NEW ORLEANS — Hurricane Ida, the first Atlantic hurricane to target the United States this year, plodded Sunday toward the Gulf Coast with 105 mph winds, toting the threat of flooding and storm surges.
A hurricane watch extended over more than 200 miles of coastline from Pascagoula, Miss., east to Indian Pass, Fla. Tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches are in effect across other areas of southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, including New Orleans. Louisiana’s governor declared a state of emergency.
Authorities said Ida could make landfall as early as Tuesday morning, although it was forecast to weaken by then. Officials and residents kept a close eye on the Category 2 hurricane as it approached, though there were no immediate plans for evacuations.
As of 9 p.m. CST, Ida was located 400 miles south southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and moving north-northwest near 14 mph. The center was at latitude 23.7 north and longitude 87.7 west. The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center shows Ida brushing near Louisiana and Mississippi, then making landfall near Alabama before continuing across north Florida.
Yet many residents took the forecast in stride.
“Even though we’re telling everybody to be prepared, my gut tells me it probably won’t be that bad,” said Steve Arndt, director of Bay Point Marina Co. in Panama City, Fla.
In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal had declared a state of emergency as a precaution,and the National Guard was on high alert if assistance was needed. In Florida, residents of Pensacola Beach and nearby Perdido Key were encouraged to leave and school was canceled in the area today and Tuesday.
But officials were encouraging residents to prepare for potential gusts of 60 mph by removing any tree limbs that could damage their homes and securing or taking in any trash cans, grills, potted plants or patio furniture.
Nearly 1,400 Louisiana residents are still living in federally issued trailers and mobile homes after hurricanes Katrina and Rita; nearly 360 units remained in Mississippi.
“FEMA stresses that those in temporary [housing] units should not take chances,” Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Andrew Thomas said. “Leave the unit behind and evacuate to a permanent structure that will better withstand tropical weather systems and the associated winds.”
Mississippi authorities warned residents to be vigilant. Authorities were monitoring conditions to see whether any evacuations of lower-lying areas or school closures would be necessary.
“It is likely we will at least be hit with strong winds and some flooding in our coastal counties,” said Jeff Rent, a spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Officials “do not want anybody to be caught off guard.”
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Womack said forecasts called for tides of 4-7 feet above normal and rainfall totals of 5-7 inches within 24 hours, which could mean flooding along the coasts and along rivers.
Alabama emergency management officials did not immediately respond to phone messages.
Information for this article was contributed by Suzette Laboy and Catherine E. Shoichet of The Associated Press.
Front Section, Pages 4 on 11/09/2009