Danny Moving Toward Louisiana With Heavy Rain
Tropical Storm Danny formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday and moved toward Louisiana with 60 mph winds and heavy rain, prompting an alert in low-lying areas and the evacuation of offshore oil workers.
The National Hurricane Center warned that the storm could strengthen to a hurricane before its center passes over land, possibly as early as Friday.
Tropical storm warnings and a hurricane watch were posted across a 350-mile stretch of the entire Louisiana and Mississippi coasts, eastward to Orange Beach, Ala. Some areas could get 5 to 10 inches of rain over the next few days.
Danny drifted to the northeast at about 5 mph and was about 115 miles southwest of New Orleans by midday.
Boats and helicopters began ferrying nonessential workers from oil and gas platforms in the Gulf. Texaco brought about 100 maintenance workers to shore.
Terrebonne Parish officials encouraged residents in low-lying areas to move to shelters, and Plaquemines Parish south of New Orleans, where forecasters said Danny was most likely to come ashore, was put on alert.
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