Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Gulf ports still closed as Isaac closes in on New Orleans with pounding rain

Cargo ports in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama remained closed as a slightly weakened Hurricane Isaac continued to pound the Gulf Coast with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour as it moved closer to New Orleans, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"Isaac continues to move slowly inland over Southeastern Louisiana…heavy squalls lashing New Orleans and the Mississippi Coast," was the latest report by the Hurricane Center.

Yesterday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection field offices had reported the following seaports, airports and CBP offices in the Gulf region suspended operations until weather conditions allow for resumption of services:

• Port of Pascagoula
• Port of Gulfport
• Port of Mobile
• New Orleans Airport
• Port of Morgan City
• Port of Gramercy
• Port of Baton Rouge
• Port of Morgan City

At the Port of New Orleans, container terminal operations were suspended, however the local CBP office reported that it would "remain open for transactions with the exception of duty collections 8/28/12 and would resume full administrative capability when conditions allow."

The CBP also reported it has opened emergency operations centers in the expected path of the storm.

"This hurricane has the potential to cause significant damage and we are taking this very seriously," said CBP Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar.

"CBP's personnel are on standby to support local, state and federal requests for assistance," he said.

Here is the link to the National Hurricane Center's Isaac updates: nhc.noaa.gov

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