Isaac on verge of becoming hurricane

Updated at 11:41 a.m. ET

(CBS/AP) CHAUVIN, La. - Isaac was on the verge of ballooning into a hurricane Tuesday that could flood the coasts of four states with storm surge and heavy rains on its way to New Orleans, where residents hunkered down behind levies fortified after Katrina struck seven years ago this week.

Shelters were open for those who chose to stay or missed the chance to get away before the outer bands of the large storm blow ashore ahead of a forecast landfall in southeast Louisiana on Tuesday night or early Wednesday.

Forecasters warned that Isaac was a large storm whose effects could reach out 200 miles from its center. Water may be worse than wind because the storm could push walls of water while dumping rain to flood the low-lying coast in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

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The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami predicted Isaac would power up to hurricane strength, which starts at winds of 74 mph, later in the day and be at least a Category 1 hurricane by the time it's expected to reach the swampy coast of southeast Louisiana.

CBS News hurricane consultant David Bernard reports from CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami that some areas hit by Isaac could see as many as 20 inches of rain.

In Washington, President Obama urged Gulf Coast residents to listen to local authorities, saying in brief remarks at the White House that "now is not the time to tempt fate."

Isaac was packing top sustained winds of 70 mph and had not yet reached hurricane strength late Tuesday morning. The storm system was centered about 80 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River at 11 a.m. EDT and was moving northwest at 10 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was 165 miles southeast of New Orleans.

WFOR Miami's interactive storm tracker

Isaac's track is forecast to bring it to New Orleans seven years after Katrina hit as a much stronger storm on Aug. 29, 2005.

This time, federal officials say the updated levees around the city are equipped to handle storms stronger than Isaac. The Army Corps of Engineers was given about $14 billion to improve flood defenses, and most of the work has been completed.

In New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu insists the city is ready, CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts reports. When asked about the comfortable and confident stance people have about the storm - and if that's a good place to be - Landrieu said, "I think what they're comfortable and confident in is that, given the level of this storm, that the levees can hold and we're not gonna have a Katrina event."

Landrieu did not activate a mandatory evacuation Monday. Instead, officials urged residents to hunker down and make do with the supplies they had.

In Cocodrie, La., the biggest concern is the expected storm surge, CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez reports. Two major flood gates meant to protect this coastal community are still under construction. One of them, the Houma Navigation Canal, won't be complete until next hurricane season. Everyone in the area is under a mandatory evacuation notice.

38 Photos

Tropical Storm Isaac gains steam

In Biloxi, Miss., CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports Mississippi's construction standards could place some areas in real trouble. The city faces the northeast quadrant of Isaac, potentially the storm's most powerful and punishing side.

One study by the Insurance Institute for Business Home & Safety rated construction standards in 18 hurricane-prone states, from Maine to Texas. Florida scored high, a 95 out of 100; Louisiana, 73. But Alabama scored 18, and Mississippi scored the lowest - 4 out of 100.

CBS News correspondent Rebecca Jarvis reports Isaac could lead to an increase in gas prices between 5 cents and 10 cents in the next week. More than 40 percent of U.S. refineries are along the Gulf Coast, and about half of them are directly in the storm's path.

Many refineries are either shut down or are considering whether to stop production until the storm passes, Jarvis reports. Gas supplies are already 4 percent lower than normal this year because of the closure of six other refineries earlier this month.

In Tampa, Fla., site of the Republican National Convention, CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer reports that GOP officials are developing response plans in case Isaac takes a turn for the worse.

"The optics of a split-screen of people in peril over here and people at a convention having fun is something they really don't want to face up to," Schieffer said on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday.

Isaac could still wreck GOP convention
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Possibilities include canceling more sessions, which was done on Monday when the storm was near Tampa, or only having Mitt Romney address Americans after being named the party's presidential nominee, Schieffer reports.

Below, watch a NASA/NOAA time lapse video of satellite images taken of Isaac

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[TimeToEvolve]

If you are a red state and you get decimate by a hurricane, "Blame Yo'Self" - Herman Cain, 2012

I guess Ron Paul and his followers feel exactly the same way.

[silvereagle2718]

Appears poised to dump up to 4-6 inches of rain on about half of the country's worst drought.

[TimeToEvolve]

Just a temporary band aid on the unfolding and worsening disaster of man made global climate change. All of the other problems mankind has will be insignificant within just a few more years.

[AOCGUY]

"Water may be worse than wind because the storm could push walls of water while dumping rain to flood the low-lying coast in ...the Florida Panhandle."

Got to admit I was a bit disappointed when I awoke this morning to gentle breezes and no rain - kinda hoping to stay home from work today. The drive to work was great though - no one on the road. I live two miles from the gulf and the sound of the surf was deafening.

One of my co-workers lives on the beach and was told yesterday that there was to be a mandatory evacuation but as I drove past the bridge to Sanat Rosa Island this morning I noticed that the road was still open. When came in to work this morning she said that they had stayed in their house last night and just like me awoke to gentle breezes and no rain.

[mari1963]

Just like last time, there will be stupid people who won't leave when they are told to. And we'll have to watch them all on TV again.
Jeez!

[domoblind]

Tropical storms and hurricanes have hit the gulf coast for eons. Katrina wiped an entire generation of housing and business from the earth.

So, what do people do? MOVE BACK INTO THE SAME DARNED PLACE!

And we wonder why insurance rates go up and tax dollars have to be spent on dams and National Guard to prevent people from looting their neighbors.

Yes, I'm sorry about any disaster - but if it happens EVERY year - how come no one seems to get it and move somewhere else?

At the least, in flood zones, put pontoons on your homes so they can rise up when the water comes - just like floating docks do. In tornado zones build your homes underground and you'll save on heating and cooling also. Maybe these are not really very practical solutions - but, how many times do you have to rebuild your homes and your lives.

My grieve for those that have, and still, suffer from these disasters - but the Government should be helping you move to a safer place instead of rebuilding for the next disaster.

[AOCGUY]

Can't speak for New Orleans, never have been there, but hurricanes not withstanding, living on the Gulf Coast is heaven. Can't imagine living anywhere else. BTW we have not seen a hurricane here since Dennis in 2005 so it doesn't happen every year.

If one looks at it, everywhere one is subject to the dangers of the weather be it earthquakes, floods, tornados, snow, drought, etc. Just got to pick which threat you are most comfortable with.

Places I have lived:

Virginia - Snow and Ice storms
Hawaii - Tsunami, Volcanos
California - Earthquakes, Wildfires
Oregon - Volcano (Mt St Helens)
Kansas/Oklahoma - Tornados, Snow and Ice Storms, Drought
Georgia - Snow and Ice, Hurricanes
South Carolina - Hurricanes
Nebraska - Tornados, Snow and Ice
and yes Florida - Hurricanes

[retiredgustav]

Perhaps you are not aware but most of the people who live in flood prone areas do so because they work there. Many of our oil refinery and chemical plants are in flood prone area because they need huge amounts of water for shipping and processing. They also require the employees to live nearby so that they can respond quickly (Mine had a 25 mile limit). Besides what part of the country is with out hazard?

[matt6052]

If anything breaks, it'll be the lake levees. The river levees will be tested next week. The canal levees will be closed off with flood walls.

The lake levees will have the storm surge from the gulf, the lake surge from the north-south winds, the rainwater from the clouds, and the rainwater from Pontchatrain's tributaries.

I hope they hold. It would be very bad to have the city flooded twice in one decade.

[Unsilent_Majority]

you get the sense the weather media people will be disappointed if this storm fizzles out without much of a bang.

[realtimecoffee]

Exactly! Could they possibly hype this any more than they have. And next time there's a REAL hurricane people will think back on this, say meh, and die.

[the0racle]

Heckuva job, Brownie!