NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Tropical Storm Barry began rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico on Friday with the potential for one of the biggest drenchings Louisiana has ever seen, an epic deluge that could show whether New Orleans learned the lessons of Hurricane Katrina over a decade ago.
With the steadily strengthening storm expected to blow ashore early Saturday near Morgan City as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, authorities rushed to close floodgates and raise the barriers around the metropolitan area of 1.3 million people.
An estimated 3,000 National Guard troops along with other rescue crews were posted around Louisiana with boats, high-water vehicles and helicopters. Drinking water was lined up. Utility repair crews with bucket trucks moved into position in the region.
While no evacuations were ordered in New Orleans, many homeowners sandbagged their property or, in the case of exposed, low-lying areas along the coast, packed up and left. Tourists crowded the city’s airport in hopes of catching an early flight and getting out of town ahead of the storm.
“This is happening. … Your preparedness window is shrinking,” National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham warned. He added: “It’s powerful. It’s strengthening. And water is going to be a big issue.”