Weakened Barry still poses flood, tornado risks, officials say
Even though Tropical Depression Barry did not unleash catastrophic flooding in Louisiana, many across the Gulf Coast were urged to take heed of tornado and flash-flood warnings Monday as the storm moved north.
Barry was downgraded from a tropical storm on Sunday afternoon but continued to pose a threat. Much of Louisiana and Mississippi were under flash flood watches, as were parts of Arkansas, eastern Texas, western Tennessee and southeastern Missouri.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards urged residents to be cautious as they ventured outside after a weekend in which many had sheltered indoors.
He said he was 鈥渆xtremely grateful鈥� that the storm had not caused the disastrous floods that had earlier been forecast. More than 90 people had been rescued in 11 parishes, but there were no reports of weather-related fatalities, Edwards said.
鈥淭his was a storm that obviously could have played out very, very differently,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thankful that the worst-case scenario did not happen.鈥�
Forecasters warned of a continued threat of heavy rains into Monday as the center of the storm trudged inland. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Sunday parts of south-central Louisiana could still have rainfall totals of up to 12 inches, with isolated pockets of 15 inches.
In Mississippi, forecasters said 8 inches of rain had fallen in parts of Jasper and Jones counties, with several more inches possible.
Barry鈥檚 center was moving from northern Louisiana into Arkansas.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Sunday the city was 鈥渂eyond lucky鈥� that rainfall there fell well short of early predictions of a deluge that could overwhelm the city鈥檚 pumping systems.
鈥淲e were spared,鈥� she said at a news conference, while noting the city was ready to help nearby parishes hit harder.
About 51,000 customers in Louisiana, 1,800 customers in Mississippi and another 1,700 customers in Arkansas were without power Sunday night, according to poweroutage.us.
Edwards thanked the public for taking officials鈥� warnings seriously over the weekend, but he also reminded residents that it is still relatively early in the Atlantic鈥檚 hurricane season.
鈥淏ased on what we鈥檝e experienced, I think (we will be) even better prepared for next time 鈥� and we do know that there will be a next time,鈥� Edwards said.