Isaac darkens La. as Fla. seeks flood help

Half a million homes and businesses in Louisiana have been darkened by Isaac as the governor of Florida declared an emergency from flooding left by the storm. Widespread power outages are reported throughout the southern parts of Louisiana, the Times-Picayune reported. At 11 a.m. EDT, the storm was very near Houma, La., and about 45 miles southwest of New Orleans. Isaac's winds have slowed to 75 mph, making it a minimal hurricane, and it was moving northwest at 6 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. In St. Bernard Parish, more than 16,700 outages had been reported, while more than 10,900 customers were without power in Plaquemines Parish. More than 29,800 homes and businesses were dark in Lafourche Parish. At 5 a.m., Cleco Power, which serves the north shore, said 15,700 customers had no electricity. More than 156,000 customers of Entergy New Orleans were without electricity by 7:30 a.m., the utility said on its Web site. Melonie Hall, director of customer services for the utility, warned in an automated call to customers the storm could take to 30 hours to pass and service would be restored "as soon as it is safe to do so." Extra utility crews had already begun arriving before Isaac slammed ashore late Tuesday. In Plaquemines Parish, at least half a dozen people have been rescued by residents with boats. Dozens of people are reported stranded by water as high as 9 feet. The parish's emergency management director said an 18-mile stretch of levee may have been overtopped. In Florida, water managers were trying to deal with the high water in South Florida left by Isaac Monday, the Palm Beach Post reported. Gov. Rick Scott attended a briefing in West Palm Beach during which assistant county administrator Shannon LaRocque said damage to the county's roads and culverts was already estimated at $9.5 million. She said she expected those numbers to rise as more information became available. Wellington city manager Paul Schofield said rains left by storms prior to Isaac had left "no place for the water to go." He predicted it would be "many, many days" before things return to normal. Isaac was expected to continue to move further into the Louisiana Wednesday and Thursday and be over southern Arkansas early Friday. Rain amounts of 7- to 14 inches are predicted over Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwest Alabama through Friday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. Southern Arkansas could get 3- to 6 inches of precipitation by Friday morning.