熱帶風暴“艾薩克”向美國墨西哥灣沿岸移動

Tropical Storm Isaac swirled into the Gulf of Mexico early Monday, after lashing the Florida Keys and Miami area with wind and rain.

The National Hurricane Center says Isaac is expected to strengthen into a hurricane Tuesday, before hitting the Gulf Coast somewhere between Florida and Louisiana.

Four states -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi -- have declared states of emergency as they brace for Isaac's deluge.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has declared a state of emergency for his city, telling residents to be prepared to live without regular water or power supplies for several days. He also urged them to leave if an evacuation order is issued.

Many did not leave seven years ago when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Wednesday marks Katrina's seventh anniversary. Katrina ravaged New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast, killing more than 1,800 people and leaving thousands more homeless.熱帶風暴“艾薩克”給佛羅里達州基斯島礁羣和邁阿密帶來狂風暴雨後，於星期一清晨旋進墨西哥灣。

美國國家颶風中心說，預計“艾薩克”威力星期二將成爲颶風，侵襲佛羅里達州和路易斯安那州之間的墨西哥灣沿岸某些地區。

阿拉巴馬、佛羅里達、路易斯安那和密西西比等四州已宣佈進入緊急狀態，準備應對“艾薩克”帶來的暴雨。

新奧爾良市市長蘭德里歐宣佈該市進入緊急狀態，並通知居民做好準備，供水和供電可能在未來幾天中斷。他還敦促居民們一旦發佈疏散令，就要撤離。

7年前“卡特里娜”颶風侵襲新奧爾良時，很多居民沒有撤離。星期三是颶風“卡特里娜”災害七週年。當時“卡特里娜”席捲新奧爾良和墨西哥灣沿岸大部分地區，造成1800多人死亡，數以千計的人無家可歸。