Tropical Storm Karen heads toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. Graphic: NOAA
Editors Note: This will be the final update for this story.
Former Tropical Storm Karen, since downgraded to a depression, lumbered off Louisiana’s extreme southeast coast early Sunday as it threatened to unleash heavy rains on low-lying areas.
All tropical storm warnings were discontinued earlier in the weekend after the system had been downgraded from a weak tropical storm off the north-central Gulf Coast.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm was expected to move later Sunday near or over parts of southeastern Louisiana and then head over or just south of coastal Mississippi and Alabama to the Florida Panhandle in coming hours.
As Karen moves north the federal shutdown has severely crippled the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration ability to react to the storm. A message on the agency’s main website states – Due to the Federal government shutdown, NOAA.gov and most associated web sites are unavailable. Only web sites necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. See Weather.gov for critical weather information or contact USA.gov for more information about the shutdown.
In Louisiana, the Army Corps of Engineers has closed the massive barge gate for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier.
Mayor David Camardelle of Grand Isle called for voluntary evacuations, and Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency, citing the possibility of high winds, heavy rain and tides.
According to a White House spokesperson, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has recalled some furloughed workers to help prepare for the storm.
In Alabama, double red flags were hoisted at Gulf Shores because of treacherous rip currents ahead of the storm. In Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency, urging residents to prepare.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott also declared an emergency for 18 counties in the state.
The low-pressure storm system prompted BP to evacuate workers not essential for production from some of its Gulf operations, while other operators, including Royal Dutch Shell, the biggest oil producer in the Gulf, Anadarko Petroleum Corp and Hess Corp, said they were monitoring the storm.
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