Hurricane Isaac and its aftermath

Homes in LaPlace, La., west of US 51 and south of I-10, are surrounded by floodwater in the aftermath of Isaac on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. Isaac hovered over Louisiana for a third day Thursday, shedding more than a foot of additional rain that forced authorities to hurriedly evacuate areas ahead of the storm and rescue hundreds of people who could not escape as the rapidly rising waters swallowed entire neighborhoods.

Credit: AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael Democker