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August 29, 2012

Isaac Makes Landfall, Threatening Flooding in New Orleans 
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Hurricane Isaac has made landfall in southern Louisiana as it heads
toward New Orleans on the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The
Category 1 storm is producing winds of at least 80 miles per hour and is
expected to bring heavy flooding. It will mark the most serious test of
New Orleans' rebuilt levees. At least 200,000 people have lost power
throughout the Gulf Coast area, and some 50,000 were slated to evacuate
New Orleans. On Tuesday, President Obama warned of the potential of
major damage from flooding.

President Obama: "As we prepare for Isaac to hit, I want to encourage
all residents of the Gulf Coast to listen to your local officials and
follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate. We're
dealing with a big storm, and there could be significant flooding and
other damage across a large area. Now is not the time to tempt fate. Now
is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this
seriously."

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu warned the city is on the "front
lines."

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu: "Do not let this storm lull you into
complacency, that would be a terrible mistake. We have dodged a bullet
in the sense that this is not a Category 3 storm, but a Category 1 at
this strength from 85 to 100 mile per hour winds with a 125 miles a hour
of gust is plenty big enough to put a big hurt on you if you fall into
complacency so lets not do that."