Isaac Weakens but Leaves Severe Flooding

August 29, 2012 — Updated

Hurricane Isaac made landfall in southeastern Lousiana Tuesday evening as a Category 1 storm, with pouring rain and 80-mile-per-hour winds. The storm began losing power as of Wednesday afternoon, but has already caused extensive flooding in New Orleans and other areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Episcopal Relief & Development is maintaining contact with coastal dioceses and standing ready to assist as the situation continues unfolding.

August 28, 2012

While weekend damage in the Caribbean from Tropical Storm Isaac was not as extensive as feared, the National Hurricane Center has indicated the storm is approaching a full-fledged hurricane as it continues moving toward Louisiana and Florida.

In Haiti, heavy rain and winds caused sporadic flooding that has affected clean water supplies. According to Sikhumbuzo Vundla, Episcopal Relief & Development’s Chief of Operations in Haiti, the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is responding with distributions of pre-positioned clean drinking water in the parish and outstation communities of Matthieu and Darbonne in Léogâne, where flooding was extensive. The Diocese will continue to assess additional needs in the coming days.

In the U.S., the National Hurricane Center has forecasted that Isaac will reach Category One hurricane strength by late Tuesday, and has issued warnings for parts of Louisiana, including metropolitan New Orleans, to the Alabama-Florida border. Tropical storm warnings have also been issued for other areas.

Episcopal Relief & Development is staying in touch with coastal dioceses as they ready for Isaac’s expected landfall, late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Katie Mears, US Disaster Program Manager, said she is in communication with the Dioceses of Central Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Southwest Florida as they complete their preparations. The agency is on alert to provide support as the situation unfolds.

Please join us in praying for those affected by the storm, and for our partners who are working to lessen the impact on vulnerable communities in Haiti and the U.S.

Donations to the Hurricane Fund at this time will help support our partners in Haiti as they respond to Tropical Storm Isaac.