u.s. & world

Levees overtopped as Tropical Storm Barry soaks Louisiana

Saturday, July 13, 2019
High water overtopped a handful of back levees in Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish on Saturday as Tropical Storm Barry moved ashore.
MYRTLE GROVE, La. -- High water overtopped a handful of back levees in Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish on Saturday as Tropical Storm Barry moved ashore.

Footage from local television station WVUE showed water spilling over a levee in Myrtle Grove, a community about 25 miles south of New Orleans.
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There were also overtopped levees in Jefferson Lake and Point Celeste, WVUE reported, citing Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. Flooding threatened to close Highway 23, a main artery out of lower Plaquemines Parish, Nungesser said.

There were no reports of high water rescues as of early Saturday afternoon.

VIDEO: Tree crushes car as Barry approaches Louisiana
Tree crushes car as Hurricane Barry bares down on Louisiana


Gov. John Bel Edwards said Saturday that none of the main levees on the Mississippi River in the state have failed or been breached so far because of Tropical Storm Barry.
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But he warned at a news conference on Saturday that the storm is just beginning and the state faces significant threats in the days ahead.



Briefly considered a hurricane, Barry made landfall in Louisiana Saturday afternoon and weakened to a tropical storm. The storm's center was located about 5 miles northeast of Intracoastal City, and about 30 miles south-southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana.

Maximum sustained winds were clocked at 70 mph.

This photo shows the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex, Saturday, July 13, 2019 in Belle Chasse, La.AP
Tyler Holland guides his bike through the water as winds from Tropical Storm Barry push water from Lake Pontchartrain over the seawall Saturday, July 13, 2019, in Mandeville, La.AP
Two men are pushed over by waves as winds from Tropical Storm Barry push water from Lake Pontchartrain over the seawall Saturday, July 13, 2019, in Mandeville, La.AP
As the Atchafalaya River continues to rise due to the rains of Tropical Storm Barry, it becomes harder to see the Morgan City name on the sea wall, Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Joni Giandelone rakes in the pine needles and branches deposited from Tropical Storm Barry in front of her house in Morgan City, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Barry Williams wades through storm surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., as Hurricane Barry approaches Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
A vehicle passes the toppled gas pump canopy in Berwick, La., following an early morning severe weather assault from Tropical Storm Barry, Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Aimee Cutter, the owner of Beach House restaurant, walks through water surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
There is very little flooding from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019, ahead of landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
A public works dump truck blocks the Morgan City, La., access to the Long-Allen Bridge in the background, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry, Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
There is very little flooding from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019, ahead of landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Aimee Cutter the owner of Beach House restaurant walks through water surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Aimee Cutter the owner of Beach House restaurant walks through water surge from Lake Pontchartrain on Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville, La., Saturday, July 13, 2019.AP
Visitors walk past a puddle in Jackson Square Saturday, July 13, 2019, in New Orleans, as Tropical Storm Barry nears landfall.AP
People check out the waves on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Ray Leon walks up steps after swimming in the Mississippi River Friday, July 12, 2019, in New Orleans, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
The flood wall near the Long-Allen Bridge in Morgan City, La., continues to protect residents and area businesses as the waters rise in the Atchafalaya River, July 12, 2019.AP
Blockades full of sand block a road ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Barry on July 12, 2019, in Venice, Louisiana.Creative Content
Vehicles make their way on I-10 as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.AP
Tiffany Favre, right, and her son, Brandon, use blocks to raise their couch off the floor Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Tiffany Favre, left, and her son, Brandon, use blocks to raise their couch off the floor Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
People walk past Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans, La.AP
Crescent City Steaks Chef Frank Turner, left, and dishwasher Keith Brooks screw in storm protectors over the windows before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
A Lucky Dogs vendor makes his way through the French Quarter before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.AP
Crescent City Steaks Chef Frank Turner, left, and dishwasher Keith Brooks screw in storm protectors over the windows before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
This satellite image provided by NASA on Thursday, July 11, 2019, from the International Space Station, shows Tropical Storm Barry as it bears down on the Gulf of Mexico.AP
Resident fill sandbags Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Chris John with Brennan's restaurant in the French Quarter moves sandbags as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans.AP
Resident fill sandbags Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP
Ashley Boudreaux ties sandbags Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry.AP


The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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