Hundreds Of La. Homes Flood As Ike Passes

LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Strong winds and a driving rain moved away from Southeastern Louisiana Friday evening, but high water in several communities guaranteed problems would continue for thousands touched by the outer bands of Hurricane Ike, according to WDSU TV.

Levees were breached or were overtopped in places, including Slidell and St. Bernard Parishes. Flooding cut off travel from southern Plaquemines Parish and water filled the streets in Venetian Isles and Lafitte.

About 130 people remain in the fishing community on the barrier island of Grand Isle after a storm surge cut off the only road to the mainland.

Officials said about 1,000 homes and businesses have flooded in coastal Cameron Parish as the storm churns toward its expected landfall in Texas.

In nearby Terrebonne Parish, crews worked to plug at least four breaches. An estimate of flooded homes isn't yet available, but officials said areas where homes were inundated during Hurricane Rita in 2005 are vulnerable again.

The National Weather Service projected a storm surge of up to 9 feet on some parts of the coast before waters began to recede.

Across the region, utility crews responded to widespread power outages.

The problems came fast and furious even as the eye of Ike passed well to the south of New Orleans. The entire Louisiana coast was under a hurricane or tropical storm warning Friday.

The storm was expected to make landfall during the overnight hours near Galveston, Texas.

Many of the most serious problem communities are located outside the levee protection system. Waves lapped fiercely onto the shores of Lake Pontchartrain and floodgates were closed at the Harvey Canal and other waterways.

Portions of Louisiana were subject to a tornado watch or warning earlier in the day, but no serious damage from twisters was reported.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said search-and-rescue teams will head to the island as soon as the wind abates and the water recedes.