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FNC’s Shepard Smith on the flooding and damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaac.
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Everybody I'm Gerri Willis tonight we begin with the up to the minute coverage on tropical storm Isaac which as you know has been -- Havoc in the Gulf Coast.
The now deadly storm making eight painstakingly.
Slow trek in -- with major surges and flooding expected throughout the night.
Fox News anchor Shepard Smith is down in New Orleans with the very latest what's going on there.
What Jerry if you wrote this out of the central business district -- in the French Quarter of New Orleans should say we got a lot of rain there was a little flooding.
But if you wrote it out south of here in plaque in his parish Louisiana or east of here along the Mississippi coast.
You might think you're revisiting -- -- from seven years ago in fact the plaque -- parish president said today.
That the flooding in his area south of New Orleans was worse today than it was weakest Katrina struck Mississippi seven years ago.
750000.
Louisiana residents are still without power this storm has been downgraded but still seventy mile an hour maximum sustained winds so.
Very close to hurricane status and you sit painstakingly slow -- you are spot -- This storm is moving -- but six miles per hour it's expected to drench the New Orleans area tonight as the rain bands come in over the next couple of hours.
And -- storms through ferocity is expected be felt all the way up the state of Mississippi.
For the next 48 hours in all their years with storms like this since Hurricane Betsy in 1965.
The locals say they have never seen anything -- this area in a way like this.
Numerous rescues south of here in -- and its -- throughout the day.
Dozens and dozens of people taken from their homes.
And nursing home was evacuated short time ago the governor Bobby Jindal they are on scene.
Across in the state of Mississippi south of highway ninety which is the coastal route.
Flooding is across two counties in bay saint Louis Mississippi widespread flooding in some areas homes are said to be underwater.
A number of roads are impassable highway ninety is knocked out highway 43 of the town of -- -- out.
In Louisiana it's expected that people may not get their power back in some areas for at least a week.
The trucks to restore the power can't even go yet because in some areas there's still facing -- so did so strong.
That'd be difficult for emergency workers even to get -- so for a category one storm.
This thing has sat and spun for so long that the flooding has been ridiculous and in some Louisiana towns they have rain totals now.
Above 23 inches and counting -- it is astounding.
That is astounding you know this was the first big test of the levees down there.
Have they do.
The levees held up well they didn't get the test they thought they might.
We've had seven point eight inches of rain officially in New Orleans a little bit more on -- -- -- train.
But that sort of thing over 24 hour period they say they can handle that storm surge is the next matter if you were to look at the -- happens -- New Orleans is here.
The eye of the storm is still slightly south of New Orleans so is it passes up and -- toward -- -- The storm surge will begin that'll be another test for these levees the tests are not over.
In fact they're telling people don't get out of your house is now just because it seems dry and it seems like it's not windy.
The winds are coming back and so is the rate the test is all on -- they haven't signed off on it yet it hasn't been handed into the teacher but right now it looks pretty good Jerry.
Well -- it's it's been fascinating to watch your coverage has been excellent.
But did I hear you say you've covered seventy the last seventy hurricanes -- -- I have that wrong.
I think I third I think 38 I think this is nine in New Orleans.
And and it is -- New Orleans itself goes Orleans has done very well the power never went off in in this part of town.
Not -- -- not essential businesses to -- power or -- the French Quarter but just south of here another story jury.
Wow we're going to be covering the damaged.
What's happened in the wake of this all through the hour here updating people on flood insurance coverage what they needed now Shepard Smith is always a pleasure to see use -- My -- Jerry thank you.
