(Image source: NASA Goddard Photo and Video )

BY TRACY PFEIFFER AND HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR CHRISTY LEWIS
 

Tropical Storm Lee reached U.S. shores Saturday, prompting evacuation measures in some states-- and raising concern over possible flooding and other damage.
 

Here’s a correspondent for MSNBC, reporting from New Orleans.
 

“We’re fine. We’ve got now about 30,000 customers without power. That’s more than tripled since just a few hours ago, so these winds, with these bands gusting about 50 to 60 miles per hour, are knocking out some power. So that may be the issue for a lot of floods, and some localized floods. So far so good on this one.”
 

But one particular area brings concern--the lowlands around New Orleans. Lee is expected to hit the area’s newly built, post-Katrina levees. The president of Louisiana’s Plaquemines (plack-a-min’s) Parish speaks to Fox News about the situation as of Saturday afternoon.
 

BILLY NUNGESSER, PRESIDENT OF PLAQUEMINES PARISH: “We’ve been very lucky, no homes flooded yet, but we do see water overtopping the levees in the middle of the Parish and we’re very concerned. That levy was authorized to be put in a federal system, but has not yet started construction. That’s a 3 ½ foot levy for 34 miles and we’re seeing overtopping as we speak.”
 

And The New York Times explains the different factors on the ground in Louisiana that could affect Lee’s flooding capabilities.
 

“The potential for flooding is alleviated somewhat by the drought conditions ... allowing the ground to absorb rainfall more easily. But with so much water coming at once, and with tides running two to five feet above normal, the water piling up in inlets, rivers and bays will have nowhere to drain, potentially resulting in extensive inland flooding...”

Finally, the LA Times reports some in New Orleans weren’t letting Lee ruin their fun, even as it rained on their parade.
 

“The yearly gay pride party known as Southern Decadence appeared to be in full swing Friday night, said ... a cashier at [a] Bourbon Street cafe at the heart of that street's gay party strip that is also known as the ‘Nellie Deli.’”

 

Tropical Storm Lee is expected to dump as many as 20 inches of water in some areas. Nearly 6,000 people have been evacuated from New Orleans’ Jefferson Parish. Flash flood warnings are now in effect, covering Texas to the entire Alabama coast.  

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