Hurricane Isaac prompts flight disruptions

Evacuations and travel delays have been issued as Hurricane Isaac continues to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast.

Travel Insurance News - 27/08/2012

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Evacuations and travel delays have been issued as Hurricane Isaac continues to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast.

The weekend saw the storm reach hurricane status as it cruissed over the southern half of the state of Florida on Sunday, prompting and emergency declaration from governor Rick Scott. However, Isaac spared much of the peninsula despite reports of moderate damage, stranded travellers and power outages, according to reports.

Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports saw the hardest hits to air travel, where more than 570 of some 650 flight cancellations took place at the weekend.

But the storm has now taken aim at the expansive Gulf Coast including the city of New Orleans, which was devastated by flooding following the 2006 landfall of Hurricane Katrina that resulted in more than 2,000 deaths. Meteorologists said that landfall is expected to occur late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning – the seventh anniversary of Katrina’s arrival – as Isaac grows to a Category 2 storm over the Gulf of Mexico.

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency on Monday and officials have order evacuations for the coastal residents of St. Charles Parish. Authorities said that other residents in low-lying regions are also being urged to head inland.

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