN. "The storm is somewhat uncertain. Out of an abundance of caution we will begin to take these precautions as quickly as we can."

He added that at present, there are no plans to order evacuations of the city. If they are ordered, plans are in place to use buses and trains to move people out of the city.

The Superdome, the airport and the convention center would not be used again as shelters of last resort, as they were in 2005, officials said.

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