ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. -
Isaac may be a much weaker storm, but it's still making its presence known in Louisiana and Mississippi.
A dam at a state park in southwest Mississippi by the Louisiana border is in danger of failing, which could send water spilling into areas already soaked by heavy rain.
Saint Tammany Parish President Pat Brister is urging everyone to stay home and off the roads while rescue operations continue.
"The Mississippi Emergency Operations Center has just informed us that in the past hour that the dam in Percy Quin State Park is in imminent threat of failure," Brister said Thursday. "We are assessing at this time what that would mean to the Tangipahoa River in St. Tammany, but we advise citizens from I-12 at the parish line, south to Highway 22 and east to Perrilloux to remain vigilant. We believe there's enough area to absorb any additional water from that dam."
Authorities said they are beginning damage assessments while still continuing rescue operations. Trees and power lines are down.
"In the interest of safety, for yourself and our first-responders, please, please stay in place today," Brister said. "St. Tammany is under a flood warning until Sunday afternoon, a tornado watch and a tropical storm warning also."
Some bayous near Slidell have overflowed and are flooding portions of the city. Rescue operations are under way in that area as we speak.
Brister said officials don't know when the water will subside.
"Over 350 rescues have been completed by first-responders as of our last count," she told media on Thursday. "There may be more by now. AT&T reported a short while ago landline communications in the town of Madisonville are down, including the 911 system. Some cell service is still available."
Several nearby rivers have already or will soon go above floodstage. Roads are closed throughout the parish, as you know, and as of Thursday morning a total of 83,514 residents and businesses were without power.
Brister says there have already been more than three hundred rescues throughout the parish.
She believes there is plenty of space for water to go should the dam break.
