Tropical Storm Isaac churned toward the central Gulf Coast in the United States on Monday after a weekend of flooding in southern Florida and destruction in Haiti, where at least 19 people died, according to The Associated Press, from the effects of its violent winds and torrential rains. Another five died in the Dominican Republic, The A.P. said.
As our colleagues Randal C. Archibold and Lisa Armstrong reported, the storm in Haiti caused mudslides in rural areas, and in the camps housing about 400,000 survivors of the January 2010 earthquake, the storm downed trees and power lines and shredded tents.
The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti posted a slideshow of photographs highlighting the aftermath.
The United States Embassy also posted photos on Twitter from Port-au-Prince.
#AmbWhite with chi ldren at an evacuation shelter in Port-au-Prince, #Haiti, after the passage of Tropical Storm #Isaac. http://t.co/bjpsY3LA
- US Embassy Haiti (@USEmbassyHaiti) 27 Aug 12
By early Monday, Isaac was on the move headed toward New Orleans, where the deadly Hurricane Katrina struck seven years ago this week.
While the intensity forecast is still undetermined, we know that Isaac is coming this way http://t.co/5S49954m
- WWLTV Weather (@wwltvweather) 27 Aug 12
The storm spared Tampa, Fla., the site this week of the Republican National Convention. As Lizette Alvarez and Campbell Robertson report, hurricane forecasters said Isaac's winds and rain will hit an extensive area of southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western part of Florida's panhandle by Monday evening.
The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama declared states of emergency. The Louisiana residents of Lafitte, Barataria and Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish were ordered to leave on Monday morning, as were all 50,000 residents of St. Charles Parish, and much of the population of Plaquemines Parish.
In New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu said the city was prepared and he urged residents to hunker down for the storm if they were not planning to leave. He and other officials outlined their emergency plans on YouTube, which is projected to reach hurricane force winds Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service's latest forecast.
Emergency officials also turned to Twitter to deliver updates.
Our EOC is filling up. We have dozens of folks working on #Isaac response in Louisiana: http://t.co/oRVAjkWH
- Louisiana GOHSEP (@GOHSEP) 27 Aug 12
#NOLA City officials continued to monitor #Isaac overnight, & will continue to update citizens today. Fol low @nolaready for updates.
- NOLA Ready (@nolaready) 27 Aug 12
Hunkering down? @EntergyNOLA will text you with power outage, time and restore info login and click “Cell Phone Texting†on menu #isaac
- Ashley Bond (@nolaParent) 27 Aug 12
And people shared their own tips and reminders on preparations.
Ideal by American can has gas no lines #NOLA #Isaac #NOLAready http://t.co/aVTaQ7fg
- ⊙▲⊙small affair⊙▲⊙ (@small_affair) 27 Aug 12
State price gouging law now in effect. If you spot suspected gouging, get a picture and follow up with AG's office later. #isaac
- Gambit (@The_Gambit) 27 Aug 12
With Isaac coming, take many pics of your house's exterior and interior so the insurance company can't claim damage pre-existing.
< p>- Michael Homan (@mmhoman) 27 Aug 12
The city's beloved football team, the New Orleans Saints, offered advice before the team departed early for a scheduled preview game against the Bengals in Cincinnati, urging residents to sign up for alerts from the city.
Follow @NolaReady and sign up for email/text alerts on the city's storm preparations at http://t.co/6mYRSg3b #Isaac
- New Orleans Saints (@Saints) 27 Aug 12
The intensifying storm revived memories of Hurricane Katrina for many people, including vows the city had learned its lessons.
On the seventh anniversary of Katrina, we are preparing for a less intimidating but reality in Isaac. Crisis management in full display.
- Michael Guillot (@meguillot) 27 Aug 12
#Katrina flashback. Just saw national guards riding in hummers around city #Isaac< /p>
- Thecla Scott (@TheclaScott) 27 Aug 12
If hurricane Isaac hits New Orleans the same day Katrina did, I'd be convinced that the government has control on the weather
- Neno Calvin (@NENOCALVIN) 27 Aug 12
One of his followers replied, “They do.â€
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