Tropical Storm Lee is an intense tropical cyclone that has unleashed its havoc over the Gulf of Mexico, posing a threat to upper Gulf coast of the United States. It is the 12th named storm of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season, having originated in the Gulf region on September 1. The movement of the storm brought along with its heavy rainfall in Southern Louisiana and parts of Alabama and Mississippi. The storm is expected to make close to 15 inches of rain in coastal areas, with some areas receiving as much as 20 inches of rainfall.
Prior to the reports, oil companies in the Gulf of Mexico had asked for employees to be evacuated from the offshore offices as safety measure. The day to day production of oil dwindled by about 660,000 oil barrels as 169 manned production platforms and 16 drilling rigs were evacuated. Louisiana had to bear a substantial impact of the storm with Mayor Mitch Landrieu declaring a state of emergency for people in North Orleans. Floodgates were asked to close and rescue boats were ramped up to help people move to a safer location. Grand Isle had many residents moving out of town after officials ordered voluntary evacuations. Lafourche and Terrebonne, the two parishes of Louisiana were also issued flash flood warnings after meteorologists issued warning about torrential rainfall with sandbags being distributed at several coastal areas. There were headwinds that resulted in a huge fire in the parish of Natchitoches, where ten homes and many buildings in the 400 acre of land were set afire and then destroyed.
Though there has been no injuries reported so far, there have been news of the water penetrating into the low-lying areas of Louisiana and causing extensive damage. The Bayou County has been always vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes. Needless to say, a lot of evacuations were done from this area as well, mostly in town like Jean Lafitte. Peter Wilkinson, an angler says that he had thought of the rain as a trivial one and had not cared much about it. But then as the storm gathered strength, he realized that he had done the right thing listening to the authorities. A resident of the Bayou area, he had thought that his sturdy house that was on an elevated ground was adept to bear the storm. But his wife had coaxed him to listen to the authorities and he had reluctantly abided by her request and carried his family, consisting of two kids to another place. Having taking stock of how his house had been submerged and with a tree near his house collapsing, he is happy that he was able to take his family out of the mess
Though it is believed that Lee may weaken in the near future, the weather forecasters say that the rains may strike and wash a huge portion of Central Gulf Coast. As of now, the citizens are adopting a wait and watch approach hoping that things ease to normalcy soon.
